Undergraduate Research Assistants (6 - 8 positions)

Position Start: Summer 2026 (~May 10th, flexible)
Duration: End date Aug 15^th
Hours: ~20 - 30 hours/week
Compensation: 15$/hr

Supervisor: Jared Trask (PhD student), part of the Karcher (Animal Sciences) and Zollner (FNR) labs

Position Description

We are looking for 6 - 8 motivated undergraduate students to join a multidisciplinary research team studying wild rodent behavior and movement around commercial poultry facilities. This project focuses on understanding biosecurity risks and potential disease transmission pathways in and around poultry systems. Students will gain hands-on experience in wildlife ecology, poultry science, and data analysis, working directly with wild rodents using live-trapping methods and modern wildlife monitoring tools.

Primary Responsibilities

Fieldwork at poultry facilities, including:

Checking live traps for wild rodents

Handling live rodents to ear tag them

Powder tracking and trail mapping to assess rodent movement patterns

Setting up and placing camera traps and automatic recording units (ARUs)

Laboratory and data-based work, including

Processing and annotating camera trap data

Processing and reviewing acoustic recording unit (ARU) data

Data entry, organization, and basic analysis

Adhering to biosecurity, safety, and animal welfare protocols at all times

Being clean for biosecurity - Not being around other livestock/farm settings for 72 hrs prior

Desired Qualifications

Current Purdue undergraduate student (any major considered)

preference given to students with relevant experience and skills (trail cameras, trapping, powder tracking)

Interest in poultry science, wildlife biology, ecology, biosecurity, or data science

Willingness to work outdoors and around poultry facilities

Strong attention to detail and reliability

Ability to work both independently and as part of a team

Familiarity with GIS, R, or data analysis

Comfortable working early mornings/evenings and variable schedules

Ability to drive with Purdue (21+)

Training Provided

All students will receive training in:

Rodent trapping and handling protocols

Biosecurity and safety procedures

Data collection and processing workflows

No prior rodent or poultry experience is required.

Benefits

Hands-on research experience applicable to graduate school or industry positions

Opportunity to contribute to publishable research

Exposure to interdisciplinary work spanning animal science, ecology, and data analysis

Mentorship in research methods and data analysis

How to Apply

Interested students should email Jared Trask at jtrask@purdue.edu:

A brief statement of interest (1 paragraph)

A resume or CV (with contact information for 3 references)

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until positions are filled.