Now Hiring - Undergraduate Student Research Assistants in Waste to Energy

 The Bioenergy and Bioprocessing Laboratory under the direction of Dr. Stephanie Lansing in the Department of Environmental Science and Technology is looking to hire several part-time (15-20 hours/week) Undergraduate Research Assistants for waste to energy research. The work involves collecting and analyzing food waste, manure, wastewater, and municipal solid waste samples in the laboratory for organic content, energy production potential, bioplastic potential, and other parameters. The student worker would be responsible for inputting data into Excel spreadsheets, washing laboratory glassware, filtering samples, and keeping the laboratory environment clean. The student must be comfortable working with laboratory equipment and safely handling food waste and manure samples following our standard operating protocols (SOPs).

 

Previous lab experience is a plus, but not necessary.  The student must show a demonstrated work ethic, attention to detail, a willingness to learn, and stick to a punctual laboratory work schedule. Priority will be given to underclassmen (second semester freshmen, sophomores, and first semester juniors) to allow for the possibility of the student working multiple years in the lab, but all levels are welcome to apply. 

 

Pay rate will start at $15/hour. There is a possibility of pay increases with experienced gains. Opportunities include professional development with mentoring from graduate students, post-docs, and Dr. Lansing.  Attendance at monthly laboratory meetings is mandatory, where relevant research topics will be discussed and results from the laboratory experiments presented. 

 

Applications should be emailed to Dr. Stephanie Lansing: slansing@umd.edu by Monday September 18^th at 5pm. The applications should include an updated resume and a cover letter that includes 1) laboratory experience, 2) expected graduation date, and 3) a schedule detailing the proposed blocks of time you would be able to work in the lab (15 hours a week; Mon - Fri from 8am - 6pm) during the Fall semester.