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Research Assistant - Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering (Grant Funded)

Competition Number:
35E20
Position Type:
Staff Position
Closing Date:
Date of Posting:
Department:
Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering
Position:
Research Assistant
Contract:
Full Time Term Position (Grant Funded)
Hours of Work:
37.5 hours per week
Salary:

$35,039 per annum + 4% vacation pay as per CUPE 1870 (Off Scale) (Grant Funded)

Term:

May 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021 (Term may be reduced or extended depending on performance, available funding and departmental requirements)

The Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering at the University of Prince Edward Island is seeking applications from the competent and eligible candidates for a Research Assistant position in precision agriculture (PA) technologies and related expertise including variable rate (VR) applications of agrochemicals, artificial intelligence (AI), machine vision (MV), and deep learning (DL) research areas.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • The focus of this position will be on developing PA systems using DL, AI networks and MV. In particular, the incumbent will support the DL research toward the development of PA technologies for irrigation management, variable rate application of agrochemicals in potato fields and soil variability mapping using geographic information systems (GIS)
  • The incumbent should have sufficient background and experience (peer-reviewed journal articles, conference proceedings, development of DL server, coding, deployment of various frameworks and models, etc.) in understanding of PA systems, hydrological modelling using DL methods, MV, GIS and differential global positioning systems
  • The incumbents are required to assist with field data collection, interpretation and analysis using statistical, geo-statistical and GIS software/tools
  • The incumbent will predict soil and crop attributes using SWAT (Soil & Water Assessment Tool), DL, and AI
  • The incumbent will have expertise in delineating watersheds using DEM (Digital Elevation Models) in GIS and/or SWAT
  • The incumbent will assist the graduate and undergraduate students of the laboratory of the Group Lead with research data collection in laboratories as well as in fields across Atlantic Canada
  • The incumbent will assist in manuscripts and report writing for various projects and research trails of the Group Lead
  • The incumbent will have an ability to work in a research team and as an individual
  • The incumbent will have a good work ethics and a valid driver’s license to travel to different fields

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • A bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Engineering or related disciplines. An M.Sc. degree in the relevant field of research will be an asset
  • The incumbent should be familiar with necessary software skills such as Linux operating systems, deep learning frameworks, convolutional neural networks, long short term memory neural networks, object detection and image classification for disease detection and water resource management
  • Qualification includes good academic record, scientific writing skills, preparation of scientific papers, a strong work ethic, capability to work in a team and independently and willingness to work in lab and field environments
Application Instructions:

Please submit electronically a cover letter, quoting the competition number, a resume and reference list to be received no later than the closing date via the link posted on the UPEI Human Resources website. Applications will not be accepted via email.

If you are unable to apply online, you can drop off your resume to the Human Resources Department, Kelley Building, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, PEI C1A 4P3, Fax Number (902) 894-2895.

In accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. The University of Prince Edward Island is committed to gender equity in employment.

Only those applicants who are invited to an interview will be acknowledged.

UPEI encourages all qualified applicants to apply for job openings; however, in keeping with the terms and provisions of the university’s various employment and collective agreements, first priority will be given to internal candidates.