Research Assistant 2

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POSITION SUMMARY: 

The Department of Mining and Materials Engineering at McGill University is seeking a highly motivated and skilled part-time Research Assistant 2 to assist the Research Supervisor in conducting research projects. This part-time research position supports the development and expansion of virtual simulation environments for research and educational purposes in mining and mineral processing.

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Conducts research projects using established protocols, processes, and procedures by developing and modeling the topography and aqueous features of a tailings management facility within a virtual simulation environment.

• Oversees and assists in the development and execution of research simulations, including the representation of operational elements (e.g., earth‑moving equipment) and the planning and preparation of supporting research documentation.

• Ensures the quality and functionality of research tools and environments by evaluating simulation performance to support immersive research and learning experiences using virtual reality interfaces and conventional desktop systems.

• Ensures consistency and comparability of research environments by aligning the user experience of the tailings management facility simulation with an existing mineral concentrator simulation.

• Recommends and implements improvements to existing methods of analysis or research through the evaluation of simulation design, interaction methods, and analytical approaches.

• Analyzes and interprets research data and disseminates the results, including the preparation of formal research reports and documentation related to simulation-based research activities.

• Writes methodological or technical research documentation, including guidelines informed by best practices (e.g., version control and development workflows), to support future expansion of research simulations by students and researchers.

• Assists in maintaining research standards and reproducibility by developing structured documentation that enables systematic refinement and extension of the simulation environment.

Qualifications: 

• Possesses a Master’s Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field

• Strong expertise with the Unity development platform and Autodesk Maya  

• Strong expertise with other online repositories such as GrabCAD and TurboSquid  

• Experience with Virtual Reality devices is an asset

• Excellent written and oral communication skills;

• Open to learning domain-specific aspects of the mining industry;

• Well-organised and self-motivated.

Hiring Unit: 

Department of Mining and Materials Engineering 

Number of Positions: 

1 

Supervisor: 

Professor Alessandro Navarra

Total Hours Per Week: 

12.5 hours per week (part-time)

Hourly Salary: 

$31.44 

Location: 

McGill Downtown Campus 

« Connaissance du français et de l'anglais: L'Université McGill est une université de langue anglaise où les tâches quotidiennes peuvent nécessiter une communication verbale et écrite en anglais.  Le niveau d’anglais requis pour ce poste a été déterminé comme étant de niveau #4 (qualificatif) sur une échelle de 0-4.» 

“Knowledge of French and English: McGill University is an English-language university where day to day duties may require English communication both verbally and in writing. The level of English required for this position has been assessed at a level #4 on a scale of 0-4.” 

Immigration Stipulation (Obligatory for non-Canadian candidates without permanent residency who will reside in Canada only): In accordance with Canadian and Quebec law, the present offer is conditional upon your obtaining the appropriate work authorization from any or all of the following as applicable: Citizenship & Immigration Canada, Immigration Quebec and Human Resources & Skills Development Canada (HRSDC). 

Hourly Salary:

$31.44

Hours per Week:

12.5 (Part time) Wednesday, Thursday

Location:

Adams Building

Supervisor:

Associate Professor

Position Start Date:

2026-02-06

Position End Date:

2026-04-17

Deadline to Apply:

2026-02-15

This position is covered by the Association of McGill University Research Employees (AMURE) collective agreement.

McGill University hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to equity and diversity within its community. We welcome applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated groups to self-identify. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, [email protected].