Job Description

Staff - Non UnionJob Category Non Union Technicians and Research AssistantsJob Profile Non Union Salaried - Research Assistant /Technician 2Job Title Research Assistant/Technician 2-2Department Research 2 | Pauly | Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries | Faculty of ScienceCompensation Range $4,333.86 - $5,155.61 CAD MonthlyPosting End Date August 25, 2024Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.Job End Date Aug 31, 2025At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.Job SummaryThe Sea Around Us is a research initiative, which, since its inception in 1994, has made available an online searchable Atlas of reconstructed marine capture fisheries catches from 1950 to the present of all maritime countries of the world via its website at www.seaaroundus.org. This global catch database permits the testing of fisheries-related global hypotheses applied to marine conservation concerns and has served as the underlying database for many articles published by the Sea Around Us members and their collaborations in peer-reviewed journals.Recently, the Sea Around Us obtained support from Minderoo Foundation for a project that will have an 18-month duration. This project\xe2\x80\x99s objective is to update the catch reconstructions of the world\xe2\x80\x99s maritime fishing nations to the most recent year (2022). This project includes the updates to 2022 or most recent year, the associated databases on price, end-use, fishing access and high seas catches.In addition, the Sea Around Us embarked on the reconstructions of the world\xe2\x80\x99s inland fisheries, with the recent publication of a first in a series of such reconstructions for Canada, the USA State of Minnesota, ten country members of the ASEAN and all countries in Africa.The Sea Around Us envisions the continuation of the assessment of the world\xe2\x80\x99s fish stocks based on the reconstructed catches and the estimation of maximum sustainable yields (CMSY/BSM) method developed by Rainer Froese and colleagues through the Minderoo Project.We seek four Research Assistants who will identify published literature and other data sources applicable to our marine fisheries catch reconstruction methods and data needs, extract these data in file formats used for catch reconstruction analyses, and complete an update of the marine fisheries catches by EEZ reconstructed for the period 1950-2022.The ideal candidate should have: 1) basic knowledge of fish and invertebrate taxonomy, that is, able to understand scientific and common names; 2) basic knowledge of statistics and a good grasp of logic; 3) working knowledge of Excel or other spreadsheet software; 4) working knowledge of literature search platforms, notably those that are being used in digital libraries as well as other internet sources; 5) knowledge of R and GIS software is desirable and a good grasp of geography will be beneficial; 6) good communication skills. In addition, willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one\xe2\x80\x99s own and showing a commitment to enhancing one\xe2\x80\x99s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion would be desirable.Organizational StatusReporting directly to the Project Manager, Dr Maria L.D. Palomares, and as required to the Principal Investigator, Dr. Daniel Pauly, the Senior Technician works independently under minimal supervision. The Senior Technician oversees and trains the database and website team and any other Sea Around Us staff requiring data extraction. Liaises with equipment manufacturer representatives and service technicians and acts as a consultant to external research facilities including local, national and international collaborators.Work PerformedConduct in-depth literature searches on historical fisheries data (catch landings, discards, foreign fleets, fishing effort, species caught, catch per unit of effort, standing stock biomass, etc.) by using Google Scholar, Web of Science, Aquatic Science and Fisheries Abstracts or similar indexes and databases or by using the Google Dataset Search. There is a wide range of references available, such as national statistics and policy documentation, reports, scientific publication, case studies, published and unpublished literature, news articles, etc. Sources for such information include library books and periodicals, governmental and inter-governmental organizations, websites of non-governmental organizations, etc.Generate a library of relevant documentation that can easily be revisited by Sea Around Us researchers;Assist international collaborators in the analysis, interpretation, quality evaluation, assembly and compilation of required research data from scientific or socio-economic literature for each EEZ;Maintain meticulous records of methodology and decisions made for all steps during project execution;Prepare data for inputs in the Sea Around US database in an appropriate format;Participate in team meetings and may be tasked with recording minutes of these meetings;Follow protocols and methods developed by the Sea Around Us leaders and use guidelines outlined in established literature;Assist with the editing and preparation of project reports;Perform other related duties as required by the Project Manager or Principal Investigator.Consequence of Error/JudgementThe Sea Around Us Research Assistant must pay strict attention to details and look out for common sources of error. Consequences of error/judgement jeopardize the overall database reliability due to product and output inaccuracy. Failure to reflect reliability, accuracy, and timeliness of expected outputs will lead to loss of scientific and community support, eventually leading to the loss in trust of project outputs, and thus affecting the ability of the project to attract funding.Supervision ReceivedRoutine work is carried out independently after completion of training, lab orientation, and familiarization with existing methods and projects. The Research Assistant reports directly to the Project Manager, Dr Maria Palomares and may defer to the Principal Investigator, Dr. Daniel Pauly for unusual occurrences.Supervision Given
None.Minimum Qualifications
High school graduation, some additional training in a related field and a minimum two years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one\xe2\x80\x99s own- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one\xe2\x80\x99s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusionPreferred QualificationsBSc in Zoology, Biology (preferably in Marine Science or related aquatic fields), some additional training in a related field and a minimum two years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.Working knowledge of literature search platforms, notably those that are being used in digital libraries as well as other internet sources, such as global fishing databases.Basic knowledge of fish and invertebrate taxonomy, that is, able to understand scientific and common names.Working knowledge of Excel or other spreadsheet software and experience with handling large datasets. Advanced working knowledge of MS Office suite, with emphasis on MS Access and Excel; knowledge of SQL and/or of the R software is an asset. Knowledge of R and GIS software is desirable and a good grasp of geography is also desirable.Basic knowledge of statistics and a good grasp of logic.Strong time management and organizational skills.Working knowledge of Spanish, Portuguese and other languages spoken in South America and Europe would be an asset.

University of British Columbia