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Research Lab Assistant Jobs in Kansas (NOW HIRING)

Cardiac Cath Lab Tech PRN

Lenexa, KS ยท On-site

$2.1K - $2.8K/wk

Benefits Research Medical Center, offers a total rewards package that supports the health, life ... They assist with the insertion of catheters into the heart and are responsible for measuring and ...

Cardiac Cath Lab Tech PRN

Lenexa, KS ยท On-site

$2.1K - $2.8K/wk

Benefits Research Medical Center, offers a total rewards package that supports the health, life ... They assist with the insertion of catheters into the heart and are responsible for measuring and ...

Cardiac Cath Lab Tech PRN

Overland, KS ยท On-site

$2.1K - $2.8K/wk

Benefits Research Medical Center, offers a total rewards package that supports the health, life ... They assist with the insertion of catheters into the heart and are responsible for measuring and ...

Cardiac Cath Lab Tech PRN

Olathe, KS ยท On-site

$2.2K - $2.9K/wk

Benefits Research Medical Center, offers a total rewards package that supports the health, life ... They assist with the insertion of catheters into the heart and are responsible for measuring and ...

Bioanalytical Lab Analyst II, Clinical Research - Full-Time w/ benefits. Monday - Friday first ... compendial methods. * Assist in developing pharmaceutical formulations by testing various ...

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Research Lab Assistant information

See Kansas salary details

$9

$18

$26

How much do research lab assistant jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 14, 2026, the average hourly pay for research lab assistant in Kansas is $18.06, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.81 and $20.58 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Research Lab Assistant, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Research Lab Assistant, you need a background in laboratory sciences, attention to detail, and knowledge of standard lab procedures, often supported by a relevant degree or coursework. Familiarity with lab equipment, safety protocols, and data management systems such as LIMS is typically expected. Strong organizational skills, effective communication, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively set standout candidates apart. These skills are crucial for ensuring accurate experimental results, maintaining laboratory safety, and supporting research productivity.

What qualifications do I need to be a research assistant?

Research lab assistants typically need a high school diploma or equivalent; many positions prefer or require a bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as biology, chemistry, or psychology. Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and familiarity with laboratory equipment or data analysis software are also important qualifications.

What are some common challenges faced by Research Lab Assistants, and how can they be effectively managed?

Research Lab Assistants often encounter challenges such as managing multiple tasks simultaneously, maintaining accuracy in data collection, and adhering to strict safety protocols. Balancing administrative duties with hands-on lab work can be demanding, especially during busy project phases. Effective time management, clear communication with the research team, and organization skills are essential to successfully navigate these challenges. Proactively seeking clarification and regular training on lab procedures can also help minimize errors and improve efficiency.

Is it hard to get a job as a research assistant?

Securing a research lab assistant position can be competitive and often requires relevant coursework, strong organizational skills, and sometimes prior research experience. Candidates with good academic records, familiarity with laboratory tools, and the ability to follow protocols tend to have better chances of obtaining such roles.

What does a Research Lab Assistant do?

A Research Lab Assistant supports scientists and researchers by preparing and maintaining laboratory equipment, conducting experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and ensuring the lab is clean and organized. They may also be responsible for documenting results, ordering supplies, and following safety protocols. Their role is essential for the smooth functioning of research projects and helps advance scientific studies efficiently.

What does a research assistant do in a lab?

A research lab assistant supports scientific experiments and data collection by preparing materials, maintaining equipment, and recording results. They often follow protocols, assist with analysis, and ensure the smooth operation of laboratory activities, typically requiring attention to detail and familiarity with lab tools and safety procedures.

What is the difference between Research Lab Assistant vs Research Technician?

AspectResearch Lab AssistantResearch Technician
Required CredentialsAssociate's degree or relevant certificationAssociate's degree or specialized training
Work EnvironmentLaboratory settings, assisting with experimentsLaboratory, often more hands-on with equipment
Employer & Industry UsageUniversities, research institutes, biotech firmsResearch institutions, healthcare, biotech companies
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding entry-level research rolesClarifying technical support roles in labs

The main difference between a Research Lab Assistant and a Research Technician lies in their responsibilities and qualifications. Research Lab Assistants typically support experiments and perform basic lab tasks, often requiring an associate's degree. Research Technicians usually have more technical duties, including operating equipment and data collection, often with similar or additional certifications. Both roles are vital in research environments, but the Research Technician generally has more technical responsibilities.

Do research lab assistants get paid?

Research lab assistants typically receive compensation for their work, which can include hourly wages or stipends, depending on the institution or organization. Payment rates vary based on experience, education level, and the specific lab or project, and some positions may require prior training or certifications. Many research labs also offer opportunities for skill development and hands-on experience in scientific methods and equipment.
What are the most commonly searched types of Research Lab jobs in Kansas? The most popular types of Research Lab jobs in Kansas are:
What are popular job titles related to Research Lab Assistant jobs in Kansas? For Research Lab Assistant jobs in Kansas, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Research Lab Assistant jobs in Kansas look for? The top searched job categories for Research Lab Assistant jobs in Kansas are:
What cities in Kansas are hiring for Research Lab Assistant jobs? Cities in Kansas with the most Research Lab Assistant job openings:
Infographic showing various Research Lab Assistant job openings in Kansas as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 79% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $37,559 per year, or $18.1 per hour.
Research Technician - Perennial Wheat

Research Technician - Perennial Wheat

The Land Institute

Salina, KS โ€ข On-site

$45K - $51K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 20 days ago


Job description

Research Technician - Perennial Wheat
Who We Are & What We Do:
The Land Institute co-leads the global movement for perennial, diverse, regenerative grain agriculture at a scale that matches the enormity of the intertwined climate, water, and food security crises. An independent 501 (c) (3) non-profit founded in 1976, the organization seeks to reconcile the human economy with nature's economy, starting with food. The transdisciplinary team of scientists, together with global partners, is developing new perennial grain crops, like Kernzaยฉ, and diverse cropping systems that function within nature's limits while researching the social transformation required for a just, perennial human future.
How You'd Fit In + Stand Out
The perennial wheat program is dedicated to the development of new perennial wheat cultivars as a viable crop for wheat growers. We generate new cultivars by crossing wheat cultivars with various wheatgrass species and conducting selection in the greenhouse and field with the aid of molecular markers. The latest breeding lines provide excellent materials for further breeding and comprehensive studies to address some key issues in perennial wheat breeding. They have shown greater improvement in longevity, grain yield, and agronomic traits.
This research technician will assist the lead scientist primarily in the implementation and management of greenhouse and field experiments. Depending on experience, expertise, and interest, he/she may choose to develop his/her personalized research projects in areas such as field breeding, wide hybridization, and molecular breeding.
Primary Responsibilities + Expectations
Field & Lab Work
  • Make crosses to create new wheat and wheatgrass hybrids in the greenhouse.
  • Carry out laboratory procedures such as:
  • Conduct tissue culture to rescue hybrid embryos when necessary.
  • Collect plant tissue, extract DNA or RNA, perform PCR assays, and assist with sequence analysis occasionally.
  • Lead or assist with planting, harvesting, and threshing samples for field and greenhouse experiments.
  • Help to oversee and maintain research plots through sowing and transplanting, weeding, irrigating, fertilizing, and organizing.
  • Process samples via drying, grinding, weighing, washing, sieving, threshing, extracting, etc.
  • Carefully record, enter, and manage field and laboratory data in alignment with specific project guidelines
  • Ensure that equipment and supplies needed for all tasks are available, clean, and in good working order before, during, and after use

Communication & Outreach
  • Maintain relationships and communication with external collaborators; help to coordinate and participate in cross-project field and lab work.
  • Engage with visitors by leading guided tours and participating in community and scientific outreach or presentations.
  • Assist the lead scientist with implementing research projects and maintaining collaborative partnerships with researchers at TLI and other institutions.

Research, Data synthesis, & Writing
  • Assist with data collection and statistical analysis of experiments.
  • Synthesize and present project results at meetings
  • Research & develop protocols

Organization & Management
  • Assist with experimental design and management in the field and greenhouse.
  • Help to refine field & lab protocols based on program needs
  • Assist with purchasing supplies and maintaining budget records.
  • Direct & oversee the work of interns and research assistants in the lab for field and lab tasks, as well as assisting with any necessary training

Organizational Competencies:
  • Mission Driven: You are passionate about the mission of The Land Institute and are interested in aligning your skills and personal genius to benefit this work.
  • Courageous: You do not retreat or shy away from hard things. You face challenges and conflict with professionalism, grace, and resolve.
  • A Boundary Spanner: You bring an interdisciplinary skill set, and you model self-awareness in your own preferences. You are motivated to always be learning, and you adapt to span boundaries with people across a range of different perspectives.
  • Inspiring and Inspired: You are inspired by the people around you, finding and harnessing the genius in your colleagues to meet the organizational objectives, and you are inspiring others through example, and your own genius applied.
  • Growth Mindset: You have the vulnerability to know what you don't know, admit your flaws, and learn from others to grow and develop yourself and the organization.
  • A Creative Collaborator: You believe in the power of a diverse collective to generate ideas and solutions. You excel at strategic thinking, being open to new perspectives, and managing innovation. You bring a playful, positive approach to the work and like meeting new people and deepening connections with those you already know.
  • Excited by change: You embrace nascent and evolving situations and enjoy engaging new people, ideas, and possibilities. You think about change holistically: internal, external, organizational, and cultural. You like iterating systems, building efficiency, and operationalizing design. You are willing to jump in and contribute to new projects as needed.

Who you are:
  • Bachelor's degree in an agriculture-related field or equivalent relevant experience.
  • Good communication skills, both written and oral
  • Be willing to work in unpleasant weather conditions, such as summer heat, to ensure urgent tasks are completed on time.
  • Must be able to lift heavy seed bags (<50 pounds) at a time.
  • Must hold a valid driver's license or be willing to get a license.

Qualifications that could help you succeed:
  • Experience in agronomy, plant breeding, or genetics.
  • Experience in the scientific research of field crops, including wheat.
  • Experience operating farm equipment such as tractors, combines, and threshing machines.
  • Experience in greenhouse management.

Hours
Generally available to work forty hours per week, via in-person and digital meetings, primarily during 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Central Time on weekdays when most of our staff and collaborators are working. We are flexible for caregivers who might need to provide rides or support, attend appointments, or be available for caregiving. Some early morning, evening, or weekend working hours will be needed for weather or time-sensitive tasks/experiments.
Location & Travel
This in-person role is grounded in the Central Great Plains at our Salina, KS, campus. No frequent travel is required except between field sites in the immediate area.
Environmental & Working Conditions
  • Prolonged periods of sitting or standing in a greenhouse to emasculate or pollinate wheat plants.
  • Prolonged period of working outdoors, sometimes in inclement weather.
  • Work primarily in the field in the summer, often in extreme heat
  • Willingness to train and safely apply pesticide treatments to plants as needed.
  • Work in pest-infested areas in the greenhouse.
  • Work in laboratory research settings - follow safety and general lab protocol, work with chemicals that are common for DNA and RNA extraction, wide hybridization, and mutation breeding.
  • Repetitive tasks requiring fine motor skills/Good eyesight (e.g., emasculations, pollinations, embryo rescues, colchicine treatment, plant preparation with scissors, tweezers, and scalpels).

Compensation & Benefits
The Land Institute offers an excellent benefits package and a competitive salary commensurate with experience.
The salary range for this position is $45,968 - 51,000 annually.
  • Remote-friendly work environment
  • Paid parental leave
  • Competitive, equitable compensation
  • 403(b) Retirement
  • 403(b) Employer contributions
  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Employer-Provided Life Insurance
  • Flexible Spending Account
  • Dependent Care
  • Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
  • Voluntary Life Insurance
  • Accidental Insurance
  • Critical Illness Insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Paid holidays
  • Generous paid time off
  • Complete laptop workstation and set up for remote work

To apply: Please submit your resume/CV, letter of interest, and contact information for references.
The Land Institute is an equal opportunity employer and embraces the opportunity to provide employment to qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, or genetic information. We are pleased to provide reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Pay Range: $45,968 - $51,000 per year