Research Assistant - Tech 4

University of British Columbia • Vancouver, BC

7d • CA$5,439 - CA$5,910 • Onsite

About The Position

The employee will independently design, develop, and apply ecological and carbon models for the Mother Tree Project & Program (MTP&P) within UBC’s Faculty of Forestry. Working under the direction of Dr. Suzanne Simard, the employee will lead complex data analyses, develop predictive models, produce peer-reviewed manuscript documents, and collaborate with First Nations communities to support carbon monitoring and forest stewardship programs. This position also provides entry-level guidance on ecological modelling methodology to junior team members. The position is based in the Mother Tree Project & Program at UBC’s Faculty of Forestry and reports directly to Dr. Suzanne Simard, Professor of Forest Ecology. The employee works closely with Jean Roach and Gabriela Barragan, and liaises with First Nations partners, external collaborators, and other university research teams. The employee works with considerable independence and provides analytical consultation to internal team members and junior staff.

Requirements

• Completion of a university degree in a relevant discipline (such as Ecology, Forestry, Environmental Science, or Geography) and a minimum of four years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• A graduate degree may be required.
• 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.

Nice To Haves

• Graduate degree in Ecology, Forestry, Environmental Science, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience in ecological or carbon modelling, including proficiency in R or Python.
• Familiarity with forest carbon accounting, regeneration datasets, and Indigenous land stewardship contexts.
• Experience producing peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts.
• Knowledge of entry-level modelling techniques suitable for training or mentoring junior staff is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement complex analysis plans for novel ecological and carbon datasets.
• Develop and apply predictive carbon models to support forest stewardship decisions by First Nations communities.
• Lead data gathering, cleaning, and quality control processes, resolving discrepancies and applying advanced techniques to ensure analytical integrity.
• Produce manuscript-ready documents for submission to peer-reviewed journals, including complex statistical analyses and interpretation of results.
• Develop novel protocols and analysis procedures for ecological modelling, including entry-level modelling workflows suitable for training junior researchers.
• Make forestry management and stewardship recommendations based on model outputs, in collaboration with First Nations communities and project leadership.
• Consult with internal team members to provide analysis recommendations and support interpretation of results.
• Write reports and contribute to ethics and grant applications as required.

Benefits

• UBC supports inspired students, faculty and staff on their journey of discovery, and challenges them to realize their greatest potential.
• Recognized as a leading employer in British Columbia and Canada

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level