Imagine standing at the entrance of a gypsum cave in western Oklahoma as dusk falls. Millions of Mexican free-tailed bats pour out in a swirling, living river that can be tracked on weather radar. Or picture yourself in the tropical forests of northern Belize, carefully navigating diverse Neotropical bat communities as part of a long-term mark-recapture study. These are not scenes from a nature documentary. They are real, hands-on experiences waiting for the right person in the bat research assistant and project manager position at the University of Oklahoma’s Becker Lab.
This full-time (or part-time) role offers a rare combination of fieldwork adventure, laboratory skill-building, international travel, and long-term career stability in wildlife disease ecology and conservation. With a competitive salary of $36,000 to $39,000 per year, a full University of Oklahoma benefits package, and a minimum three-year commitment (with potential for extension through 2030), it provides the foundation many early-career researchers need to move into graduate school, conservation organizations, or advanced research positions.
Summary
- Company: University of Oklahoma
- Job Title: Bat Research Assistant and Project Manager
- Qualification: BA/BSc/HND/MSC
- Location: USA
Job Title: Bat Research Assistant and Project Manager
Why This Bat Research Position Stands Out
The Becker Lab, led by Assistant Professor Daniel J. Becker in the School of Biological Sciences, focuses on the ecological and evolutionary drivers of infectious disease in bats and birds. Dr. Becker is a National Geographic Explorer, member of The Lancet-PPATS Commission on Prevention of Viral Spillover, and co-PI of the NSF BII Verena Institute. His team integrates rigorous fieldwork, molecular techniques, and advanced modeling to understand how environmental change affects pathogen dynamics and spillover risk.
The lab’s long-term studies of migratory and Neotropical bats create a unique opportunity for a dedicated research assistant and project manager. You will not simply collect data. You will coordinate complex logistics, ensure high-quality datasets, manage international sample movement, and contribute directly to peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.
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Key responsibilities include:
- Coordinating and participating in monthly fieldwork surveys of Mexican free-tailed bats across western Oklahoma roosts and emergence sites.
- Organizing and leading the annual bat survey in northern Belize, including mark-recapture efforts and sample collection from diverse Neotropical species.
- Handling all logistics for exporting biological samples from Belize to the United States, including permit management and compliance.
- Maintaining rigorous data quality control across field and laboratory datasets.
- Supporting or leading laboratory analyses such as hematology, molecular pathogen diagnostics (including PCR and metagenomics prep), phylogenetics, and statistical or mathematical modeling.
- Developing independent or collaborative sub-projects within the scope of existing sample collections and long-term datasets.
- Presenting results at scientific conferences and contributing to peer-reviewed publications.
This is a genuine project management role with real scientific ownership, not a typical short-term technician position.
A Day in the Life and Career Development Opportunities
Field days in Oklahoma often involve early mornings or late evenings at remote gypsum caves and roosts. You might conduct emergence counts, set up acoustic monitoring, or assist with targeted capture for health sampling. Data must be recorded meticulously because these long-term datasets track migration timing, population trends, immune variation, and pathogen prevalence across seasons and years.
In Belize, the work shifts to intensive survey periods in biodiverse tropical habitats. Ongoing mark-recapture studies there examine how dietary shifts and habitat fragmentation influence immunity and infection risk in frugivorous, nectarivorous, and insectivorous bats. Sample export adds another layer of responsibility: coordinating veterinary health certificates, CITES or other permits, and secure shipping so materials arrive safely for lab processing.
Back in Norman, you will split time between the lab and data analysis. The Becker Lab offers access to molecular biology infrastructure, proteomics capabilities, and supercomputing resources. You can learn or refine skills in RNA-Seq immune phenotyping, stable isotope analysis, network modeling of pathogen sharing, and machine learning approaches to reservoir competence prediction. Many current lab members (postdocs, graduate students, and technicians) actively publish and present, creating a collaborative environment where research assistants are encouraged to develop their own questions.
Over three or more years, you can build a strong publication record, gain international fieldwork credentials, and develop expertise that directly translates to PhD programs in disease ecology, wildlife biology, or One Health, or to positions with organizations focused on bat conservation and emerging infectious diseases.
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Who Should Apply for This Bat Research Assistant Role
The position requires a bachelor’s degree and at least one year of relevant experience. Ideal candidates have:
- Direct experience conducting field studies of bats (mist-netting, harp trapping, roost surveys, acoustic monitoring, or handling).
- Strong organizational skills for managing complex logistics, permits, and sample chains.
- Comfort working both independently and as part of a team in remote field settings.
- Interest in disease ecology, ecoimmunology, or wildlife pathogen research.
- Willingness to travel domestically in Oklahoma and internationally to Belize.
Part-time applicants (20 hours per week) are also considered, which may suit current graduate students or those with other commitments who still want deep involvement.
Even if your bat-specific experience is limited, strong transferable skills from other wildlife fieldwork, international research logistics, data management, or molecular lab work can make a compelling case. The lab values curiosity, quantitative thinking, and a collaborative mindset.
Benefits of Bat Research Assistant Job At University of Oklahoma
Location, Compensation, and Timeline
The position is based in Norman, Oklahoma, a classic college town with a low cost of living, vibrant university community, and easy access to both urban amenities in Oklahoma City and extensive natural areas. The University of Oklahoma provides a full benefits package, including health insurance and retirement contributions.
Salary ranges from $36,000 to $39,000 annually depending on qualifications and experience. The role can begin as early as January 2027 (or potentially sooner), with flexibility built into the start window.
Applications are due by August 1, 2026. Early submission is strongly encouraged.
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How to Apply for Bat Research Assistant Job At University of Oklahoma
Submit your application through the official Google Form: https://forms.gle/jz7tN56xwKBtAGgE7
Prepare a clear CV or résumé highlighting your fieldwork experience, any laboratory or data skills, and relevant coursework or certifications. A thoughtful cover letter or statement of interest that connects your background to the lab’s research themes (anthropogenic impacts on infection dynamics, migration and immunity, pathogen discovery) will strengthen your application.
For questions, contact Dr. Daniel Becker at danbeck@ou.edu (preferred).
Learn more about the lab’s ongoing work, team, and publications here: https://beckerlab.weebly.com/, https://beckerlab.weebly.com/research.html, https://beckerlab.weebly.com/team.html
Official Position Page: https://jobs.rwfm.tamu.edu/view-job/?id=116563
Why This Opportunity Matters Now
Bats deliver enormous ecosystem services, including agricultural pest control worth billions of dollars annually in the United States alone. Mexican free-tailed bats in western Oklahoma form some of the largest maternity colonies in North America. At the same time, bats are key reservoirs for pathogens of conservation and public health concern. Understanding how land use, migration, and environmental change shape infection dynamics in these animals is critical for both bat conservation and broader spillover prevention efforts.
This position places you at the center of that work, with the stability of multi-year funding and the excitement of contributing to high-impact science alongside a supportive, internationally connected team.
If you are passionate about wildlife ecology, disease dynamics, or conservation research and ready for meaningful fieldwork combined with professional growth, this bat research assistant and project manager role at the University of Oklahoma could be the next defining step in your career.
The deadline is August 1, 2026. Start preparing your materials and apply soon. Opportunities like this—stable, well-supported, scientifically rich, and genuinely adventurous—do not come around often.
Apply today and help shape the future of bat research and wildlife disease ecology.