Research Assistant - Wood Turtle - Research Affiliate Program

Important messages

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Assessment accommodation

Duties

The objective of the project is to evaluate the response of Wood Turtles (Glyptemys insculpta) to forestry activities. The four-year project is a before-after design, in which populations will be monitored and turtles will be tracked using GPS-telemetry before and after forest harvest. The goal is to evaluate and develop best-management practices related to management of critical habitat. The student will be expected to develop and investigate questions on movement ecology, habitat selection, habitat management, that involve theory and application. The position will be based out of the University of New Brunswick and the Canadian Forest Service in Fredericton, New Brunswick, with Dr. Chris Edge.

Our ideal candidate will have a broad interest in wildlife biology, conservation biology, species at risk, evolutionary ecology, and/or ecology. Experience with GPS- and/or radio-telemetry, species at risk, forestry, habitat selection, and advanced movement statistics such as utilization distributions, random walk, or Brownian motion are an asset. The project is field based and will require substantial work outdoors. We encourage applicants who are interested in using the data collected in this project to test broad ecological questions related to how animals respond to disturbance and use those responses to predict long-term and broad-spatial population effect.

Intent of the process

This is a student position of 16 hours per week for a 3 year and 2 session period from September 2019 to August 2023.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter in 5,000 words (maximum) "NOTE: In 1-2 pages, you must provide concrete and detailed examples to clearly demonstrate how you meet the education and experience requirements listed in the essential qualifications and detail past research and interest in the project."

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

Master of Science in biology, ecology, forestry, or equivalent.

Degree equivalency

Experience with GPS- and/or radio-telemetry.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of Turtle ecology.
Knowledge of habitat selection and advanced movement statistics such as utilization distributions, random walk, or Brownian motion.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Valid Drivers License.

Other information

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

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.

The hiring organization will accept applications on-line only. All job applications must therefore be submitted through the Public Service Resourcing System. 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.

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.

We thank all applicants for their interest in our position(s). For the purpose of this staffing process, only candidates selected for further assessment will be contacted.

Preference

Preference will be given to Canadian citizens.

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