Research Assistant - Research Affiliate Program

Important messages

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Assessment accommodation

To be considered for the Research Affiliate Program (RAP), you must meet the following criteria:

• you are a full-time student in a post-secondary institution
• you are enrolled in an academic program that requires research as part of your curriculum
• you meet the minimum age required in the province/territory of work

On October 6, 2021, the Government of Canada announced details of its plans to require vaccination across the federal public service. As per the new Policy on COVID-19 Vaccination for the Core Public Administration Including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, federal public servants in the Core Public Administration and members of the RCMP must attest to their vaccination status. The requirement for employees to be fully vaccinated applies whether they are teleworking, working remotely or working on-site. This is a condition of employment and it applies to indeterminate (permanent), determinate (term), casual, and student hiring. Should you reach the point in the selection process where it is necessary to verify terms and conditions of employment then the hiring manager or a human resources representative will contact you in order to complete an attestation.

ONLY APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED ON-LINE USING THE 'APPLY ON-LINE' BUTTON ABOVE WILL BE CONSIDERED.

Duties

The challenges, task, and responsibilities of this RAP are not trivial as the student must collaborate with the Old Crow Land Guardians to develop, implement, and report upon an environmental monitoring program adapted to the realities of Old Crow and of their Land Guardians. The challenges, responsibilities, and tasks of this RAP will include developing and implementing field monitoring protocols that are adapted to the unique circumstances of the Old Crow Land Guardians and local research and monitoring objectives. Subsequently, this RAP will be responsible for processing samples and analyzing data derived from the field work of Land Guardians, and reporting those results back to the Guardians and the community. The student must collaboratively develop field protocols and research reports working together with community members, Land Guardians, Vuntut Gwitchin Government, and ECCC staff. The responsibility is high since the research conducted by the student needs to result in a report that can inform assessment of winter road development and oil and gas exploration in north mountain ecosystems, which represents a gap in current understanding but is of urgent importance in the face of a global biodiversity decline and concerns over the preservation of northern food safety and security, culture, and livelihood. This will impose a high level of responsibility on the student with respect to the credibility of the work completed.

Work environment

The student will work together with the Old Crow Land Guardians in developing, implementing and analyzing the results from environmental monitoring programs conducted around Old Crow, Yukon. The Old Crow Land Guardians’ proposed bioenvironmental monitoring and assessment program will include biotic and abiotic monitoring and sampling activities that will generate data and information that can test the following hypotheses: (1) the presence and operation of a winter road does not affect the movement and health of traditionally important wildlife species like migratory caribou, moose, and wolves; and (2) upstream oil and gas exploration activities do not result in contamination of the downstream aquatic ecosystem and freshwater fish species. The proposed monitoring program is to be submitted to the principal investigator as part of the student’s thesis program. The research and monitoring program developed will support high priority programs of the federal government including northern contaminants, Indigenous partnerships in science, and One Health programs.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

Contact information for 2 references.

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

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

Education:
The candidate must be enrolled in the Masters of Environmental Sciences (M.Sc.) program at Guelph University.

Degree equivalency

Experiences :
- Experience in the principles of environmental monitoring and assessment
- Experience in the principles of wildlife biology
- Experience with data analysis for environmental research and environmental monitoring, assessment, and wildlife biology
- Experience working with Indigenous on the land experts
- Experience with communicating science for environmental professionals and northern communities

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge:
- Knowledge of sampling design for both qualitative and quantitative environmental research and monitoring
- Knowledge of regulatory structures for environmental research and monitoring in the Vuntut Gwitchin Traditional Territory

Abilities:
- Ability to work collaboratively with the community of Old Crow, YT to involve local community experts

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Must be willing able to travel to Old Crow, YT, during the term to undertake field work and community consultations

All employees of the core public administration are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and attest to their vaccination status unless accommodated based on a medical contraindication, religion, or another prohibited ground for discrimination as defined under the Canadian Human Rights Act.

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

Preference

Preference will be given to Canadian citizens.

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