Undergraduate Research Assistant - Invasive grass ecology image analysis

Undergraduate Research Assistant – Invasive Grass Ecology Image Analysis

Brackenridge Field Lab's invasive grassland ecology group is looking for a motivated student to assist in our studies of invasive grass impacts on Texas rangelands. The focal study explores ungulate activity through a long-term camera trap network on a large ranch. We're using counts of ungulates to estimate the effectiveness of adaptive grazing management, and seasonal phenology of plants. The primary duty will be evaluation and scoring of these large image sets. Other tasks that may arise would support parallel studies in the lab and greenhouse.

Job Responsibilities

• Score images for ungulate presence and activities. Process images of ungulates through Microsoft Access forms and export to Excel.
• Score images for plant morphometrics. Use ImageJ to measure plants.
• Organize and maintain detailed tracking of images and ensure data is accurately recorded.
• Other duties may support greenhouse studies (cleaning supplies, pots, maintaining irrigation systems) and lab logistics (organizing and cleaning field equipment).
• Attend weekly meetings, write weekly reports, and email communication.

Qualifications

Current UT student in undergraduate program related to biological or environmental sciences.

Work Schedule

Will be determined based on applicant availability. Min 8 hours/week, max 15 hours/week, min 3-hour blocks of time.

Location

Brackenridge Field Laboratory, with the possibility of some remote work

Duration

This position is available for Spring 2026 (2 Jan – 31 May); with a possibility of extension to Summer 2026.

Salary

$12.50/hour for Lower Division, $15.00/hour for Upper Division

Applicants Must Include

Letter of interest, state availability (dates and hours/week).

CV with relevant coursework, GPA, research experience

Names of 2 references

Career Competencies Gained

• Communicate regularly in a clear and effective manner
• Make decisions and solve problems using sound reasoning and judgment
• Act with integrity and accountability to self, others, and the organization
• Demonstrate attentiveness to detail and reliability
• Build skills related to data management and interpretation

Desired Skills

• Data recording experience
• Responsible time management
• Team-oriented
• Detail-oriented
• Ability to maintain focus with repetitive tasks
• Good communication skills, written and oral
• Interest in data management, manipulation and analyses in R, Access, or other data management software.