Wetland Research Technician I

University of Waterloo•Waterloo, ON

2d•CA$47,211 - CA$59,014•Onsite

About The Position

The incumbent is responsible for developing and ensuring the smooth and successful execution of assigned field and laboratory experiments for Dr. Rooney’s research group, in consultation with Dr. Rooney and her graduate students. The primary area of assignment for this position is wetland ecology and environmental monitoring, with expertise in both field and laboratory methods and logistical expertise necessary to field work in remote locations. The Wetland Research Technician is accountable Dr. Rooney for the completion and facilitation of wetland research in the field and laboratory, with activities including site selection, sample and data collection, and data entry and QA/QC to meet Rooney Lab research goals.

Requirements

BSc. is required
Valid G class driver’s license
Minimum 2 years of experience carrying out wetland ecology fieldwork in remote locations, preferably in Alberta.
Experience conducting bird surveys, vegetation surveys, and sampling aquatic macroinvertebrates from wetlands.
Experience trouble-shooting, functioning and field repair of equipment necessary to complete field work.
Working with large datasets and government data sources.
Working under memoranda of understanding using confidential information
Expertise with ArcMAP, ArcPad, R, Fragstats, MS Office software
Troubleshooting high precision GPS/GNSS
ABWRET-A implementation
SongMeter3s installation and set up
Hobo depth data logger installation and set up
Valid WHMIS 2015 First aid

Nice To Haves

MSc. in Biology with a thesis focused on wetland ecology is preferred

Responsibilities

Ensure appropriate licensing and permit requirements are met in support and implementation of field work
Conduct surveys of physicochemical variables and biological communities in remote locations.
Refine and implement field protocols in consultation with Dr. Rooney
Collect biological and abiotic samples from remote field locations following standardized protocols
Preserve, process and submit those samples following standardized protocols
Solve logistical issues including scheduling, travel, accommodations, site access, permitting, field level-risk assessments, general safety monitoring, sample and equipment transport, and submission or preservation of samples.
Inventory and service field equipment and maintain records
Responsible for safe and repeatable operation of field equipment including trucks, water samplers, sediment cores and grabs, D-nets, vegetation and bryophyte quadrats, pressing herbarium specimens, peat corers, light sensors and meters, water depth loggers, song meter 3 automatic recording units, portable fridges and freezers, and other relevant sampling equipment as needed.
Prepare and print data collection forms
Inventory data collection forms and maintain records
Make back-up copies of data collection forms
Enter data from forms and execute quality control protocols
In consultation with Dr. Rooney and her graduate students, work with databases to archive and preserve the integrity of datasets
In consultation with Dr. Rooney and her graduate students, refine data collection forms for greater efficiency and accuracy of data collection
Clean-up of laboratory space with appropriate handling and disposal techniques including for hazardous materials
Complete monthly lab inspections for safety and bi-weekly inspections of the eye-wash station
Support graduate students in the safe implementation of lab experiments
Inventory and maintain records of general lab supplies
Solve logistical issues around scheduling, equipment maintenance, supply ordering, and equipment sharing among lab members.
Inventory and service lab equipment including maintaining records, including for the incubators, muffle furnace, analytical balances, microscopes, drying ovens, fridges and freezers, and grinding equipment.
In consultation with Dr. Rooney and lab members, set up experimental incubation of aquatic plant and algae cultures and dosing with herbicide.
Maintain and periodically sample lab cultures, following standardized protocols.
Process and submit those collected samples, following standardized protocols.