Biologist - Food Web (Iisd Experimental Lakes Area) - Winnipeg, Canada - IISD

IISD

Verified Company

Winnipeg, Canada

3 weeks ago

Posted by:

Sophia Lee

beBee Recruiter

Description

Scientific operations at the IISD-ELA research station are coordinated by biologists, who are responsible for supervising research assistants, collecting and processing samples, analyzing data, and assisting with the preparation and publication of results.

They may also assist with the management of external research funds. Typically, biologists hold an M.Sc. degree or have a significant amount of relevant work experience.

We seek a motivated and enthusiastic person with documented experience in field limnology to support research and monitoring activities related to the algae and invertebrate ecology programs at IISD-ELA.

Specifics*We seek an enthusiastic and experienced individual to coordinate, manage, and operate the field and analytical components of the Plankton Ecology Group's (PEG) research and monitoring programs at the IISD-ELA research station.

The PEG primarily works within the larger IISD-ELA team and with external researchers to support large-scale research projects and monitoring activities through our expertise on lower trophic levels of freshwater food webs.

The Biologist will also contribute to a variety of activities for the broader IISD-ELA team, including providing support for field and analytical activities, outreach and education, and communications.

The applicant should have an M.Sc.

degree and/or significant work experience undertaking monitoring and/or research within freshwater environments and managing human and financial resources (i.e., project management).

The applicant should also have specific experience using a variety of limnological equipment and field sampling methods for algae and invertebrates, including the use of zooplankton nets, sediment cores, multi-parameter sondes, temperature loggers, dissolved oxygen loggers, and meteorological stations.

Experience with laboratory methods for algae and zooplankton physiology and ecology is also highly desired and may include preparation and preservation of algae and invertebrate samples; zooplankton or zoobenthos identification/enumeration; preparation of chemical reagents; undertaking experiments on algal and/or invertebrate physiology; and use of laboratory instrumentation (e.g., filtration apparatus, weigh scales, fluorometers, gas chromatographs, etc.).

Experience using modern programming and statistical packages and repositories—including R, R Markdown, Tidyverse, and GitHub—is also highly desired.

Key responsibilities include*:

Organize and lead field and analytical programs for IISD-ELA's PEG at the remote IISD-ELA research station in Northwestern Ontario.
Manage research budgets and supervise seasonal research assistants.
Support IISD-ELA research scientists, external collaborators and highly qualified personnel (e.g., undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows).
Operate and maintain laboratory and field equipment.
Analyze and manage data and metadata for inclusion in databases, data repositories, and scientific outputs.
Assist other IISD-ELA team members with various tasks, including facility operations, operation of the IISD-ELA analytical laboratory, and communication with the public and donors.

Detailed responsibilities include:

Program Management

Plan and organize annual field research program in collaboration with other members of the PEG and IISD-ELA teams.
Lead the hiring, supervision, and training of research assistants for field and laboratory positions within the PEG.
Organize, purchase, and maintain scientific equipment for use in the laboratory and field.
Manage professional service contracts for algal and invertebrate identification and enumeration and other contracts as required.
Undertake data management, including data quality assurance/control, data entry, and maintenance of databases.
Manage program budgets.

Field and Laboratory Activities

Spend up to 7 months per year (excluding weekends) at the IISD-ELA facility actively engaging in field research activities (primarily May to November, occasional excursions in winter).
Operate various field vehicles and watercraft (allterrain vehicles, trucks, vans, small motorized boats, canoes, and snowmobiles).
Provide training and assistance for highly qualified personnel (i.e., undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows) in field and laboratory analytical techniques.
Maintain zooplankton stations and sampling equipment, preserve and prepare samples for shipping and taxonomic analysis, undertake sampling and enumeration of _Mysis_ and _Bythotrephes_ samples.
Collect and process sediment samples using coring equipment.
Calibrate, deploy, and maintain field equipment and associated data from a variety of field equipment, including multiparameter sonde, temperature loggers, and dissolved oxygen loggers.
Undertake and/or supervise laboratory and field experiments/assays for algal and invertebrate physiology/ecology using gas chromatography, fluorometry, and other me