Student Research Assistants, Peatland Restoration

In order to ensure your application is received by NAIT for thorough review and consideration, please apply directly through our Careers site at www.nait.ca/careers

Please Note: This is a casual opportunity beginning on May 1 and ending on or before August 31, 2025 with the possibility of extension. These are field based positions. Our campus is located in Peace River.

The Peatland Restoration Program at the NAIT Centre for Boreal Research is an applied research program working with multiple stakeholders to develop ecosystem restoration and land reclamation strategies for industrially disturbed boreal wetlands.

The program works with industry, government, and other academic institutions to investigate field scalable techniques to restore peatland ecosystem functions, including greenhouse gas exchange, vegetation regeneration, and hydrology reintegration. Learnings are used to inform provincial land management strategies and contribute to the understanding of restored wetlands as nature based climate solutions.

The Peatlands team is a diverse, multidisciplinary group with backgrounds in biology, peatland ecology, restoration ecology, wetland science, environmental sciences, and forestry.

Our summer field program requires multiple summer student research assistants with a curious, enthusiastic attitude and an interest in working outdoors. They will assist various team members in field data collection on multiple projects across northern Alberta. Summer staff will learn techniques to monitor carbon as part of GHG exchange, measure surface hydrology, identify peatland vegetation including mosses, and gain field experience working within remote oilfield settings. Field work and outdoor data collection can present unexpected challenges and opportunities; adaptability to changing conditions will be essential.

https://www.nait.ca/applied-research/research-areas/land-management-and-restoration

Key Responsibilities:

Collect field data at remote sites

• Carbon flux measurements
• Hydrology measurements
• Moss and vascular plant surveys
• Soil measurements
• Work with meteorological sensors

• Research site setup

• Sample plot layout
• Boardwalk building
• Equipment installation
• Vegetation planting

• Various lab, equipment, office tasks as needed (i.e., repairing equipment, processing samples)

• Data entry

NOTE: All work will be around oilfield operations and requires full adherence to safe work protocols.

Skills & Abilities:

• A strong interest in vegetation ecology and wetlands/peatlands specifically.
• Strong attention to detail for repetitive data collection.
  The ability to work in a physically demanding environment for long hours installing equipment in remote areas, carrying equipment in, walking on soft, uneven ground, getting wet, dealing with bugs.
• A willingness to work flexible schedules and travel to distant sites for away field trips. During away trips, crews will stay in work camp or hotel accommodations provided by us.
• The ability to work in a team environment while also independently collecting measurements.
• Basic plant identification skills and knowledge of Microsoft Excel would be an asset.

Qualifications:

• Must be a current college or undergraduate university student enrolled in a Biological Sciences, Ecology, Land Reclamation, or Environmental Science related program.
• College or polytechnic post-secondary students are prioritized, but university students in an undergraduate program will also be considered.
• All applicants must possess a valid Class 5 driver's license with 2 years' driving experience. A clean drivers abstract must be provided at time of hiring.
• The ability to drive a large field truck is required; trailer experience would be an asset.

Applicants with education credentials earned outside of Canada should have their credentials evaluated by World Education Services or the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS).

Remuneration: $17.48 - $21.69 per hour, plus 12% in lieu of stat holidays and vacation accrual. (Classification - Student Research Assistant l).

This casual opportunity is covered by the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) Collective Agreement.

Please submit a resume and cover letter to be considered for this opportunity.

About NAIT

We are proud to have been named one of Alberta's Top Employers for 13 consecutive years. Being part of a community that makes a difference in the lives of students, staff, industry clients and partners, NAIT's culture reflects our shared values of respect, collaboration, celebration, creativity, and accountability.

NAIT supports a flexible work environment, enabling staff to request approval for on-campus, off-site, or hybrid work arrangements based on the nature of the role. Please note that remote positions require employees to reside within Canada.

NAIT is committed to fostering an environment that supports equity and cultivates inclusion through our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy. We are a proud partner of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion and Pride at Work Canada. While we encourage all qualified applicants to apply, only those being considered will be contacted. If you require any accommodations, please connect with us at careers@nait.ca.

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