MSc or PHD student
Identifying trophic connections between rockweed, amphipods and char in Nunavut

Posted: May 3 2019 

Graduate Position to start Fall 2019 (MSc or PHD level). Based at UBC in the Biodiversity Research Centre and Department of Zoology. Funding is available for 2 years to conduct lab and field analyses of rockweed and amphipod abundance and distribution, and to quantify trophic links with Arctic char.
 
We are seeking a student with demonstrated success in the field in tough conditions, marine biology coursework and experience, and clear writing skills. Competitive applicants will have experience relevant to doing science in remote communities and working with non-scientists in the field (engaging with fishers and local workers in Nunavut communities will be part of this position). Additionally, experience doing fish gut dissections and preparing samples for DNA and fatty acid analysis is desirable (but not essential). This position is supported by funds associated with a project, but the student will have time and flexibility to expand the project based on mutual interests between the student and supervisor (Dr. Mary O’Connor). Possible topics for project expansion include thermal and comparative biology and ecology of amphipods and amphipod-seaweed interactions.
 
If interested and available to start between September and December 2019, please send a CV and letter of interest to Mary O’Connor at oconnor -at- zoology.ubc.ca with the subject: "Nunavut Grad Position". Deadline: May 20, 2019.

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​