Career Opportunities for Scientists

(Most common classifications: BI, CH, EG, PC, EN)

You want to have a positive impact on the species that share our waters. You're convinced that improved methods of fish farming will ease world hunger. You feel that mapping our coastline and the surrounding ocean floor will make marine travel safer, our economy stronger, our sovereignty more secure. We want to meet you.

Our community of scientists share a passion for excellence. We conduct leading-edge research into safe, sustainable food production and regulation, bioengineering and bioremediation, decoding genomes of marine species, determining the impacts of human activity on ecosystems and ocean mapping and transportation safety, to name a few areas. We work closely with partners in the science and technology community in all levels of government, in academic institutions and in the private sector, both in Canada and abroad.

The Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat coordinates peer review and publication of research findings from our many activities across Canada. The Secretariat also fosters national standards of excellence, and facilitates exchange and innovation in methodology, interpretation and insight.

The Visiting Fellowships in Canadian Government Laboratories Program provides promising scientists and engineers with an opportunity to work with research groups or leaders in Canadian government laboratories and research institutions. Visiting fellows are not considered government employees. Fellowships are awarded for one year with the possibility of renewal for a second and third year, at the discretion of the government department concerned. The Visiting Fellows program and many others are administered by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) on behalf of Canadian government departments and agencies.

Meet some of DFO's best

• 
  Shawn Robinson, research scientist, ecologist, teacher

  Dr. Robinson, based at the Andrews Biological Station, is engaged in applied ecological research on marine shellfish species, studying the natural processes by which these animals interact and use their environment so that better and more sustainable culture techniques can be developed. One example of this research is the study of an integrated, mixed species aquaculture, where shellfish are grown along with other species to produce a more sustainable and productive system. Results from this novel approach are encouraging and show both biological and economical feasibility.

  Keys to success: Shawn Robinson takes a holistic view of the aquaculture system, combining biology, physics, economics, sociology and government policy. Much of this work involves collaborative projects with industry and academic partners, as well as training graduate students.

• 
  Tamara Fraser

  Tamara Fraser's career as a chemist has taken her from identifying chemicals in coniferous trees to Pacific coast fish. A graduate of the University of Victoria, she now is responsible for the majority of primary data quality assurance of data generated by the Institute of Ocean Sciences (IOS) laboratory.

  Keys to success: Tamara Fraser has co-authored several scientific papers with co-workers at Royal Jubilee Hospital, Pacific Forestry Centre and IOS.

• 
  Andrea M. Weise

  Andrea Weise defends our coastline against alien invaders, the kind most often found in bilge water. As coordinator of the Canadian Aquatic Invasive Species Network, East Coast Sampling team, she has directed much work into sampling the water and sediments of ballast tanks from ships arriving in Canadian ports. This work allows DFO to assess the importance of shipping as a vector for the establishment of exotic species in Canada.

  Keys to success: Many of the research projects involve MSc and PhD students that work on issues relating to exotic species, aquaculture, ecosystem biodiversity and productivity, and intertidal ecology.

For more information on our team, see our Scientists Directory.

Benefits:

A career with DFO Ecosystems & Oceans Science Sector offers the following benefits:

• Participation in world class research projects through 15 research facilities;
• Access to departmental and government-wide learning programs; and
• Mentoring and guidance from Canada's top research directors.

As a scientist at DFO you will also have access to the Scientist Emeritus/Science Alumnus and Scientists as Leaders programs.

For more information, see DFO Science Career Resources or return to Exciting Careers in Aquatic Sciences.

Note: All job opportunities within DFO are announced on the Public Service Commission of Canada's career website.