Are you passionate about freshwater science, data rescue, data synthesis, reproducible research and graduate student training? We seek a fulltime postdoctoral scholar to join the Living Data Project as our freshwater data science expert, working with a team of faculty across Canada as well as Canadian freshwater organizations DataStream and Water Rangers. This position is based at the University of British Columbia (UBC). The Living Data Project is a national initiative, led by the Canadian Institute of Ecology and Evolution (CIEE), to rescue and synthesize environmental data by providing teams of graduate students with the data management, integration and analysis skills to do so.
Duties. The postdoctoral scholar will lead the Living Data Project program in freshwater science. This will involve: (1) working with DataStream and faculty to create, oversee and complete small-team projects centered on the digital archiving of freshwater data; (2) working with Water Rangers and faculty to create, oversee and complete working group projects designed to improve the robustness of Canada-wide watershed metrics; (3) working with the Living Data Project to implement these small-team projects and working groups in the context of a national training program for graduate students in data management, reproducible research, synthesis statistics and scientific collaboration. The Living Data Project will run two graduate-level courses per year, and the postdoctoral scholar will be an integral part of this team. Much of the collaboration and training/mentorship activities will be virtual, with some in person activities such as working groups. Within-Canada travel will be occasionally required; note that the DataStream and Water Rangers have head offices in Central Canada.
Career development. The postdoctoral scholar will develop and receive appropriate attribution for research products, including peer-reviewed publications, through the working groups, archived datasets, and other collaborations with team members. The Living Data Project also provides exceptional opportunities for postdoctoral scholars to develop their training portfolios, and expand their professional networks and exposure to non-academic employers. Senior team leads will assist the postdoctoral scholar in designing and implementing their own customized professional development plan through regular meetings.
Eligibility. We seek a highly qualified individual with a PhD in a relevant ecological or environmental science, with deep knowledge of freshwater science, and who has demonstrated exceptional skills in data management, statistical analysis, and scientific collaboration. Candidates should also have excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills; fluency in spoken and written English; and a strong personal commitment to research, teaching and equity. Without exception, candidates must have completed all requirements for their PhD and any necessary work permits prior to initiation of employment.
Desired skills. Priority will be given to candidates who have knowledge of water quality analysis and indices of freshwater health, and proficiencies in at least some of the following skills: data archiving, R programming, version control (e.g. GitHub), reproducible research, database construction, collation of large databases from multiple sources, citizen science, advanced statistics (e.g. hierarchical modelling, structural equation models, meta-analysis), equity and inclusion in scientific collaborations and the working group method. We particularly encourage candidates with prior experience in teaching or mentoring of the above skills. Although the working language for this project is English, French language skills may be an asset for some datasets.
Application. Applicants should submit a CV and a two-page cover letter outlining relevant experience and training to: Dr. Diane Srivastava, Director CIEE. Please submit this material as a single pdf. Applicants should also arrange for two (2) letters of reference to be sent directly to Dr. Srivastava. Please send all materials electronically to ciee-icee@biodiversity.ubc.ca.
Deadlines. Please submit materials by 31 January 2026. The appointment is anticipated to begin between 1 May and 31 May, 2026. The appointment is initially for one year and, following a successful performance review and continued funding, the candidate may be reappointed annually for a total of three years. The successful applicant will receive a salary of $70,000 per annum plus benefits.
UBC hires on the basis of merit and is committed to employment equity. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority. The position is subject to final budgetary approval.
​
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. The term “postdoctoral scholar” in this advertisement should be understood as a gender-neutral synonym of “postdoctoral fellow”.
