Postdoctoral Fellow
Hakai Coastal Initiative Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biodiversity Change

Posted: April 1 2020 

Applications are invited for a two-year postdoctoral fellowship (PDF) to study biodiversity change and to compare diversity change across methods, scales and levels of biological organization.

Overview: Most scientists agree that the biosphere is experiencing a biodiversity crisis – loss of diversity, biotic homogenization and reorganization of trophic structure of ecological systems from local to global scales. Recent estimates indicate 1-million species are threatened with extinction (IPBES 2019). However, one of the most intense controversies in ecological science in recent years has been about whether data from biodiversity observation programs actually show biodiversity loss! When measured on small plots (0.01 – 1ha) biodiversity data do not convincingly show a net decline in the number of species in many places on the planet; many sites appear to show gains and losses of species. This finding has spurred serious criticism, controversy and debate over how we observe and compare biodiversity measurements. Given the growing emphasis on biodiversity monitoring, assessment and conservation in national and international policies, more effective methods are needed for guiding investment in biodiversity monitoring, and for effectively synthesizing existing observations. This project aims to develop new standards to quantify biodiversity change and assess the causes of change. In collaboration with researchers at Hakai, UBC, University of Victoria, and a working group of biodiversity scientists, this postdoctoral fellow will lead data syntheses of existing biodiversity monitoring data, and also develop guidelines and approaches to use when planning future syntheses and monitoring. At a time when institutes and governments are providing substantial funding for biodiversity monitoring, it is essential that we develop robust methods for establish the status and trends for the diversity of life on Earth.

Project goals: The research problems to be tackled by the postdoc and working group, are:
1)     How is biodiversity changing across scales of life (genetic, population, species, traits, etc)?
2)     How can we most effectively combine established methods and emerging technologies to robustly detect and attribute biodiversity change?
3)     Can we offer guidelines and a model for biodiversity observation in a time of global change?
 
Postdoctoral Responsibilities: The postdoc will be responsible for the following objectives, within the context of the overall project as described above:

A.    To work with Hakai scientists on existing biodiversity estimates to combine datasets across taxa, methods and scales to obtain a deeper understanding of biodiversity, as well as the uncertainties associated with biodiversity estimates. Hakai research staff have cleaned and prepared datasets, and the postdoc will analyze these using state of the art statistical approaches. Critical to this project is the ability to consider uncertainties in biodiversity observation, and how to consider these in data syntheses across taxonomic groups, scales and methods.

B.    To apply, and develop if needed, robust methods for detection and attribution of biodiversity change.

C.    To participate in a working group of scientists engaged in biodiversity monitoring, synthesis and biodiversity change assessment to produce new research on biodiversity change using new methods and data (objectives 1 and 2).

Requirements:
·       Strong understanding of biodiversity science, biodiversity estimation and related theory.
·       Demonstrated high-level skills in statistical analysis, simulation and visualization of large datasets.
·       Some familiarity with biodiversity policy and conservation, such as IPBES, GeoBon, and CBD.
·       Willingness to work collaboratively with group of scientists with diverse experiences in biodiversity observation and assessment of change.
·       Capacity to lead projects with collaborators, excellent communication skills, and demonstrated ability to finish projects on time.
 
Additional details:  Hakai is a research organization based in British Columbia with substantial biodiversity observations collected by experts in fish, invertebrates, microbes, seaweeds and other taxa. The PDF will have the opportunity to visit field stations occasionally, though this project is entirely focused on analysis and synthesis of data that has already been collected. The position will be based at UBC's Biodiversity Research Centre in Vancouver.

This is a limited term, two-year PDF position paid at a rate of $55,000 CAD per year plus Mandatory Employment Related Benefits with an opportunity for renewal given satisfactory performance and funding availability. A research budget is also available. We seek a candidate who has completed a PhD within the last five years and who shows evidence of strong quantitative skills, biodiversity science and current topics relating to detecting and attributing biodiversity change.

To apply, please send a cover letter, CV and two research publications to Dr. Mary O’Connor by email (oconnor ~at~ zoology dot ubc dot ca). Your cover letter should address your motivation to excel in this project, and the skills and experience you can bring to the work. Review of applications will begin on April 27th and we hope to fill the position for a start date of June 1 2020 (negotiable).

Summer Undergraduate Research Positions
Every summer, 3-5 undergraduates join the lab and participate in research in several capacities. If these are of interest, please contact Mary (oconnor@zoology.ubc.ca) with a brief statement if your interests, availability, and personal goals for undertaking a research experience. Typically we interview in Jan-Feb and make decisions in March for the summer.
​
  1. Volunteers. Volunteers are often seeking experience to build their CV for research positions later. So they need to learn 1-2 (or more) skills, and experience in the research process. These positions are between 6 - 12 hours / week (negotiated in advance), unpaid, and tasks are clearly defined: feeding animals, sorting samples, measuring temperatures, etc. 
  2. Work-learn. These positions are paid (20 hours per week in the summer), and current or recent students are eligible. We always have 1, sometimes we have 2 of these.
  3. Directed studies. This can be 3 or 6 credits, and is an independent research project (designed in collaboration with Mary or a current graduate student or postdoc to fit with ongoing research efforts). These are not paid, but can be done with work-learn (not overlapping hours, but in addition to).
  4. NSERC USRA. This is a full time, paid, 1/2 technician and 1/2 time for research (e.g., for an honours project and/or contribution to an ongoing lab experiment). This requires a departmental competition and high GPA. Min 86% to be considered, and ~87 or higher to be competitive.

Prospective Graduate Students
If you’re interested in applying to work with me, here is an overview of my expectations, and what I will explore as we chat about grad school:​

  1. You have done research and have some written product. Could be a report or thesis, but ideally is co-authorship on a paper. 
  2. You can articulate why you want to go to grad school, why you want to join my group, and what are your thoughts for after grad school.
  3. You can discuss one or two research problems that really interest you and that you have thought about.
  4. You can work independently yet also can be an active contributor to our lab group.

Please email your CV, transcripts, and a statement of your research interests to oconnor@zoology.ubc.ca.

​If you are looking for more information about grad school in general, please check out this blog post on "The unwritten rules of getting in and getting on in grad school". 

Prospective Postdocs
In Canada most postdoc funding comes through fellowships awarded to the postdoc (rather than supervisor funds). I’ve included some links below, and most of these have provided support for postdocs to join my group over the last few years. These postdoctoral fellowships open to candidates of any nationality. If you think you might be a good fit for one of these to work with my group, please contact me and we can discuss a proposal.

Killam Postdoctoral Fellowships 
Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships
UBC Biodiversity Postdoc
UBC Ocean Leaders program
Bamfield Postdoctoral Fellowships (advertised when available)
Liber Ero Fellowship​