Posting Information Requisition 202600327ST Title Student Worker- College of Science and Engineering Technology- Advanced Herpetology Assistant Employee Class Student Worker College Work Study Position No Department College of Science and Engineering Technology Division Division of Academic Affairs Hours per week 10-15 hours per week Hiring Rate $14.00 per hour Preferred Student Classification Nature & Purpose of Position The Sam Houston State Natural History Collections is seeking an advanced, highly motivated working student to take on a leadership role in our Herpetology division. This position goes beyond basic specimen maintenance. You will serve as a key driver in modernizing our physical archive and scaling our digital biodiversity infrastructure. This is an exceptional opportunity for a student aiming for a career in museum curation, data science, or organismal biology to gain high-level, hands-on institutional experience.

Primary Responsibilities Taxonomic Identification:

Independently verify and identify amphibian, reptile, and fish specimens utilizing advanced taxonomic keys, regional literature, and comparative collection techniques.

Database Architecture:

Spearhead the design, optimization, and migration of the collection database, ensuring seamless data structure and integrity.

Biodiversity Informatics:

Map, clean, and standardize legacy collection data into global Darwin Core (DwC) terms to prepare the dataset for international aggregation (e.g., GBIF, iDigBio).

Curation & Preservation:

Oversee the physical processing, fluid preservation, labeling, and organization of incoming and existing specimens. Other Requirements for the Position Required Qualifications Enrolled student at Sam Houston State University with a strong academic background in Evolutionary Biology, Ecology, Data Science, or a related field. Demonstrated proficiency in herpetological identification. Familiarity with biodiversity informatics standards, specifically Darwin Core schema and metadata structures. Exceptional attention to detail and ability to work independently with minimal supervision. Preferred Qualifications Prior experience working in a natural history museum or herpetology collection. Open Date 09/01/2026 Position Number Contact Information Contact Name & Title Jennifer Skains Contact Phone 936-294-1969 Contact Email jns001@shsu.edu Contact Building & Room # Contact Fax Contact Instructions Summary email please at jns001@shsu.edu EEO Statement EEO Statement Sam Houston State University is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and Smoke/Drug-Free Workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, ancestry, marital status, citizenship, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, or protected veteran status. The University takes seriously the initiative to ensure equal opportunity in the workforce and to comply with Title VII as interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court. Sam Houston State University is an "at will" employer. Employees with a contract will have additional terms and conditions. Security-sensitive positions at SHSU require background checks in accordance with Education Code §51.215. Annual Security and Fire Safety Report