Career

Student Positions

Approximately half of BioServe's workforce is made up of CU students at various stages in their academic careers (from freshman B.S. students to last-semester PhD students). BioServe provides its student workforce with unparalled opportunies to get hands-on experience on real spaceflight projects. Students are often able to start on a project and see it flown before they graduate (sometimes multiple times!). BioServe graduatesÌýare highly valued and have previously gone on to destinations such as NASA, Lockheed Martin, SpaceX, Blue Origin, and medical school.

Depending on experience and background, student responsibilities may include the following:

  • Flight Hardware and Kit Manufacturing, Assembly, and Checkout
  • Operations Support
  • Systems Engineering
  • Biological Lab Work (Cell Culture, Microscopy, Rodent Work, etc.)
  • Mechanical Design and Analysis
  • Electrical Design and Analysis
  • Software Engineering and IT

Selection for student positions at BioServe is highly competitive. Applicants should be pursuing a degree in a relevant science or engineering field and demonstrate superior technical aptitude as evidenced by a strong GPA and exposure to real-world engineering and science challenges.ÌýPrior professional experience in aerospace or life sciences is not required; however, applicants should be able to demonstrate skills and experience related to:

  1. Problem solving, with examples of the objective, challenge, resources, and solution;
  2. Writing, editing, and following technical documentation (e.g. procedure, protocols);
  3. Teamwork, with examples of both leadership and followership.

The hourly pay rates and job codes are as follows:

Title

Job Code

Pay Range
JulyÌý2023Ìý- JuneÌý2024

Student Assistant I - Entry/Semi-Skilled

4101

$16.00 - $32.92

Student Assistant II - Intermediate/Advanced

4102

$16.85Ìý- $34.62

Student Assistant III - Specialist/Lead

4103

$17.69 - $36.31

Student Assistant IV - Paraprofessional

4104

$18.54Ìý- $38.00

For more information on the job descriptions, please clickÌý.

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POSITIONS:

STUDENTÌýASSISTANT (UNDERGRADUATE)

BioServe will accept applications for undergraduate student research positions on a rolling basis. Hiring for the Fall semester occurs in September and hiring for Spring occurs in January. The position will involve:

  • Design, prototyping, manufacturing, and assembly of critical spaceflight kits that will be used by the ISS astronauts to complete science experiments.
  • Real-time operations support of the ISS astronauts performing experiments.
  • Technical documentation, including following established procedures, editing new procedures, and writing test reports.
  • Lab organization and maintenance, including checking inventory quantities, discarding expired materials, and organizing material storage.

To apply, please send yourÌýcover letter and resume (combined into one PDF) toÌýleah.selman@colorado.edu.ÌýThe cover letter should summarize skills and experience in the three areas listed above (1. Problem solving, 2. Technical documentation, 3. Teamwork). Please include your expected graduation date in the body of the email.

GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT (GRA)

BioServe will accept applications for graduate research assistant (GRA) positions on a rolling basis. Hiring for the Fall semester occurs in late August and hiring for Spring occurs in early December. The position will involve:

  • Design, prototyping, manufacturing, and assembly of critical spaceflight hardware.
  • Analysis, testing, and verification of new designs to established requirements.
  • Technical documentation, including creating manufacturing drawings, assembly procedures, and test reports.

To apply, please send yourÌýcover letter and resume (combined into one PDF) toÌýstuart.tozer@colorado.edu.

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