Job and Graduate Student Opportunities

Many people around the world share our passion for sharks, and we receive many inquiries about job opportunities and possibilities for graduate research.  Since we are unable to reply personally to all but the most promising inquiries, please use the guidelines below to decide if further contact with us is warranted.  The requirements for a career in marine biology or shark research are also available here.

The Shark Research Laboratory is part of a federal government (DFO) laboratory, and thus must follow government hiring practices.  Very few permanent positions have been offered in recent years, and we do not expect that situation to change in the near future.  If a position becomes available, notification will be posted here so that candidates may apply through the Public Service Commission.  Preference is usually given to Canadian citizens.  Regretfully, no permanent positions are currently available.

Some people have expressed an interest in volunteering their time on an unpaid basis in order to gain some hands-on experience with sharks.  We neither encourage nor discourage this practice, but will generally accept volunteers only if there is a specific duty requiring attention.  The shark derbies are usually the only place where volunteers are used.

There are several excellent opportunities for graduate (MSc or PhD) research on Canadian sharks.  Since most of this research requires an extended period of work, we do not generally entertain short-term (less than 1 year) visits by those seeking work experience as part of their university program.  Areas of research are flexible, but studies of population dynamics, age and growth, feeding, sexual maturation and interaction with the environment are particularly welcome; behavioural studies are discouraged.  Interested students must have an excellent academic record, including full scholarship support.  Quantitative skills are a plus.