Research Assistant - Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering (Off Scale) (Grant Funded)
$36,000 per annum, as per CUPE 1870 (Off Scale) (Grant Funded)
As soon as possible for a one-year term (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 soil and environmental sciences and related expertise including soil carbon dioxide emissions, carbon sequestration, and soil organic matter enrichment techniques, such as the incorporation of native cover crops, biochar amendments, and others suitable for Prince Edward Island’s agricultural, soil, and environmental conditions.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- The incumbent will be investigating the effects of carbon sequestration and carbon dioxide emissions from soil upon potato cultivation in Atlantic Canada
- Familiarity with advanced laboratory analytical techniques including chromatography, soil combustion analyzer, desiccator, sample collection, sensors calibration, CO2 gas sample analysis and soil NPK analysis techniques
- Experience with R Software for environmental applications, and more specifically for Carbon Turn Over Modelling
- Sufficient background and experience (conference proceedings and presentation skills) in soil environment interaction, laboratory soil analysis techniques, statistical software’s, GIS, and differential global positioning systems
- Assist graduate and undergraduate students of the Group Lead with research data collection in laboratories as well as in potato fields across Atlantic Canada; therefore, knowledge of potato crop growth stages and cultivation techniques will be considered as an asset qualification
- Assist in manuscripts and report writing for various projects and research trials of the Group Lead
- Ability to work in a research team and as an individual that may require time-to-time driving back and forth the agricultural fields; a valid and clean Canadian driving licence will be required
- Excellent work ethic for working with group members of different ethnicities; knowledge and proof of following the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion will be beneficial
QUALIFICATIONS:
- A bachelor’s degree in Soil and Environmental Sciences. A M.Sc. degree in the relevant field of research will be an asset.
- The incumbent should be familiar with necessary software skills such as carbon turnover models, Minitab, GIS, R Studio and Microsoft Office
- 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
- The incumbent should have knowledge of carbon dioxide emission and carbon sequestration modelling to understand its impacts on the potato cropping system
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.
