ELA Undergraduate Summer Research Prize

IISD Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA) is the world's freshwater laboratory. A collection of 58 lakes and their watersheds in Treaty 3 Territory, northwestern Ontario, Canada, IISD-ELA is the only place in the world where scientists can research on and manipulate real lakes to build a more accurate and complete picture of what human activity is doing to freshwater lakes. The findings from over 55 years of ground-breaking research have rewritten environmental policy around the world—from mitigating algal blooms to reducing how much mercury gets into our waterways—and aim to keep fresh water clean around the world for generations to come.

IISD-ELA is operated by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)—an independent think tank headquartered in Winnipeg situated on Treaty 1 Territory—the ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe), Ininiw (Cree), Anisininew (Ojibwe Cree), Dene, and Dakota Nations, and the homeland of the Red River Métis Nation. The IISD-ELA field station is situated on the traditional land of the Anishinaabe Nation in Treaty 3 Territory and the homeland of the Métis Nation.

About the position

IISD-ELA is seeking a motivated University of Manitoba student to spend the summer of 2026 at the unique IISD-ELA research facility to assist with field-based research on fisheries biology, freshwater ecology, hydrology, water quality, or water chemistry. The successful candidate will work as a Research Assistant on one of the core teams at IISD-ELA, collecting data on freshwater ecosystems throughout the summer season.

Qualifications

The Undergraduate Summer Research Prize is competitive, and the qualifying candidate must:

• Have been enrolled as a student at the University of Manitoba in Fall 2025 and/or Winter 2026 academic sessions.
• Have completed a minimum of one year as a full-time student (minimum 30 credit hours) at the University of Manitoba.
• Have achieved a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
• Possess or be willing to obtain valid certifications for the following, prior to the start of their term:
  • First Aid/CPR with AED
  • Pleasure Craft Operator's Card
  • Valid Driver's licence
• IISD-ELA will require the completion of a criminal record and vulnerable sector verification.

Asset Skills

• Experience working outdoors and/or in remote locations
• Experience and/or training in the use of all-terrain vehicles
• Experience working in, on, or around water
• Ability to speak French and/or Ojibwe
  

Work Conditions

IISD-ELA provides on-site living accommodations and food. Accommodations include a shared bedroom, shared washrooms, and lounge areas. Bed linens and laundry facilities are provided on site. Transportation to and from the field research station to Kenora and Winnipeg will be available on weekends. Occasional weekend transportation to and from Thunder Bay is a possibility as well. More information about the IISD Experimental Lakes Area organization and our research facility can be found at  

Term: The contract is for a full-time 18-week term position from approximately May to August 2026.

Compensation: CAD $888 – $916 /week, including a CAD $2,000 tuition credit at the University of Manitoba in the following academic year.

Employment Type: Existing position (recurring seasonal role)

Application deadline: Monday, January 26, 2026 @ 16:00 CST.

Application Procedure

All submissions must be in English. Accommodations for job applicants with disabilities are available on request.

Candidates must hold appropriate work authorization for Canada.

Applications will only be accepted through Bamboo HR. Please include the following:

• A current curriculum vitae (required; no longer than two pages before transcript)
• A current academic transcript from the University of Manitoba (required; can be a web transcript; please include it at the end of the CV document)
• A cover letter (500 words maximum) outlining previous experience(s) in areas related to IISD-ELA research and how receiving the summer research prize will further the applicant's academic and career interests (required)
  
• IISD Voluntary Self-Identification Questionnaire (optional; right-click to download)
  
  

Only those candidates we wish to interview will be contacted. Resumes will be kept on file for 1 year. 

IISD does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, caste, ethnicity, religion, colour, disability, marital status, pregnancy, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.

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