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: 

10 hours per week (part-time)

Hourly Salary: 

$32.15

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). 

$32.1510 (Part time)Adams BuildingAssociate Professor2026-07-062026-09-042026-07-15

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