Undergraduate Research Assistant

Undergraduate Research Assistant

We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented undergraduate student to join Dr. Maya-Lastra's research lab. The successful candidate will assist Dr. Maya-Lastra in gathering, organizing, and classifying specialized botanical information needed for machine learning development in biological areas. This role offers hands-on experience handling specialized morphological information and opportunities to learn about structured biological information and how it can support artificial intelligence applications in botany.

Essential Duties

• Data processing: Gather information and resources, paying attention to sources, licenses, and structure.
• Data organization and classification: Extract morphological characters from botanical descriptions and literature, and classify them into standardized terminology and structured formats.
• Quality control: Review entries for accuracy, consistency, and completeness, and flag ambiguous or conflicting information.
• Documentation & Reporting: Keep detailed records of sources, licenses, and procedures followed, and prepare regular progress summaries for Dr. Maya-Lastra.
• Collaboration: Attend lab meetings and communicate progress, questions, and issues in a timely manner.

Benefits

• Gain hands-on research experience in botanical data curation and computational methods.
• Training in plant morphology, data standards, and how structured data supports machine learning.
• Opportunity to co-author reports and presentations.
• Mentorship and collaboration within an active research group

Required Qualifications

• Must be a currently enrolled student who is registered for classes.
• Knowledge of botanical terminology
• Be able to read botanical morphological descriptions accurately
• Previous experience with flora treatments
• Ability to work independently without supervision based on objectives

Preferred Qualifications

• A grade B or better in Botany and Plant Taxonomy

Physical Demands

• Be able to sit in front of a computer for extended periods of time

Salary

$14.50/hr

EEO Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or status as a protected veteran. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Angelo State University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to employment opportunities for qualified individuals with disabilities. We are committed to ensuring that a qualified individual with a disability has the same rights and privileges in employment as non-disabled employees. If an accommodation is requested for the job application process, please contact our office at View phone number on click.appcast.io or email us at View email address on click.appcast.io.