MABRRI hires students to work on both new and ongoing research projects throughout the academic year and during the summer period. We offer both Work Opportunity (work-op) and Research Assistant (RA) positions.
We recommend work-op positions are recommended if you are new to MABRRI. Work-op positions are part-time, project-based work. They offer 50 to 100 hours per semester. They are a great way for us to get to know you and for you to get your foot in the door. Keep an eye out on this page for any work-op positions throughout the school year.
RA positions are intended for senior undergraduate students. RAs work on several ongoing MABRRI projects at a time and assist in facilitating outreach in the community. We typically only offer RA positions throughout the summer months.
We give priority for these positions to students who have previously worked for MABRRI and demonstrated a high quality of work. However, interested students are always encouraged to contact one of the coordinators or drop by our office to discuss possible work opportunities. Please see below for current job postings.
Current job opportunities
Note that opportunities regularly come up, so please keep checking for updates. If you would like more information, please email mabrri@viu.ca.
Current job postings:
MABR Engagement Assistant
Rate of pay: $20 per hour
Hours: 100 hours over the 2026 Spring Semester (complete by April 30, 2026)
Requirements: Experience or knowledge in the following is an asset: communications, social media, community engagement, and applied research. Must be enrolled in a minimum of 3 courses (9 credits).
Duties: Website and social media support, community engagement, event planning, project support
Deadline: All applications must be submitted by January 21, 2026, with a cover letter and resume to mabrri@viu.ca.
Description: The Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region Research Institute (MABRRI), at the VIU Nanaimo campus, is the education and research arm of the UNESCO-designated Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region (MABR). MABRRI also upholds VIU's Research and Academic Plan by creating projects and initiatives that have a regional impact. MABRRI’s mission is to advance a program of inquiry that involves regional stakeholders in meaningful explorations of issues of local relevance. By harnessing the knowledge of the MABR community and the interdisciplinary strengths of students and faculty at VIU, MABRRI is a centre for collaborative research, innovation, and knowledge sharing that elevates the relationship between people and nature on Vancouver Island and within the MABR.
MABRRI is seeking a VIU student to join our team as an Engagement Assistant Work Op for the 2026 Spring Semester. The position will support community engagement, educational programming, and communications for the MABR and its initiatives. This position will also require flexibility to support the MABRRI team with various tasks related to other projects when needed, including but not limited to: biodiversity conservation education and awareness; report writing; data collection, management, and analysis; and creating knowledge dissemination content for projects.
Duties and responsibilities for this position include:
- assist with the development of educational and promotional materials, such as social media posts, brochures, and posters
- support website maintenance and management
- develop content for the bi-monthly MABR newsletter
- support the MABR’s Amazing Places initiative, including checking on the geocaches and developing social media content
- assist with the planning and facilitation of community engagement events, specifically the Brant Wildlife Festival in April
- interact and engage with the public to promote the MABR and MABRRI
Candidates must be students at VIU, enrolled in a minimum of three courses in the 2026 Spring Semester. Preference will be given to students with:
- experience creating visual content (i.e., Canva, Adobe InDesign, etc.)
- experience and proficiency with social media platforms
- experience using Squarespace and MailChimp
- strong organization and facilitation skills
- experience with community engagement and event planning
This position will give the accepted candidate experience in 1) communications, 2) community engagement, and 3) bridging the global UNESCO mission with local communities and approaches, while developing practical skills in outreach, partnership-building, and public-facing programming.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. Vancouver Island University and MABRRI are committed to building and sustaining a diverse and inclusive working and learning environment. In our journey towards greater diversity, we invite applications from members from equity-seeking communities including racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of all gender identities and sexual orientations.
