Position Title
Research Assistant
Research Project
Synthesis and Evaluation of New Chemical Entities Involving Conjugated Chemical Frameworks
Department/Unit
Chemistry
Location
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Employee Group
Grant-Paid (PSAC Local 86001)
Duration of Contract (if applicable)
1 year
Employment Type
Part Time
Full-time Equivalency (FTE)
0.2
Salary
$51,526 - $65,227 per annum, $10,305 - $13,045 based on 0.2 FTE.
About Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is Atlantic Canada’s leading research-intensive university and a driver of the region’s intellectual, social and economic development. Located in the heart of Halifax, Nova Scotia, with an Agricultural Campus in Truro/Bible Hill, Dalhousie is a truly national and international university, with more than half of our almost 21,000 students coming from outside of the province. Our 6,000 faculty and staff foster a vibrant, purpose-driven community, that celebrated 200 years of academic excellence in 2018.
Job Summary
The Thompson synthetic chemistry research group at Dalhousie University develops and evaluates technologies involving pyrroles and other conjugated chemical species for their potential as photo- and chemo-active materials. The group’s research is supported by external granting agencies and industry partners, and relies on strong financial, administrative, and project coordination support to optimize funding success, and to meet funder requirements and institutional timelines. Reporting to the Principal Investigator, the Research Assistant will provide dedicated research administration and coordination support to Dr. Thompson and the Thompson group, with a focus on financial management, budgeting, grant and funding administration, coordination of communications with internal units and external partners, and identifying and supporting applications for funding.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage research and operating budgets, including financial tracking, reconciliations, invoicing, and reporting in compliance with granting agency and university requirements.
- Coordinate and contribute to grant administration activities, including funding proposals, progress reporting, milestone tracking, and deadline management.
- Provide comprehensive research administration support to facilitate research activities, projects, and personnel within the research group.
- Liaise with university departments, funding agencies, and external partners to support financial, administrative, payroll, and research-related processes.
- Prepare correspondence, reports, records, and other documentation to support research operations, funding requirements, and knowledge dissemination activities.
- Contribute to team effectiveness through recruitment support, promotion of an inclusive research environment, and active participation in group activities and university policies.
Note
The successful applicant will be eligible for hybrid work (combination of in-person work on campus and remote work from within Nova Scotia) as agreed by all parties based on operational requirements and university guidelines.
Required Qualifications
- Undergraduate degree with a minimum five years of experience, in a research administration or executive administrative role supporting research in the chemical sciences.
- Minimum of five years of experience, beyond academic training, preparing funding proposals, managing budgets and reporting for/to Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and a variety of other granting agencies that fund research in the chemical sciences.
- Minimum of five years of experience, beyond academic training, working with software used to support research administration and materials acquisition in the chemical sciences, e.g., MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, including spreadsheet construction and management, and scheduling), Chrome River, DalBuy.
- Minimum of five years of experience, beyond academic training, supporting research administration, training and procurement activities in the chemical sciences, including making recommendations on budget allocations, personnel-related matters and funding-related decision-making for consideration by the Principal Investigator.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary research environments and with researchers at various career stages in the chemical sciences, while effectively managing competing priorities and multiple projects.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy in financial and confidential record-keeping, supported by excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
Assets
- Master’s degree in a science discipline
Job Competencies
The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate proficiency in Dalhousie’s
core and
leadership competencies, in particular:
- Respect & Inclusion
- Adaptability
- Knowledge & Thinking Skills
- Communication
- Service
Application Consideration
Non-probationary bargaining unit employees (PSAC Local 86001) are given priority consideration. All other applications will be considered when there is no qualified candidate from the bargaining unit.
Full-time students currently enrolled at an educational institution are not eligible for regular Grant-Paid positions.
We sincerely appreciate all applications and note that only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted directly by the hiring department or People and Culture.
Diversity Statement
Dalhousie University commits to achieving inclusive excellence through continually championing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. The university encourages applications from Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island (especially Mi’kmaq), persons of Black/African descent (especially African Nova Scotians), and members of other racialized groups, persons with disabilities, women, persons identifying as members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversity of our community. In accordance with our Employment Equity Policy, preference will be given in hiring processes to candidates who self-identify as members of one or more of the equity-deserving groups listed above. For more information, including details related to our Employment Equity Policy and Plan and definitions of equity-deserving groups please review our Employment Equity information.
If you require any support for the purpose of accommodation, such as technical aids or alternative arrangements, please let us know of these needs and how we can be of assistance. Dalhousie University is committed to ensuring all candidates have full, fair, and equitable participation in the hiring process. Our complete Accommodation Policy can be viewed here.
