Grassland Insect Lab Technician - Ottawa, Canada - Canadian Wildlife Federation

Canadian Wildlife Federation
Canadian Wildlife Federation
Verified Company
Ottawa, Canada

2 weeks ago

Sophia Lee

Posted by:

Sophia Lee

beBee Recruiter
Description

_Your Connection to Wildlife_

  • As one of Canada's largest not for profit leaders in wildlife conservation, research, and advocacy, we are seeking to fill the following position _

Grassland Insect Field Technician

As part of the Canada Summer Jobs program (3-4 vacancies)

Fixed-term for 8 weeks

$15.50 per hour, 35 hours per week

Who we are

:


The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) is a national not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to ensuring an appreciation of our natural world and a lasting legacy of healthy wildlife and habitat.

By spreading knowledge of human impacts on the environment, developing and delivering educational programs, conducting research, promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, and advocating for effective wildlife policy and regulation, CWF strives for a future in which Canada's wildlife is conserved for generations to come.


Project Description and Main Purpose


This is a multi-partner project to investigate the impacts of grazing practices on biodiversity in the native grasslands of southern Saskatchewan, including vegetation, grassland birds and insects.

Canadian Wildlife Federation is responsible for the insect sampling component of this project. Four major groups of insects will be sampled in rangelands by a field team over a two-month period. CWF is hiring 3 Grassland Insect Lab Technicians to support this project.


Reporting to the Entomologist, Terrestrial Wildlife, the Grassland Insect Lab Technician will assist with insect specimen sorting, curation and recording.

The goals of the project are to evaluate the abundance and diversity of Auchenorrhycha (leafhoppers and planthoppers), bees and flower flies as indicators of habitat quality, and grasshoppers and larvae of butterflies/moths as a main food source of birds, by taking advantage of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), and will include specimen pinning, labeling, databasing, recording, sorting, and analyzing the data.


Key responsibilities
The following is a description of the basic tasks of this position:

  • Prepare insect specimens for curation, including separating samples from debris, drying insects using a critical point drying (CPD) system, weighing, and labeling samples.
  • Use the specimen database to prepare labels to encode data denoting species, location, coordinates, date, collecting method, and collector.
  • Use proper techniques to pin or point specimens.
  • Sort specimens to family level and/or morphospecies based on morphological characters.
  • Follow the project's protocol designed to organize samples/specimens.
  • Prepare specimens for molecular analysis.
  • Enter results of molecular analyses into a database and count the morphospecies.
  • Adopt safe work practices, reporting unsafe conditions immediately and attend all relevant inservices regarding occupational health and safety. Follow all guidelines for employees and employers as legislated under the Occupational Health and Safety Act of Ontario.
  • Perform other related duties as required.

Experience / Skills / Knowledge

  • Experience working with insect species in the laboratory, insect collections, museums and natural environments, including experience with various surveying and preparation techniques (e.g., handling tiny insects, sorting, organizing, pinning, pointing, drying insects with a CPD system).
  • Experience conducting scientific studies and taxonomic identification and curation of insects.
  • Familiarity with morphological characters of insects including external and terminalia features.
  • Experience working with a microscope to identify insects and using identification keys.

Eligibility

:


_

Canada Summer Jobs Program Criteria:
_
- be between 15 and 30 years of age at the start of the employment,
- be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the _Immigration and Refugee Protection Act_ for the duration of the employment, and,
- is legally entitles to work according to the relevant provincial legislation and regulations.

  • Recent immigrants are eligible if they are Canadian Citizens or permanent residents.
  • International students are not eligible participants.

Offer of employment is conditional upon confirmation of credentials.

Offer of employment is conditional upon receiving funding for the position.
- _______________________________


Work Conditions
-
Anticipated start date July 4, 2023.

:

-
Full-time at 35 hours per week.
Fixed to an 8-week term.

:

-
Location

:

On-site in a laboratory in Ottawa, ON.

  • Must be capable of working in laboratory conditions. Must be capable of working independently.

Why work with us?

  • We are a rapidly growing team of forwardthinking individuals who all share a common passion, the Canadian outdoors
  • Friendly and casual work environment
  • We are committed to building a more diverse workforce
  • Worklife balance
  • Opportunity to expand your net
More jobs from Canadian Wildlife Federation
See all jobs of Canadian Wildlife Federation