Staff - Non Union

##Job Category

M&P - AAPS

##Job Profile

AAPS Salaried - Research and Facilitation, Level A

##Job Title

Research Scientist

##Department

Research | Nicholas Coops Lab | Department of Forest Resources Management

##Compensation Range

$5,365.42 - $7,709.92 CAD Monthly

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

##Posting End Date

March 31, 2026

**Note:**Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

May 31, 2026

This position is expected to be filled by promotion/reassignment and is included here to inform you of its vacancy at the University.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

Structurally guided sampling (SGS) is a data-driven approach to help guide where, and how many, forest plots should be established or remeasured to sample the entire range of structural attributes across the landscape. Currently methodologies exist to undertake SGS based analysis on airborne laser scanning data, however its broad scale application over large areas is more limited due to lack of computing power and storage. We are looking for a computer engineer to support further development of SGS based approaches in a cloud based computing solution to allow large scale application of the approach to provincial datasets. The successful applicant will lead the re-programming of the approach to ensure it is optimized for a cloud computing environment, apply the technique over a number of broad scale forest management areas and then undertake a series of focus studies examining how the approach can be effectively supplied to guide field plot placement.

The successful applicant will optimize existing code and test and validate the approach on a cloud computing environment. They will then undertake analysis of the SGS outputs, with specific focus on optimizing existing forest plot networks. The successful applicant will also be expected to contribute to publications, and presentations in national and international workshops/conferences.

Organizational Status

Reports to the Project Principal Investigator, Dr. Nicholas Coops

Work Performed

• Design a new software architecture for the project documenting code transitions, functionality, and inclusion of required sub-packages
• Re-program using a high-performance language
• Test and verify code, and prepare example datasets
• Work with project partners to deploy code in a production environment.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

This position will play a leading role in research activities for this project, coordinating with provincial government researchers. Failure to manage and communicate information effectively would severely impact this project.

Supervision Received

This position requires considerable independent judgment. Work is reviewed against achievement of project objectives identified by the principal investigator.

Supervision Given

May distribute work assignments to undergraduate or graduate students as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of two years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own

• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, in software development.

• Demonstrate capacity in developing and programming computer dashboards to ingest and process remote sensing data in Java script.

• Expertise in coding a high performance language such as C++

• Demonstrated experience in processing geo spatial data, in particular processing remote sensing imagery, over time. Ability to script and program work flows in C++ and python and understanding and use of remote sensing and GIS programs is essential.

• Demonstrated experience utilizing a cloud computing environment such as AWS or Azure,

• An ability to work both independently and in a team setting is necessary. Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.

About Us

The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities globally. A large part of what makes us unique is the community of engaged students, faculty, and staff who are collectively committed to shaping a better world.

Recognized as a leading employer in British Columbia and Canada, UBC supports inspired students, faculty and staff on their journey of discovery, and challenges them to realize their greatest potential. New ideas, changing infrastructure, innovative technology, and fresh approaches are opening up possibilities for the future of research, teaching, and work. Are you ready to embrace the future together?

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, and/or Indigenous person.

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

If you have any accommodation or accessibility needs during the job application process, please contact the Centre for Workplace Accessibility at

workplace.accessibility@ubc.ca

.