Research Assistant - Conservation Impacts of Bottom Trawl Fisheries

Application deadline: 15 Oct 2023

Project Seahorse (PS) is the world’s premier research, management and policy team for syngnathid fishes (seahorses, pipefishes and seadragons). Our Director, Prof. Amanda Vincent, has been awarded the world’s top accolade in animal conservation for her achievements in safeguarding these fishes, among other international prizes. We host the global expert group on syngnathid conservation, the IUCN SSC Seahorse, Pipefish and Seadragon Specialist Group (with Amanda Vincent as Chair).

Seahorses are caught primarily by nonselective and destructive fishing gears, and particularly by bottom trawls. This hugely common form of fishing is devastating for a huge array of marine populations and for habitats. Bottom trawlers scour the bottom of the ocean and catch everything in their path, willy nilly. Bottom trawling is also implicated in slavery and indentured labour, and often persists only because of harmful fishing subsidies. There is no place for bottom trawling in a sustainable and equitable ocean future. Project Seahorse is enhancing our knowledge of bottom trawling, for greater scientific and public engagement and to drive significant policy change. We seek a senior research assistant to support our efforts.

Project Seahorse is committed to conservation and sustainable use of the world’s coastal marine ecosystems, and has won significant awards for its unusual blend of research and management at scales ranging from community initiatives to international accords. Project Seahorse collaborates with a wide range of stakeholders and partners to build capacity for conservation; by developing conservation policy; managing marine populations and fisheries; undertaking biological research; monitoring and adjusting consumption of marine life and educating and promoting awareness.

The Research Assistant reports to the PS Program Leader and is guided by collaborative discussion to set priorities. They must balance independence and consultation to ensure that their work supports PS strategic planning and programming. They will work closely with other PS team members based in Canada and internationally, providing guidance and expert knowledge on bottom trawl fisheries. They will also establish long-distance links to collegiate and volunteer groups around the world, to advance mutual engagement on bottom trawl fishery regulation and ocean conservation more generally. Required to attend weekly group meetings.

WORK PERFORMED

Conducts and catalyses research on conservation impacts of bottom trawling;

Develops manuscripts, reports and presentations on conservation impacts of bottom trawling, including data collection and curation, data analysis and writing, and submission for publication.

Provides support to PS graduate and undergraduate students conducting research on conservation impacts of bottom trawling;

Obtains grants to support field and desk-based research, policy and management work on conservation impacts of bottom trawling;

Responds to external queries on research and conservation impacts of bottom trawling;

Stays abreast of literature and information about conservation impacts of bottom trawling, briefing the PS Director and colleagues on important new developments;

Proposes possible action and interventions in response to conservation impacts of bottom trawling at local, regional, national and global levels;

After consultation with the PS Director and senior colleagues, executes and supports agreed initiatives to reduce the conservation impacts of bottom trawling;

Supervises PS volunteers to advance PS work on conservation impacts of bottom trawling;

Helps produce communication materials on conservation impacts of bottom trawling;

Supports PS Director, PS Program Leader and other team members in logistic and administrative needs.

Performs other duties as requested.

Application deadline: 15 Oct 2023

This posting is for the UBC Vancouver campus in British Columbia, Canada.

Please refer to reference number NC-57520 during correspondence about this position.

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

About UBC
The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world. Since 1915, UBC's entrepreneurial spirit has embraced innovation and challenged the status quo. UBC encourages its students, staff and faculty to challenge convention, lead discovery and explore new ways of learning. At UBC, bold thinking is given a place to develop into ideas that can change the world.

About UBC's Faculty of Science
UBC Science brings together a community of scholars internationally recognized for its commitment to discovery and innovation—in the lab and in the classroom. Our faculty conduct top-tier research in the life, physical, earth and computational sciences, driving insights into sustainability, biodiversity, human health, nanoscience, new materials, probability, artificial intelligence, exoplanets and more. Ranked among the world's top 40 universities, UBC's research prowess in environmental science, math, physics, plant and animal science, computer science, geology, oceanography and biology is consistently rated best in Canada by international and national rankings.

About Vancouver
Vancouver is a dynamic, cosmopolitan and progressive city, consistently ranked as one of the top cities to live in the world. Canada's third largest city has it all: sea, parks, mountains, beaches, and four seasons per year, including beautiful summers and mild, wet winters with snow in the mountains. It's the perfect backdrop to your academic research.