MSc student - Forest Research Assistant

Employment and Social Development Canada; Fredericton; On-site; CAD 26,000 - 31,000; Part time

Job summary

Natural Resources Canada - Canadian Forest Service - Atlantic Forestry Centre is seeking an MSc student for a Forest Research Assistant role under the Research Affiliate Program. The project focuses on identifying productive and resilient black spruce seedlings under climate stress in a greenhouse setting.

Applicants must be enrolled in or eligible for an MSc program and have experience with remote sensing, plant physiology, and basic programming (R, Python, Fortran).

Qualifications

• Education: BSc in forestry, environmental science, biology, remote sensing, or related field.
• Currently enrolled or eligible to enroll in MSc in Forestry & Environmental Management at University of New Brunswick.

Responsibilities

• Maintain plants, collect data, and perform processing and analysis throughout the project.
• Apply multi-spectral remote sensing to develop high-throughput phenotyping methods.
• Integrate phenotypic data with genotyping information to identify resilient seedlings and families.

Skills

Remote sensing

Plant physiology

Genetics

R

Python

Fortran

Education

BSc in forestry/environmental science/remote sensing

Enrolled or eligible for MSc in Forestry & Environmental Management at UNB

Tools

R

Python

Fortran

Job description

MSc student - Forest Research Assistant - Research Affiliate Program

Natural Resources Canada- Canadian Forest Service - Atlantic Forestry Centre

Selection process number
2026-RSN-EA-CFS-682177

Employment tenure
This M.Sc. RAP Bursary will start January 2027 and end January 2029. It is expected that the student will work part-time (approximately 22.5 hours per week) for a two-year period (eight semesters).

Salary
Scholarship of approximately $25,500/year divided into 3 equal installments each year.

Who can apply
Persons residing in Canada, and Canadian citizens and Permanent residents abroad.To be considered for RAP opportunities, students must be:
1. Recognized as having full‑time student status by the post‑secondary academic institution at which they are presently enrolled OR be a part‑time student who is recognized by their academic institution as a having a disability;
2. The minimum age to work in the province or territory where the job is located; AND
3. Enrolled in an academic program that requires research as part of their curriculum.

Duties
We are seeking an MSc student interested in remote sensing, tree physiology, and genetics to identify productive and resilient black spruce seedlings under climate change‑related stressors. Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of drought events while also influencing forest insect disturbances such as spruce budworm outbreaks, both of which threaten forest health and productivity. This project will investigate the combined effects of drought stress and spruce budworm defoliation on a black spruce breeding population grown in a greenhouse. The student will assess a broad range of physiological and morphological traits and use multi‑spectral remote sensing technologies to develop high‑throughput phenotyping approaches. These phenotypic data will then be integrated with genotyping information to identify seedlings and families with enhanced resilience to multiple stressors. The experiment has already been established in the AFC greenhouse. The student will be responsible for plant maintenance, data collection, processing, and analysis throughout the project.

Work environment
At Natural Resources Canada, a federal government job means developing leadership skills, fostering teamwork, and supporting creativity and innovation. We know it takes people from diverse pools of talent to make this happen. That is why we are looking for people like you. As an employee at Natural Resources Canada you can enjoy diverse employment opportunities, a range of career development programs, and a learning culture that supports you to learn on an ongoing basis. We support balancing your work and private life by offering the benefits of flexible work arrangements.

Intent of the process
The intention is to staff one student position for the completion of a masters degree supervised by Dr. Funda Ogut (Canadian Forest Service - Atlantic Forestry Centre).

Positions to be filled
1

Important messages
You must provide proof of your education credentials, and a list of courses may be required.Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice.A random and/or top‑down selection of candidates may be used in the determination of those to be given further consideration in the assessment process.Candidates from outside the public service may be required to pay for travel and relocation costs associated with this selection process.Successful completion of both a RAP work assignment and your educational program may lead to a temporary or permanent federal public service position for which you meet the merit criteria and conditions of employment.For further information on the Research Affiliate Program (RAP), please visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/jobs/services/recruitment/students/research-affiliate-program.htmlNatural Resources Canada is committed to employment equity and building strength through diversity. We welcome applications from qualified people and encourage members of the designated groups (Aboriginal Peoples, Persons with Disabilities, Visible Minorities and Women) to apply and to self‑identify. For this selection process, it is our intention to communicate with candidates via email for screening and assessment purposes (including issuing screening results and sending invitations for written tests and interviews). To that end, you must include a valid email address in your application. It is your responsibility to ensure that this address is functional and that it accepts messages from unknown users. It is also your responsibility to ensure accurate information is provided and updated as required.We thank all applicants for their interest in our position(s). For the purpose of this staffing process, only candidates selected for further assessment will be contacted.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance - This factor is not used at the screening stage; the hiring department is responsible for the security clearance process.
Possession of valid Canadian driver's license.
Willingness and ability to travel from home base for extended periods.
Willingness and ability to conduct fieldwork*.*For fieldwork, the student must obtain certifications as needed, including remote first aid/CPR.

You need (essential for the job)

Applied / assessed at a later date

Education:

• Bachelor of Science in forestry, environmental science, biology, remote sensing, or other relevant fields.
• Currently enrolled or eligible to enroll in a MSc program in the Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management at University of New Brunswick.

Experience:

• Experience conducting scientific research related to plant physiology and remote sensing, and their integration in the genomics aspects of this project.
• Experience with basic programming such as R, Fortran or Python languages. Note: In the context of student recruitment in the Federal Public Service, the experience can be acquired through the studies, work experience, or volunteer activities.

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of plant physiology.
• Knowledge of forestry.
• Knowledge of statistics.

Abilities:

• Ability to effectively communicate orally.
• Ability to effectively communicate in writing.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Ability to work in greenhouse and outdoor environments.

Personal Suitability:

• Initiative
• Motivated
• Integrity and respect
• Adaptability

Language requirements (essential for the job)

May be applied / assessed at a later date

Language requirements:

• Knowledge of hyperspectral remote sensing, LiDAR, genetics.

Our commitment

We're committed to providing an inclusive and barrier‑free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please contact the hiring organization below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the population it serves. We promote employment equity and encourage you to self‑declare if you belong to one of the designated employment equity groups when you apply.

Preference will be given to veterans first, followed by Canadian citizens and permanent residents, with the exception of jobs located in Nunavut or Yukon. For positions located in Nunavut, qualified Inuit enrolled under the Nunavut Agreement will be appointed first. For positions located in Yukon, qualified Yukon First Nations will be appointed first, followed by qualified Indigenous persons.

• A cover letter-of approximately 500 words, outlining your interest and specifically detailing how you meet the essential education and experience qualifications listed below (please include how, when, and where this education and experience was obtained).
• A list of the courses you have taken as well as any courses that you are taking now, or that you will be taking this academic year

We'd like to thank all those who apply. However, only the people selected for further consideration will be contacted.