Sea Around Us Research Assistant

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career. 

Job Summary

The Sea Around Us (SAU) is a research initiative, which, since its inception in 1999, has made available an online searchable database of reconstructed marine capture fisheries catches from 1950 to the present of all maritime countries of the world via its website at www.seaaroundus.org. This global catch database permits the testing of fisheries-related hypotheses applied to marine conservation concerns and has served as the underlying database for many articles published by the Sea Around Us members and their collaborators in peer-reviewed journals.

In parallel, the P.I. of the Sea Around Us has pursued research focused on the relationship between breathing by fish and aquatic invertebrates and the temperature of the water they live in, which will allow for a better understanding of the effects of freshwater and ocean warming and deoxygenation.

Working directly to assist Principal Investigator of the Sea Around Us Research Program, this position is responsible for assisting in conducting analyses in line with the above topics, notably in assisting with the preparation of papers and conference proceedings. This position will also help with the overall organization and scheduling of activities within the SAU unit, directly assisting the Principal Investigator with daily processes and procedures organizationally within the unit.

Organizational Status

The SAU Research Assistant is a member of the core Sea Around Us team. This position reports directly to the Principal Investigator (PI), Dr. Daniel Pauly.

Work Performed

- Assists in conducting analysis of fisheries dataset analysis

- Plans and performs analyses related to fisheries dataset

- Supports the research programming within the unit

- Assists with the publishing of papers and conference proceedings

- Presents research and experiment results at conferences and symposiums

- Assists in the interpretation and analysis of experiment results

- Directly assist Principal Investigator with the daily process and procedures within the unit

Consequence of Error/Judgement

This position requires the execution of a considerable amount of judgement and responsibility. It also requires the coordination of work flows between the database team and PI. Incorrect decisions or judgment will directly affect the research group’s deliverable timelines and PIs deliverables. Errors in decision-making could negatively impact the reputation of the research lab, Program, Faculty and University.

Supervision Received

Works under general supervision; receives detailed instructions on the assignment of new duties and thereafter only on new or unusual problems.

Supervision Given

May oversee the work of research graduates, work learn students and volunteers within the SAU unit

Minimum Qualifications

Completion of a relevant technical program or a university degree in a relevant discipline and a minimum three years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

- Master's Degree in Biology

- Experienced in the analysis and interpretation of fisheries-related data, identifying key information, determining implications, providing recommendations and effectively resolving issues.

- Ability to provide effective and appropriate counsel (providing data/instructions to other group members)

- Effective oral and written communication and interpersonal skills

- High leave of initiative, curiosity, and willingness to experiment and innovate

- Attention to detail and judgment in all work

- Flexibility and ability to seek creative ideas to solve problems and identify new opportunities

- Ability to prioritize work effectively

- Ability to work effectively both independently and in collaboration with a diverse group of partners and colleagues