Job Description
VACANCY
RESEARCH ASSISTANTS (06 POSITIONS)
ASSIGNMENT BASIS
MAHAWELI CONSULTANCY BUREAU
Mahaweli Consultancy Bureau is an organization within the purview of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation incorporated for the objective of providing Consultancy & Support Services for Local & International clients. We have been in business for over two decades and during the time we have grown to be a reputed organization by successfully completing high priority Consultancy and Support Services for Government and Non-Government Organisations in Sri Lanka. Our vision is to rank our company among the top ten entities in South Asia by the year 2030.
Mahaweli Consultancy Bureau (MCB) invites applications from dynamic, proactive and suitably qualified professionals for the position of Research Assistant.
Scope of Work:
The Research Assistant shall undertake, but not be limited to, the following duties:
- 1. Field Activities
- Participate in field investigations conducted within the project study areas.
- Collect groundwater, surface water, rainfall, soil, sediment, and other environmental samples in accordance with project protocols and standard operating procedures.
- Assist in field measurements and observations, including recording environmental, hydrological, hydrogeological, and water quality information.
- Work in remote locations and under varying weather conditions, including extended field assignments where required.
- Assist in transporting, handling, labeling, preserving, and maintaining chain-of-custody records for collected samples.
- Support installation, maintenance, and monitoring of field equipment and sampling stations when required.
- 2. Laboratory Activities
- Assist in sample reception, registration, preparation, preservation, storage, and processing for laboratory analyses.
- Assist laboratory staff in water, soil, sediment, and environmental sample preparation and analytical procedures.
- Support the operation of basic laboratory instruments and equipment under supervision.
- Assist qualified laboratory personnel in operating and maintaining advanced analytical instruments and related laboratory systems.
- Maintain laboratory records, sample tracking logs, and analytical documentation.
- Ensure compliance with laboratory safety procedures, quality assurance requirements, and standard operating procedures.
- 3. Data Management and Project Support
- Assist in data entry, compilation, verification, and preparation of project databases and data sheets.
- Support the organization and management of field and laboratory records.
- Assist in preparing tables, summaries, figures, and supporting materials for project reports and presentations.
- Maintain accurate documentation of field observations, laboratory activities, and analytical records.
- Perform any other scientific, technical, laboratory, field, or project-related duties assigned by the Project Team Leader.
Key Deliverables
The Research Assistant shall provide:
- Properly collected and documented field samples.
- Accurate field records and sample documentation.
- Laboratory sample preparation and processing support.
- Updated databases and data sheets.
- Documentation supporting analytical and monitoring activities.
- Assistance in preparation of technical reports, presentations, and project outputs.
- Any other outputs assigned within the scope of project activities.
Qualifications and Experience:
The candidate should possess:
- A Bachelor's Degree in Geology, Environmental Science, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Earth Sciences, Natural Resources Management, or a related scientific discipline.
- Demonstrated participation in field-based studies, surveys, sampling programmes, research projects, or practical field training during undergraduate studies.
- Demonstrated participation in laboratory work (handling environment samples).
- Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary field and laboratory team.
Preference will be given to candidates who possess:
- Previous industrial, research, laboratory, or field experience.
- Research experience at the undergraduate/postgraduate level.
- Experience in environmental sampling, water quality monitoring, hydrogeological investigations, or related scientific activities.
- Basic knowledge of chemistry and laboratory analytical procedures.
- Experience in handling scientific data and preparing data sheets and databases.
APPLICATION GUIDELINES
Interested candidates are invited to submit their Curriculum Vitae (CV) together with a covering letter, clearly indicating "Research Assistant" as the subject, through the official online application portal of Mahaweli Consultancy Bureau:
https://mcb.gov.lk/research-assistant/
Closing Date: 25th September 2026
Only applications submitted through the above online application portal will be considered.
Please note:
- Only short-listed candidates meeting the above criteria will be contacted for an interview.
- Any form of canvassing will result in disqualification.
Chief Executive Officer, Mahaweli Consultancy Bureau, No. 11, Jawatta Road, Colombo 05.