Research Assistant in population genetic and demographic analyses - Research Affiliate Program

Duties

The candidate will conduct and publish research on genetic-based methods to determine population sizes and densities of boreal caribou using a range of statistical analyses including spatially explicit capture-recapture models and pedigree analyses. This work will assist in the development of new monitoring methods for boreal caribou in Canada.

Work environment

Research will be carried at Environment and Climate Change Canada’s National Wildlife Research Centre located on Carleton University campus, in the landscape science and technology division. The work is part of a research program that uses non-invasive genetic sampling to determine the factors explaining the spatial distribution and abundance of caribou across Canada. The student will be supervised by a research scientist specialized in population and landscape genetics.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

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)

STUDIES

The candidate must be currently enrolled or eligible to enroll in a PhD/Doctorate program in Biology in a recognized post-secondary academic institution for the Winter 2018 session and beyond.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE

Experience with a range of software commonly used in population genetic analyses and capture-recapture analyses including ArcGis, STRUCTURE, MIGRATE, Colony, Coancestry and MARK.

Experience with the manipulation of land cover data.

Experience coding in R.

Experience working with large research teams and land managers.

Experience publishing in scientific journals.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE

Knowledge of population genetic analyses.

Knowledge of traditional capture-recapture models and spatially explicit capture-recapture models to estimate animal population sizes and densities.

Knowledge of spatial statistical analyses using land cover data.

The following may be applied / assessed at a later date (may be needed for the job)

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Ability and willingness to work flexible hours.
Ability and willingness to do field work in remote areas in winter.
Ability and willingness to travel for conferences and other meetings.
Ability and willingness to contribute to activities of the research team.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance - Note: Each student hired through the Research Affiliate Program (RAP) must meet the security requirements of the position as a condition of employment. Therefore, the student will be asked by the hiring organization to complete security-related documents.

Other information

Reference checks will be sought.

An interview may be administered.

A test may be administered.

A situational exercise may be administered.

You must provide proof of your education credentials.

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

A random and/or top down selection of candidates may be used in the determination of those to be given further consideration in the assessment process.

Candidates from outside the public service may be required to pay for travel and relocation costs associated with this selection process.

Successful completion of both a RAP work assignment and your educational program may lead to a temporary or permanent federal public service position 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.