Position Details

Position Information

Position Title
Research Assistant I

Department/Unit
Plant, Food and Envir Sciences

Location
Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada

Posting Number
S124-23

Employee Group
NSGEU Local 77

Position Type
Term

Duration of Contract (if applicable)
Nine (9) months with the possibility of extension

Employment Type
Full Time

Full-time Equivalency (FTE)
1.0

Salary
$21.06 - $23.15 per hour ($38,338 - $42,130 per annum, 35 hrs/wk). This is a nine-month term position so annual salary will be pro-rated to $28,754 - $31,598.

Classification
RE01

Provisional Statement


About Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is Atlantic Canadas leading research-intensive university and a driver of the regions intellectual, social and economic development. Located in the heart of Halifax, Nova Scotia, with an Agricultural Campus in Truro/Bible Hill, Dalhousie is a truly national and international university, with more than half of our almost 21,000 students coming from outside of the province. Our 6,000 faculty and staff foster a vibrant, purpose-driven community, that celebrated 200 years of academic excellence in 2018.

Job Summary
The Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University is a small research-intensive campus located in Truro, NS. Offering technical, undergraduate and graduate programs in agriculture, environment and related life and social science disciplines, the Faculty of Agriculture educates future leaders and generates knowledge and innovative solutions for healthy, sustainable societies. Reporting to the Principal Investigator, the Research Assistant will focus on the remote sensing of wild blueberry fields systems to determine canopy coverage and density, presence of pest pressures, and estimation of berry yield potential and quality.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform activities associated with field research and development including filing required documentation; preparing specified treatments; organizing travel to sites; site preparation; and the operation of field equipment such as tractors, sprayers and ATVs.
• Operate unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems to assess canopy coverage and density, field topography, presence of pest pressures, and estimation of berry yield potential and quality.
• Assess imagery and other data collected, generate orthomosaic field images, analyze the data using a variety of programs (e.g. Precision Analytics, GRASS, QGIS, ENVI/IDL, Pix4D), and generate prescription maps to be used for farm management operations.
• Access and collect relevant data including agrochemical usage, fuel consumption, yield and pest incidence and severity, and process and analyze relevant on-farm data.
• Assist with the preparation of literature reviews, scientific publications, research proposals and research reports. Produce and edit plain language research bulletins. Assist with library searches. Write procedures and prepare charts and graphs.
• Assist with technology transfer of research and development activities at formal and informal meetings and functions.

Note
This position will require travel to sites across the Maritime provinces, including on occasion overnight travel, as well as work outside normal working hours. Scheduling and compensation will be in accordance with the collective agreement.

The successful applicant will work in-person on campus until required training, research and data gathering is complete, after which they will be eligible for hybrid work (combination of in-person work on campus and remote work) as agreed by all parties based on operational requirements and university guidelines.

Dalhousies vaccine mandate has been suspended at this time, and employees no longer need to provide proof of full vaccination. However, health and safety risks to our community will continue to be monitored and a vaccine mandate may be reinstated if necessary.

Required Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in geography, plant science or other related field with approximately one to two years relevant experience (or equivalent combination of training and experience).
• Demonstrated experience with land management systems, GIS and GPS.
• Experience related to remote sensing in managed land systems including object classification through the assessment of 2- and 3-dimensional point cloud data.
• Strong analytical, organizational and time management skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication (verbal and written) skills.
• Special Flight Operations Certificate for UAV operation or completion of certification within six months from date of hire.
• Pesticide Applicators License or completion of licensing within six months from date of hire.
• Valid class 5 Nova Scotia drivers license.
• Ability to walk regularly in a variety of field conditions, and work outdoors with exposure to allergens (e.g. dust, pollen) and chemicals (e.g. pesticides) and in a variety of weather conditions.
• Ability to manually lift items of between 10 and 20 kg on occasion.

Assets


Job Competencies


Additional Information
Dalhousie University supports a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Our total compensation package includes a defined benefit pension plan, health and dental plans, an employee and family assistance program and a tuition assistance program.

Application Consideration
Bargaining unit employees for NSGEU local 77 are given first consideration and will be notified regarding the status of their application. All other applicants will be considered when there is no qualified internal candidate.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Diversity Statement
Dalhousie University commits to achieving inclusive excellence through continually championing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. The university encourages applications from Indigenous persons (especially Mikmaq), persons of Black/African descent (especially African Nova Scotians), and members of other racialized groups, persons with disabilities, women, persons identifying as members of 2SLGBTQ+ communities, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversity of our community.

Posting Detail Information

Number of Vacancies
One (1)

Open Date
04/04/2023

Close Date
04/21/2023

Open Until Filled
No

Special Instructions to Applicant