GAA | General Research Assistant
Overview of duties
This job is seeking a general research assistant to help with project development, administration, and course development. Eligible applicants are undergraduate students of the BDES program entering into their 3rd or final year, and graduate students of the MArch or MLa programs entering into their 2nd or final year.
Tasks and topics will vary but will engage questions around planetary care through fire, architecture, and landscape architecture. Previous knowledge on the topic is not necessary. While there may be some technical dimensions, the research is more socially and culturally focused. Research keywords include: land stewardship, more-than-human, fire, environmental justice, community, participatory design, and storytelling.
Research tasks may include historical surveys, precedent research, translation of texts into visual representations, and testing of representation methods. Administrative tasks will include collecting resources on dissemination sources, grants, and general project organization. Course development tasks will include scanning of readings, and collecting references. Work can be done remotely.
Qualifications
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Strong research abilities that include thorough inquiry, proper use and recording of references, and clear organization skills
• Strong representational abilities that can synthesize multiple forms of information while also exploring different means and methods (digital, analogue, film, physical model-making, etc.).
• Strong verbal and written communication skills required
• Ability to be proactive, independent, and exercise appropriate design decisions when needed. Needs to be detail-oriented and thorough.
• Ability to work collaboratively
• Ability to test and develop various design iterations – should be flexible and curious.
• Familiarity with drawing and reading maps (topography and geographic features).
• Software skills that are required at an intermediate+ level: Rhino 3D, PSD, AI, IND
• Software skills not required, but helpful: ArcGIS or QGIS, Premiere Pro, Grasshopper
Application deadline
How to apply
All applicants should submit a cover letter that addresses their interest, why the position is a good fit, and their summer availability. Applicants also need to include an up-to-date resume and a design portfolio (max 12 spreads not including title page or table of contents). Please clearly indicate group work and be specific about authorship of drawings and models. Deadline for applications is Friday, May 22 @ 11:50 pm Pacific Time. Email to ttak@sala.ubc.ca with the email title “RA application: (your name)”.