Don’t you remember the first night that you returned from your new job at the Smithsonian as scientific assistant?
Clarify? Hugh Danes started working as scientific assistant. At least im my world he would need a university degree to do that. And I don't think he would like to hear someone call him freshman. As far as I have experienced it the old stager - students find people who just start with university pretty cute when they walk across the campus with panic in their eyes.
I know, Germany isn't the USA, but what I read about novel characters the system wasn't so different. He isn't a student assistant. And I doubt that you would get a good job as student assistant when you are still a freshman. Again, I might be wrong, because Germany isn't the 52nd state of the USA.