Job: UW Urban Forest Research Assistant
Apply at WaterlooWorks, will be posted Wed March 8 & Thurs March 9 only!
Hours: 8:30am – 4:30pm Monday – Friday
The UW Urban Forest is located between the Village, Health Services and Westmount Road North and is the largest remaining wooded green space on the UW campus. It is characterized by habitats ranging from the creek bed of Laurel Creek to marshy floodplains, and a moist forest composed of various Great-Lakes-St. Lawrence forest tree species (e.g. white oak and black cherry). Since the creation of the University of Waterloo Urban Forest project, many studies have taken place. The forest contains over 150 monitoring plots.
This position will contribute to the UW Urban Forest monitoring and restoration program. The position involves performing tree measurements and working on a vegetation inventory and monitoring program.
Responsibilities:
- Measure spatial positions of trees in the urban forest using a rangefinder
- Coordinate volunteers to help with mapping, monitoring and other analysis
- Record data and ensure database is accurate and up to date
- Identify, tag and measure understory vegetation
- Use social media and other UW communication to promote the urban forest
- Photo documentation of taxa in the forest.
- Create and maintain website.
Qualifications:
- Proficient in plant identification including woody and herbaceous species
- Knowledgeable in working with excel and data analysis
- Knowledge of concepts in spatial mapping and analysis (GPS, interpreting maps, etc.)
- Competent working outdoors in a woodlot, under a variety of weather conditions.
- Organized with handling course material and preparing for class field activities.
- Able to coordinate volunteers and demonstrate field techniques.
- Excellent communication skills and ability to work confidently in a group setting, with course instructors, students and community.
- Mature, responsible and able to work and research independently.
- Self-motivated and passionate about forestry restoration.
- ArcGIS and statistical software knowledge an asset
- Knowledge of other taxa including birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians an asset.