Opportunities to join the O'Connor Lab

Open positions

Research Assistant - Cree Knowledge of the Eastern James Bay Coastal Habitat
Context: The Coastal Habitat Comprehensive Research Project is a large-scale research program covering the coast of Eeyou Istchee (James Bay, Northern Quebec). This multidisciplinary program seeks to better understand the generalized decline of eelgrass (Zostera marina) habitats along the eastern James Bay coast. This seagrass species is extremely important to the ecology of the coastal region, particularly to migratory geese that depend on it during their migration and whose abundance has declined following changes to eelgrass availability. These environmental changes have in turn deeply affected the livelihoods and traditional hunting activities of the coastal Cree.

Position description: The Cree knowledge component of this research program is in charge of documenting knowledge and practices associated with eelgrass and migratory waterfowl. It focuses on understanding changes in Cree relationships with the coastal environment and the dynamics that shape them. This research assistant position will contribute to this component and its main duties include assisting fieldwork in James Bay, Northern Quebec. The hire will work closely with the project collaborators [Julián Idrobo (Aurora Research Institute) and Melanie LeBlanc (McGill University)] and primarily report to the them in consultation with the PI [Mary O’Connor (Department of Zoology, UBC)] on day to day research tasks.

The main responsibilities of this position are to:
  1. Contribute preparing remote fieldwork,
  2. Conduct research in remote areas of Eastern James Bay in collaboration with local Cree communities,
  3. Participate in outreach events in each community,
  4. Assist data gathering through semi-structured interviews, participatory mapping exercises and participation in land-based activities (including spending 2-4 days in Cree camps without electricity or running water),
  5. Transcribe and process data gathered, including spatial data and interviews,
  6. Assist with report writing.
Preferred Qualifications:
  • B.Sc./B.A. in Env. Studies, Social Sciences or related field.
  • At least 1 year’s experience with social science research.
  • GIS data processing experience and skills strongly preferred.
  • Effective oral and written communicator with keen interest in Indigenous knowledge, community-based research and public outreach.
  • Demonstrated willingness to engage with conceptual foundations of research when needed.
Compensation Range: $3,858.00 - $4,228.00 CAD Monthly
Posting End Date: September 8, 2021
Job End Date: Dec 31, 2021

For more information about this posting, and to apply: UBC Workday

For more information about the Coastal Habitat Comprehensive Research Program:
https://www.eeyoucoastalhabitat.ca

General Information

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.
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  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​
See our Lab Culture page for more details on what it's like to be in the O'Connor lab.