SNOWPACK and habitat modelling for Peary caribou in Canada’s Arctic - Research Affiliate Program

Duties

The research affiliate will help to address information gaps identified in a Peary caribou Knowledge Assessment developed by the Landscape Science and Technology Division related to geospatial data needs for habitat modeling. The main hypothesis for Peary caribou population declines is limited access to winter forage during successive years of severe weather that create snow pack conditions that limit forage accessibility. Direct tests of the hypothesis have been hampered by a lack of fine scale data to characterize the snow conditions in the arctic. The research affiliate will improve on past SNOWPACK modeling at 32km resolution by downscaling model results to 1km resolution using additional data sources (DEM and soil albedo). The research affiliate will also test the resulting finer resolution data layers as inputs to Peary caribou habitat models to assess the potential for improvement to past modelling efforts and to evaluate of the uncertainty associated with using different data and tools.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A list of the courses you have taken as well as any courses that you are taking now, or that you will be taking this academic year.

You must meet all essential qualifications in order to be appointed to the position. Other qualifications may be a deciding factor in choosing the person to be appointed. Some essential and other qualifications will be assessed through your application. It is your responsibility to provide appropriate examples that illustrate how you meet each qualification. Failing to do so could result in your application being rejected.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

The student must be currently enrolled in a Master of Science program at a recognized post-secondary institution with an acceptable specialization in geomatics, geography, ecology or some other science relevant to the position.

Degree equivalency

Please note that experience could have been acquired through your studies, work experience, or volunteer activities.

Experience analyzing and interpreting ecological data obtained in the field (e.g. population monitoring) and remote sensing data sources.

Experience manipulating and managing geospatial data using ArcGIS Geographic Information Systems (GIS) desktop software.

Experience processing geospatial data to extract and summarize ecological data using various modelling platforms.

Experience with numerical models forced by meteorological information (e.g. SNOWPACK model).

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

English or French

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of general concepts of ecosystem conservation, landscape ecology and species at risk.

Knowledge of arctic ecosystems and impacts of climate change on wildlife species including Peary caribou.

Ability to interpret and analyze results of geospatial analyses and summarize them in a report.

Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Other information

The client organization will accept applications on-line only. All job applications must therefore be submitted through the Public service jobs website. To submit an application on-line, please select the button “Apply Online” below. Persons with disabilities preventing them from applying on-line are asked to contact 1-800-645-5605.

Reference checks may be sought.

An interview may be administered.

Candidates from outside the federal Public Service will be required to pay for their own travel expenses associated with the assessment as well as relocation expenses if applicable.

You will be required to provide proof of your education credentials through the process.

Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice.

Successful completion of both a Research Affiliate Program (RAP) assignment and your educational program may lead to temporary or permanent federal public service positions for which you meet the merit criteria and conditions of employment.

For this selection process, it is our intention to communicate with candidates via email for screening and assessment purposes. This will include communication of screening results and invitations to written tests and interviews. To that end, candidates must include a valid email address in their application. It is the candidate's responsibility to ensure that this address is functional and that it accepts messages from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email). It is also the candidate's responsibility to ensure accurate information is provided and updated as required.

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled, diverse workforce reflective of Canadian society. As a result, it promotes employment equity and encourages candidates to indicate voluntarily on their application if they are a woman, an Aboriginal person, a person with a disability or a member of a visible minority group.

The Public Service of Canada is also committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free selection processes and work environments. If contacted in relation to a job opportunity or testing, you should advise the Public Service Commission or the departmental official in a timely fashion of the accommodation measures which must be taken to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

Preference

Preference will be given to Canadian citizens.

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.