Undergraduate Summer Research Prize

IISD Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA) is one of the world’s most influential freshwater research facilities. It features a collection of 58 small lakes and their watersheds in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. For over 50 years, scientists at IISD-ELA have conducted whole-ecosystem experiments and made significant scientific discoveries related to issues such as acid rain, mercury from air pollution, algal blooms and pharmaceutical chemicals in water. The facility is operated by the International Institute for Sustainable Development—an independent think tank headquartered in Winnipeg, MB.

IISD-ELA acknowledges that our research facility is located on Treaty Three lands, and the care of these lands during experimentation and restoration to original state is implicit in its mission. Many local schools in the region come to the facility to learn more about the science of aquatic ecosystems and how humans serve a role in sharing and working with one another to protect these resources.

IISD-ELA aims to inspire the general public and to train the next generation of research scientists, providing a platform for science education and innovation. IISD-ELA is seeking a motivated University of Manitoba student to spend the summer of 2023 at the unique IISD-ELA research facility, to assist with field-based research on hydrology, water quality, water chemistry, fisheries biology, or freshwater ecology.

Full room and board will be provided at the IISD-ELA facility, as well as travel to and from the facility (to Winnipeg or Kenora) on weekends.

Skills & Qualifications:

The Undergraduate Summer Research Prize is competitive, and the qualifying candidate must:

• Have been enrolled as a student at the University of Manitoba in Fall 2022 and/or Winter 2023 academic sessions;
• Have completed a minimum of one year as a full-time student (minimum 30 credit hours) at the University of Manitoba;
• Have achieved a minimum grade point average of 3.0;

Assets:

• Experience working outdoors and/or in remote locations
• Experience and/or training in the use of All-Terrain Vehicles
• Ability to speak French and/or Ojibwa

Candidates must possess or be willing to obtain valid certifications for the following:

• First Aid/CPR with AED
• Pleasure Craft Operator’s Card

IISD-ELA will require the completion of a criminal record and vulnerable sector verification.

The successful applicant will be required to have full vaccination against COVID-19. This is a condition of employment due to congregated living aspect of the facility and no teleworking being possible.

The contract is for a full-time 18-week term position from approximately May to August 2023.

Compensation: $13,000 CAD plus $2,000 towards tuition at the University of Manitoba in next academic semester.

Closing date: Monday, February 13th, 2023 @ 08:00 CST

Please reply to the confirmation email with any questions/concerns regarding your application.

We thank all candidates for their interest; however, only candidates advancing in the recruitment will be contacted for an interview. We kindly request that further contact not be necessary.

Application Procedure

All submissions must be in English. Accommodations for job applicants with disabilities are available on request.

Candidates must hold appropriate work authorization for Canada.

Applications will only be accepted through Bamboo HR.

Please include the following:

• A CV

• Their most recent academic transcript (can be a web transcript; please include within CV document)

• A cover letter (500 words maximum) outlining previous experience(s) in areas related to IISD-ELA research and how receiving the scholarship will further the applicant’s academic and career interests

• IISD Voluntary Self-Identification Questionnaire (optional)

Resumes will be kept on file for 1 year.

IISD has implemented a COVID-19 vaccination policy that requires employees who are required or choose to be at an office or participate in in-person team events or in-person meetings/events to be fully vaccinated. Anyone unable to be fully vaccinated, either because of a sincerely held religious belief or a medical condition or a disability that prevents them from being fully vaccinated, can request a reasonable accommodation.

IISD is committed to fostering a more equitable and sustainable world and welcomes candidates who uphold our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition, to correct the conditions of social injustice and disadvantage in employment around the world, we encourage candidates from historically marginalized groups, including women, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, and those who identify themselves as 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply for this position. Preference will be given to the equity-deserving groups during the hiring process. We offer reasonable accommodations in our recruitment process and seek applicants' advice on how best to accommodate their needs. Please self-identify and answer our employment equity questionnaire on our applicant tracking system when you apply.