Student Research Assistant, Virtual Reality

at  Douglas College

WORK ARRANGEMENTS

The position is located at the New Westminster Campus. Hours of work: up to a maximum of 20 hours/week.
The work terms for this position are:
1. Fall 2024: September 3, 2024 – December 19, 2024
2. Winter 2025: January 6, 2025 – April 25, 2025
3. Summer 2025: May 6, 2025 – August 18, 2025
This position will be located in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

WHAT DOUGLAS OFFERS

DO what you love. Be good at it. That’s how Douglas College defines a great career. It’s a philosophy that resonates through our classrooms, our offices and our boardrooms. It inspires our students and drives us to make Douglas College one of BC’s Top Employers. We love what we do. And we’re looking for passionate, motivated people to join us in making one of Canada’s best colleges even better.

THE ROLE

The student research assistant will work with faculty to research and develop virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) software for neuroscience education. The specific duties performed will depend on the current phase of the project but may include: reviewing current computer graphics and animation literature on state-of-the-art methodologies for simulating physical and natural phenomena; investigating intermediate and advanced VR and AR development techniques for use in conjunction with modern game engines and graphics APIs; developing and implementing novel computational methods for use in VR and AR software; and creating and maintaining documentation for new and existing science education applications.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Under direction from the supervisor the student assistant will do the following:

• Provide regular progress reports to supervising faculty in Computing Science and Psychology departments;
• Present research results by preparing technical reports, writing academic papers, and conducting live demonstrations to the wider community in collaboration with faculty;
• Assist faculty in maintaining new and existing applications to ensure compatibility with college equipment; and
• Assist faculty in preparing research ethics and funding proposals;
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS ROLE YOU WILL NEED

• Successful completion of CMPT-1267 with a letter grade of “B+” or better; and
• Experience with version control software (e.g., Git, Mercurial, or SVN) and open-source documentation systems (e.g., Doxygen).
  Domestic students must meet ONE of the following criteria, to be eligible to work as a Student Assistant/Student Research Assistant:
• The domestic student must be enrolled in, and maintain, a minimum of one or more (3 credit) courses at Douglas College throughout the work term; OR
• The domestic student must have been enrolled in, and maintained, a minimum of one or more (3 credit) courses at Douglas College in the term immediately preceding the work term and has indicated an intention to enroll at the college in the term immediately following the work term; OR
• The domestic student must be enrolled in, and maintain a minimum of two or more (3 credit) courses at another accredited public post-secondary institution in B.C. throughout the work term; OR
• The domestic student must have been enrolled in, and maintained, a minimum of two or more (3 credit) courses at another accredited public post-secondary institution in B.C. in the term immediately preceding the work term and has indicated an intention to enroll at the institution in the term immediately following the work term.
  International students must meet ONE of the following criteria, to be eligible to work as a Student Assistant/Student Research Assistant:
• The international student is enrolled in full-time studies at Douglas College, throughout the academic year; OR
• The international student, who is not a Douglas College student, but is an international student at another accredited public post-secondary institution in B.C., has a valid Study Permit that has the notation – “May accept employment on or off campus if meeting eligibility criteria as per R186 (F), (V) or (W). Must cease working if no longer meeting these criteria.” Proof of enrollment in full-time studies from the other post-secondary institution is required.
  An original copy of a Social Insurance Number (SIN) and an original Study Permit are required by law before commencing work at Douglas College.
  Qualified Douglas College students meeting the above criteria will be given first preference over students of other qualifying institutions.