Undergraduate Research Assistant - GRAMA Project

Job Posting Title:

Undergraduate Research Assistant - GRAMA Project

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Hiring Department:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

20

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FLSA Status:

Non-Exempt from FLSA

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Earliest Start Date:

Immediately

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue Until Aug 16, 2026

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Location:

JOHNSON WILDFLOWER CENTER

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Job Details:

General Notes

The University of Texas at Austin Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is committed to inspiring the conservation of native plants through its garden, education, research and outreach programs. Founded by Lady Bird Johnson and Helen Hayes in 1982, the Wildflower Center is the state botanic garden of Texas, a treasured Austin gem, and a national leader in the field of native plant education, sustainable landscapes, land restoration and research. It is home to the largest living collection of Texas native plants in the state, welcomes over 276,000 visitors annually, has over 17,000 members and reaches more than 2 million people per year through its website and plant database. The Center is focused on improving landscapes, promoting biodiversity, and connecting people with our environment.

Wildflower Center staff get free parking and annual membership, discounts on Center classes, access to Wildflower Center featured events, and discounts at the Gift Store. An inspiring and beautiful work environment with outstanding coworkers awaits you.

Purpose

UT Austin undergraduate students will have the opportunity to join the Wildflower Center’s conservation team and support both our Grassland Recovery after Multiple Alterations (GRAMA) DRAGNet and DroughtNet project, as well as our Texas Plant Conservation Alliance (TXPCA) ecological professionals network.  

Potential tasks for GRAMA include vegetation surveys, data collection, soil moisture sampling, data entry, nutrient addition, and drought structure repairs. Potential tasks for the TXPCA include network meeting attendance, social media posts, data set management, informative material creation (flyers, brochures, etc.), and taking meeting notes. Work will be highly collaborative and will include conducting fieldwork, data collection, plant identification, data organization, outreach, and supporting other conservation projects as needed. Students must be comfortable spending time outside and working as part of a team. 

Position will start on May 25, 2026 or later and will end on August 16, 2026.

Responsibilities

• Research activities (field-based data collection, lab work, data entry etc.) related to grassland recovery and supporting our conservation partnerships. Students will be paired with mentors depending on their project.

• Assist with research activities outside core focus area. This work will be highly collaborative and interdisciplinary, and may be involve assisting graduate students or other researchers from the University of Texas in the field or lab as needed.

• Regular meetings with Wildflower Center research mentors.

• Occasional participation in outreach or community engagement events. Assist with tours, lessons, or educational tabling as needed.

• Presentation of ongoing or completed projects during lab meeting and/or Science Symposium at end of the semester.

• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Current enrollment at UT Austin as an undergraduate. Must either be enrolled in 3 credit hours during the Summer of 2026, or must have completed at least 12 credit hours during the Spring 2026 semester (an exception might be granted for a senior that graduated in May 2026).

• Demonstrated interest in ecology, botany, environmental science, sustainability, or related field.

• Willingness to work individually and as part of a team.

• Willingness to work outside in a variety of weather conditions, including extreme heat and humidity.

• Current Texas class C driver’s license.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Research experience (field or lab).

Driving Required

This job requires a class "C" operator's driver's license. The applicant selected must provide a current three year driving record from the curr