Research Assistant (RA) Opportunities

An RA-ship with ACT - Action on Climate Team provides SFU students (master's and post-doc) with the opportunity to align and amplify their research with a leading think-tank advancing Nature-based Solutions with and for communities.

Current Opportunities

What to Expect

Length of internship is 4 or 6 months, totaling anywhere between 4-18 months, depending on the scope of work.
Start dates will vary and are based on linking the right candidate with the partner organization.
An average of 10hrs/week is expected over the course of a semester, with potential for more hours over the summer.
If the project is a thesis, the goal is to pay the student to align thesis with SFU Climate Innovation work, with scope co-created with the Mitacs partner and your supervisor.
Your workplan will differ depending on the project but is likely to involve engagement with collaborating community partners, supporting literature reviews, designing and delivering interviews, analysis and final reporting.
Depending on the project and partners, deliverables range from reports, resources, frameworks and tools, creative video or other knowledge mobilization channels.
Payments are paid bi-weekly through SFU.
Learn more about what to expect with Mitacs as a research student, supervisor and partner organization here.

Getting Started

Secure support from your supervisor and submit an expression of interest form (5min)

Interest Form
ACT will convene aligned researchers and supervisors to discuss partnership opportunities and to co-develop a research plan.
Consent to move forward is given when the interests and skills match the opportunity.
Project partner organizations will submit Mitacs proposal under the SFU Climate Innovation Umbrella program (with support from a dedicated Mitacs Advisor)
Funding is approved weeks (~2 weeks)
Project starts

Advancing low carbon resilient and sustainable communities

We're building on successful collaborations to transform local climate action strategizing by implementing a low carbon resilience (LCR) framework.

From regenerative agriculture, sustainable urban-transportation alternatives and implementing First Nations Climate Action Plans, SFU Climate Innovation researchers and partners are leading community-centered decarbonization, health, equity, and resilience strategies. The Mitacs Umbrella will help fast-track projects in these critical areas, advancing climate solutions with and for communities.

LCR framework-for-action

Amplifying benefits of nature-based solutions (NbS)

SFU Climate Innovation’s climate innovation pathways help co-develop and implement cohesive and systemic green infrastructure, natural asset, and ecosystem-based approaches that benefit both people and nature.

In partnership with First Nations, industry professionals, non-profits and local municipalities across Canada, ACT - Action on Climate Team (ACT) researchers are exploring scaleable solutions to benefit resilient and sustainable communities. The Mitacs Umbrella will enable this work to scale rapidly, enabling us to work deeper and with more communities.

Natual Solutions Initiative

Featured Projects

Exploring Conservation Finance: Insights and Opportunities for BC Watersheds co-led by ACT with Tatum Askew (SFU School of Resource and Environmental Management, REM), Watersheds BC and Fraser Basin Council.

Advancing Indigenous innovation in natural climate solutions co-led by ACT with Justine Townsend, PhD and RAD Network (Restore, Assert, Defend).

Watershed Health & Resilience Indicators co-led by ACT with Andrew Palmer, MRM.

Barriers to implementing interjurisdictional environmental policies at the bioregional scale co-led by ACT with Alexandra Welch and Laura Tate (SFU REM) in partnership with Saanich Peninsula Environmental Coalition (SPEC).

Co-developing community-centred mobility scenarios in the City of Burnaby (part of SCRAM –Sustainable and Community Resilient Alternative Mobility) co-led by ACT with Gurvaani Dhani (SFU Applied Sciences), Chris Buse (SFU Health Sciences) and Civic Innovation Lab.

Exploring nature-based solutions (NbS) for wildfire risk mitigation co-led by ACT with Ella Champion and Sean Markey, SFU's School of Resource and Environmental Management.

Biocredit pathways for regenerative food systems in the Okanagan watershed co-led by ACT with Tatum Askew, Andrés Cisneros-Montemayor and Clifford Atleo (SFU School of Resource and Environmental Management) in partnership with Salmon Returns.

Learn more

ACT Research Assistant roles are supported in partnerships with SFU Climate Innovation. Explore SFU Climate Innovation's Mitacs Umbrella funding opportunity for graduate students and post-docs.

Action on Climate Team