Research Associate in the Dempsey Lab

Department of Geography | Faculty of Arts

Location: UBC Vancouver Campus - Vancouver, BC, Canada

Full-time | 2-year term appointment

Posting Start Date: October 28, 2026

Posting End Date: November 30, 2026

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Position description

The Dempsey Lab in the Department of Geography at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver campus, is seeking a full-time Research Associate to join an interdisciplinary research project examining the political and economic conditions shaping the future of forest stewardship in British Columbia and Canada. The anticipated start date is January 1, 2027, or a mutually agreed-upon date. This term appointment is for two years, subject to satisfactory performance and funding, with the possibility of extension.

The project is investigating the transition from conventional industrial forestry toward regenerative forest stewardship-approaches that place greater emphasis on Indigenous self-determination, long-term ecological health (including biodiversity, carbon sequestration and storage, water), and wider community well-being. Realizing this transition requires understanding the political and economic barriers that are constraining change in BC forest management.

The Research Associate will work with a publicly-engaged, interdisciplinary research team (faculty and graduate students) based at UBC and SFU, to examine the interests, structures, and narratives shaping government approaches to forest management. The project is particularly interested in how these conditions can be transformed to support regenerative forest stewardship. The research will combine political economic analysis, comparative research, interviews, focus groups, scenario testing, and stakeholder engagement.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Conducting research and analysis on the political-economic barriers to regenerative forestry in British Columbia, including synthesizing academic and policy literature; conducting comparative policy analysis across jurisdictions; undertaking expert interviews and focus groups; exploring scenarios for overcoming identified constraints; and critically assessing the economic metrics and assumptions that shape forest and land-use policy decisions;
• Coordinating and contributing to collaborative research and project management;
• Engaging with a diverse range of stakeholders and rightsholders to support impactful research and knowledge mobilization, including organizing and facilitating workshops that bring research findings into dialogue with participants and explore approaches to overcoming identified barriers;
• Developing and disseminating research for academic, policy, and public audiences through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, accessible public-facing materials, and other knowledge-mobilization activities;
• Contributing to collaborative research grant development and proposals; and
• Mentoring and supporting graduate and undergraduate students involved in the project.

The position will offer considerable opportunity to shape the research agenda as findings emerge and to develop independent and collaborative research outputs. The project is designed to connect academic research with policy and public discussions concerning the future of forest management and governance in British Columbia and Canada.

Qualifications and experience

The successful candidate will hold a Ph.D. (or equivalent) degree, whose primary focus is in geography, political science, sociology, environmental studies, forestry, natural resource management, or a related discipline by the appointment date. They will have strong research and analytical skills, with demonstrated experience in qualitative, interdisciplinary, and/or policy-oriented social science research, including methods such as interviews, surveys, comparative policy analysis, and focus groups. The successful candidate will bring experience conducting research in environmental governance, forestry, political economy, natural resource management, Indigenous governance, or related fields, ideally with a focus on British Columbia. Excellent academic writing and communication skills are essential, including experience preparing scholarly publications, research reports, grant applications, and materials for non-academic audiences. The successful candidate will be able to work independently and collaboratively within an interdisciplinary research team and have experience engaging with Indigenous Nations and communities, as well as other diverse stakeholders, including researchers, government agencies, industry representatives, and local communities. Experience in research coordination, project management, workshop organization, and knowledge mobilization is also desirable.

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. If you have any accommodation or accessibility needs during the job application process, please contact the Centre for Workplace Accessibility at workplace.accessibility@ubc.ca.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

The University of British Columbia's primary language of instruction and research is English. Accordingly, individuals are required to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.

How to apply

An application package should include:

• A single pdf containing 1) a letter of application outlining the applicant’s experience in relation to the job description, 2) a detailed curriculum vitae, and, 3) contact information for 2 referees (note: only short listed candidates referees will be contacted)

Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM Pacific Time (Vancouver, BC, Canada) on November 30, 2026.

To apply go to https://geog.air.arts.ubc.ca/position-000229769/

Should you have any queries around this position, please contact Jessica Dempsey at jessica.dempsey@geog.ubc.ca. No applications will be accepted by email.

Salary

The expected salary for this position is $76,128 per annum; this is a term appointment for two years. This position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package. For details, see https://hr.ubc.ca/benefits

With gratitude, we acknowledge that the University of British Columbia Faculty of Arts and the Department of Geography are located on traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Musqueam.