Research Assistant (In Situ Monitoring)

at  IISD

IISD Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA) is the world’s freshwater laboratory. A series of 58 lakes and their watersheds in northwestern Ontario, Canada, IISD-ELA is the only place in the world where scientists can research on and manipulate real lakes to build a more accurate and complete picture of what human activity is doing to freshwater lakes. The findings from over 50 years of ground-breaking research have rewritten environmental policy around the world—from mitigating algal blooms to reducing how much mercury gets into our waterways—and aim to keep fresh water clean around the world for generations to come.
IISD-ELA is operated by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)—an independent think tank headquartered in Winnipeg situated on Treaty 1 Territory—the ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe), Ininiw (Cree), Anisininew (Ojibwe Cree), Dene, and Dakota Nations, and the homeland of the Red River Métis Nation. The IISD-ELA field station is situated on the traditional land of the Anishinaabe Nation in Treaty 3 Territory and the homeland of the Métis Nation.

ASSET SKILLS

• Experience working outdoors and/or working and living in remote locations.
• Work experience in environmental science or engineering.
• Knowledge of quality assurance and quality control measures for environmental data.
• Experience working with power tools, carpentry, or electronics.
• Proficiency with data analysis in Microsoft Excel and/or R.
• Experience operating watercraft with an outboard motor.
• Valid ATV certification.
• Ability to speak French and/or Ojibwe.

Qualifications

• Current enrolment in a university or college program leading to a degree in biology, ecology, environmental science, engineering, or a related discipline, or recent completion (December 2024–April 2025) of such a degree.
• The ability to do fieldwork involving manual labour, such as hiking and lifting heavy objects (up to 25 kg/55 lb).
• A willingness to work long hours in diverse conditions (e.g., heat, cold, rain, snow, bugs).
• The ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• A willingness to live in shared accommodations.
• Candidates must possess or be willing to obtain valid certifications for the following prior to the start of their term:
• First Aid/CPR with AED
• Pleasure Craft Operator’s card
• Driver’s licence
• IISD-ELA will require the completion of a criminal record check and vulnerable sector verification

• Assist with the deployment and collection of instruments and data while following proper quality assurance and quality control measures.
• Assist with the calibration, maintenance, and repair of in situ instruments.
• Prepare reagents for instrument calibration and operation.
• Assist with the construction of sampling stations and wiring of dataloggers, instruments, and radio telemetry equipment.
• Record detailed and accurate field notes; enter field notes and perform quality assurance and quality control checks using Microsoft Excel.
• Use a variety of watercraft (e.g., boats with outboard motors, canoes) in remote areas.
• Operate field vehicles (e.g., ATVs, trucks) on highways, gravel roads, and trails.
• Other duties as assigned, including assisting other IISD-ELA research teams (Toxicology, Fish, Hydrology-limnology, Plankton Ecology, Chemistry Lab) with field sampling and laboratory analyses.

Qualifications

• Current enrolment in a university or college program leading to a degree in biology, ecology, environmental science, engineering, or a related discipline, or recent completion (December 2024–April 2025) of such a degree.
• The ability to do fieldwork involving manual labour, such as hiking and lifting heavy objects (up to 25 kg/55 lb).
• A willingness to work long hours in diverse conditions (e.g., heat, cold, rain, snow, bugs).
• The ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• A willingness to live in shared accommodations.
• Candidates must possess or be willing to obtain valid certifications for the following prior to the start of their term:
• First Aid/CPR with AED
• Pleasure Craft Operator’s card
• Driver’s licence
• IISD-ELA will require the completion of a criminal record check and vulnerable sector verification.