Research Assistant - Research Affiliate Program

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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

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

Duties

The candidate will conduct research to examine the drivers of occurrence of rain-on-snow (ROS) events in the High Arctic, particularly focused on those that have impacted Peary caribou and Svalbard Reindeer. 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. This research will examine key meteorological factors (e.g. wind patterns, air temperatures, atmospheric rivers, etc.) that enable initiation and contribute to severity of ROS events and will examine variation in the meteorological set up of different ROS events reported to have impacted Peary caribou and reindeer populations in the past. The candidate will be responsible for developing and executing a research plan to examine potential mechanisms using available meteorological and geospatial datasets and appropriate modelling and statistical tools.

Work environment

Research will be conducted at Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (ECCC) National Wildlife Research Centre, in Ottawa, Ontario and the University of Sherbrooke’s Department of Applied Geomatics (Sherbrooke, Quebec). The work is part of a research program investigating the impacts of severe weather events and climate change on winter forage accessibility for Peary caribou, a species at risk undergoing population declines. The candidate will be co-supervised by ECCC Research Scientist, Dr. Cheryl A. Johnson, who specializes in research to inform evidence-based decision making for species at risk, and Dr. Alexandre Langlois, a University of Sherbrooke professor specializing in the development of remote sensing methods to quantify changes in arctic environments.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

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

Education:
The candidate must be currently enrolled in a PhD program in the Applied Geomatics Department of the University of Sherbrooke.

Degree equivalency

Experience:
Experience in the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) computer software or imaging processing software (e.g. ESRI, ArcGIS suite, PCI-Geomatica, MathWorks-MATLAB).

Experience generating geospatial datasets using a variety of information sources (e.g. field data, Indigenous knowledge, historic documentation).

Experience processing large geospatial datasets to extract and summarize ecological data in support of research or management.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge:
Knowledge of general concepts of ecosystem conservation and species at risk.
Knowledge of arctic ecosystems and impacts of climate change on wildlife species including Peary caribou.
Knowledge of principles for integration and management of large geospatial datasets for use in research and management applications.

Abilities:
Ability to work collaboratively

Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.

Personal Suitability:
Initiative

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

Operational Requirements:
Willingness to travel

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

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

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