Research Aide

K-State Olathe is looking to hire a Research Aide to support the Sensory & Consumer Research Center. Reporting to the Director, this position will assist with on-site consumer research studies: food-safe prep, station set-up, participant software help, sample service, and clean-up. The research aide will also assist with home use studies by preparing the kits: packing, stuffing, and labeling mailers.

The incumbent is scheduled to work when there are consumer research studies to be conducted. Hours can be from 0-16 hrs/week and may include evenings. This is a temporary, part-time non-exempt position. Responsibilities include:

• Assist servers and kitchen staff in the set-up, execution, and clean-up of CLT (Consumer Location Test) consumer research studies:
  
  
  
  • Assist in kitchen with product preparation/portioning following food safety
  • guidelines
  • Set up panelist stations with appropriate supplies required for the test
  • Assist participants with software troubleshooting
  • Serve participants' samples in timely manner
  • Clean-up panelist stations between sessions and at the end of the test
  • Assist with kitchen clean-up at the end of the test
  
  
  
  
• To assist Sensory & Consumer Research team in preparing samples for home use studies:
  
  
  
  • Packaging samples for mailing
  • Stuffing envelopes or boxes of samples for product pick-up or shipping
  • Labeling envelopes or boxes for mailing
  
  
  
  

Kansas State University's Olathe campus was launched in April 2011 and is the newest campus in the university's system. The campus is located in Johnson County and the Greater Kansas City metro area. The campus is a strategic partner of the Johnson County Education and Research Triangle, which was created in 2008 when residents invested in the county's future by voting for a one-eighth cent sales tax. The proceeds from this tax generate more than $20 million a year to fund higher education through a unique partnership among Johnson County, the University of Kansas, and Kansas State University.

K-State Olathe provides a unique work culture that offers a variety of professional development opportunities and a community building committee to organize campus wide activities that have included social gatherings, service opportunities, and team building workshops. Professional development opportunities on campus and in the community that employees regularly participate in, employee tuition assistance for academic programs, on campus lunch and learns, professional development workshops on campus, Leadership Olathe, various regional Chamber activities.

This position is On-site.

All employees must reside in the United States when they begin working to comply with state law. K-State is unable to provide remote or hybrid work opportunities for residents of the state of Idaho.

Minimum Qualifications:

* High school diploma (or equivalent)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in related field
• Minimum 2 years of experience
• Organized
• Reliable, on time
• Customer oriented/friendly, yet professional
• Able to work in a fast-paced environment
• Team player, works well with others
• Able to stand for prolonged time periods
• Able to lift 30 pounds

Additional Role Information:

• Able to work flexible hours - including evenings.

Sponsorship eligibility:

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship

Please submit the following documents:

* Resume
* 3 professional references

Applications close on: March 4, 2026

$12.00 - $14.00 per hour