"Student Programmer"

Job Details

Position Overview

Jump in with the Biodiversity Institute Specify Software team (www.specifysoftware.org) to take on various programming projects as part of an engaged, supportive, and friendly workgroup of professional software engineers, students, and museum scientists. We are a software engineering and support group within the KU Natural History Museum with the mission to provide database application software for the world’s biological museums to document the world’s plant and animal species.

Software projects will be varied and designed to first take advantage of existing skills and experience. They will definitely build career-valuable expertise. You will learn modern, practical, data science methods and software engineering techniques in this position by creating code that has a real-world, environmental research impact. Tasks might include converting data from older databases to newer database schemas, designing new features, or coding associated with web application user interface design, security, descriptive database statistics, or for API-based integrations. No previous biological research or museum experience is needed. We will bring you up to speed with biodiversity informatics as a data community. You will receive personalized training from experienced programmers, and have opportunities to work on user-facing features and capabilities. Our student team members have consistently raved about their experience working with us, and we believe that if you are a smart, creative, and detail-oriented individual with a drive to succeed, you will find this to be fulfilling and enjoyable. Working with us will definitely lead to professional growth with new marketable software engineering skills and upgrading your resume.

Job Description

• 30% - One of: Create and track software issues using a variety of channels including GitHub and Slack. Perform data conversion by transforming information from legacy formats or external systems into the required structure for seamless integration, including developing or adapting tools and processes.
• 25% - Assist with software engineering with training and tutoring from experienced programmers.
• 20% - Develop expertise with Specify software and how natural history museums manage data, to attain an understanding of the principles and methods of modern science data management.
• 15% - Perform structured testing of software.
• 5% - Write technical documentation on different aspects of the use and implementation of the software and tools.
• 5% - Evaluate existing documentation and requirements, identifying areas for improvement.

Required Qualifications

1. Freshman or Sophomore undergraduate student in good standing at the University of Kansas.
2. Experience or familiarity with the setup and use of relational data management tools, SQL scripts, and programming languages with database systems, as evidenced by application materials.
3. Familiarity with software development in 1 or 2 languages, as evidenced by application materials.
4. Focused, perceptive, and attentive to detail, as evidenced by application materials.
5. Motivated to solve problems and debug code, as expressed and evidenced by application materials.
6. Ability to communicate work issues clearly and freely, as evidenced by application materials.
7. Enjoy learning new things, as expressed and evidenced by application materials.
8. Be available to work a steady/consistent, personalized schedule on campus in Dyche Hall (Natural History Museum) for 15-20 hours a week when classes are in session, as evidenced by application materials. (We are flexible to reschedule and accommodate personal/academic issues when they arise, as well as pre-planned breaks).

Preferred Qualifications

1. Work study eligibility.
2. Experience with research computing in any science or technology field.
3. Junior developer level competency with 2 or more software languages, ideally including Python or TypeScript, as evidenced by application materials.
4. Familiarity with software engineering tools and methods, as evidenced by application materials.
5. Previous work with relational databases, data management, or data analysis.

Position Requirements

During the semester term of the appointment, the student hourly must be enrolled in no fewer than 6 credit hours. For summer periods the student hourly must: (1) have been enrolled in no less than 6 hours in the past spring semester or (2) be pre-enrolled in the upcoming fall semester in no less than 6 hours or (3) be enrolled in summer session or (4) be admitted to study in the upcoming fall semester. Student Hourlies may be undergraduate or graduate students. (Exceptions granted for GRA/GTA/GA appointments DO NOT apply to Student Hourly appointments).

Employment Conditions

(1) Student employees are not eligible for remote work arrangements unless an exception is approved by the unit leadership and HR.

(2) This is an hourly/non-exempt position. A student employee cannot hold an hourly/non-exempt position and a salaried/exempt graduate or undergraduate position (GRA/GTA/GA/RUA/RGA) concurrently.

Additional Candidate Instructions

A complete application consists of the online application, cover letter, and resume. Only complete applications will be considered. To ensure consideration apply before the application review date 09/19/2025. A review of applications will continue until qualified candidates are identified. Posting removal is 10/10/2025 or once positions are filled.

Contact Information to Applicants

Aimee Stewart - aimee.stewart@ku.edu

Advertised Salary Range

$16/hr

Anticipated Start Date

Monday September 29, 2025