Research Assistant - Plant Pathology

Employment and Social Development Canada; Saskatoon; Hybrid; CAD 72,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada – Science and Technology Branch is seeking a qualified candidate for a full-time temporary position at the EG-04 level. Duties include plant pathology and molecular biology experiments, high-throughput sampling, DNA/RNA extractions, PCR/qPCR, gel electrophoresis, and data reporting; you will supervise students and assist other lab members.

This two-year assignment may form part of a pool of qualified candidates for similar roles; applicants must reside in Canada

Qualifications

• Graduation from a recognized post-secondary institution in biology, biochemistry, or an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.
• If educated outside Canada, credentials must be assessed against Canadian standards (CICIC).
• Documentation verifying educational credentials may be requested later.

Responsibilities

• Conduct plant pathology and molecular biology experiments.
• High-throughput sample collection, DNA/RNA extractions, PCR, qPCR, gel electrophoresis.
• Supervise students and assist other lab members with experiments.
• Manage inventories and collect/maintain data; prepare project reports.

Skills

Plant pathology

Molecular biology techniques

Genotyping

Supervising

Education

Biology / Biochemistry

Job description

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada- Science and Technology Branch

Selection process number
26-AGR-MBSK-EA-STB-68775

Salary
$71,741 to $90,184-Salary under review

Level
EG-04

Who can apply
Persons residing in Canada, and Canadian citizens and Permanent residents abroad.

Duties
Key responsibilities will include conducting plant pathology and molecular biology experiments including: high-throughput sample collection, DNA/RNA extractions, PCR, qPCR, gel electrophoresis, preparing media and laboratory chemical solutions, culturing fungi and bacteria, conducting pathogen inoculation trials, cultivating host plants, maintaining plants and pathogens, managing inventories, collecting and maintaining data, and preparing project reports. The successful candidate will also supervise students and assist other lab members with their experiments.

Intent of the process
Immediate need: One full-time temporary position for an anticipated duration of approximately two (2) years.A pool of qualified and partially qualified candidates may be established and may be used to staff similar positions with various employment tenures.In the event that an employee of the public service is qualified through this process, they may be considered for acting, deployment, indeterminate, assignment or secondment opportunities.

Important messages
As one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is proud to celebrate our achievement in creating a diverse, respectful, and positive workplace where all employees are valued and recognized for their unique qualities, ideas, voices and perspectives. We are dedicated to building and promoting a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce, representative of all Canadians regardless of race, ethnicity, colour, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, socio-economic background or lived experience. By embracing diversity and inclusion, our department ensures broader discussions, better decisions, and a more positive workplace. We also have various employee diversity networks dedicated to ensuring that our department continues to grow as an inclusive employer.

Conditions of employment

Conditions of Employment:

• Security : Reliability Status.
• Ability and willingness to work irregular hours and overtime.
• Ability and willingness to perform physically demanding work activities, including moderate to heavy manual work such as lifting objects up to 25 kg.
• Known allergies must be controlled through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication and must not impinge upon the duties to be performed.
• Ability and willingness to work with and handle plant pathogens and microorganisms.
• Ability and willingness to work in laboratory, greenhouse and growth cabinets for extended periods at a time;
• Ability and willingness to work with hazardous materials.

You need (essential for the job)

Your application must clearly explain how you meet the following

Education:

• Graduation from a recognized post-secondary institution in a field such as biology, biochemistry, or an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.
• At a later stage in the selection process, you will be required to provide documentation verifying your educational credentials.
• If you were educated outside of Canada, you must have your certificates and/or diplomas assessed against Canadian education standards. Click on the link below to contact the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials(CICIC).

Experience:

• Experience in plant pathology techniques.
• Experience in large-scale genotyping and pathology screening.

Applied / assessed at a later date

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of plant pathology.

Language requirements (essential for the job)

Applied / assessed at a later date

English essential - You are entitled to participate in the selection process in the official language of your choice.

May be applied / assessed at a later date

Experience:

• Experience with basic molecular biology techniques.
• Experience supervising other individuals.
• Experience in canola pathology, specifically clubroot pathology.
• Experience in developing mapping populations and largescale phenotyping and genotyping.
• Experience in conducting plant molecular pathology research.

Supporting employment continuity by prioritizing AAFC employees impacted by workforce adjustment for job opportunities.

Our commitment

We're committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please contact the hiring organization below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the population it serves. We promote employment equity and encourage you to self-declare if you belong to one of the designated employment equity groups when you apply.

Agriculture and Agri-food Canada recognizes that the diversity of its employee population contributes to its strength and integrity. We are committed to achieving employment equity and developing a highly capable workforce that is representative of Canadian Society. We encourage women (especially in non-traditional occupations), Indigenous peoples (Aboriginal peoples), persons with disabilities, and members of visible minority groups to apply and declare themselves as part of one or more of the Employment Equity groups, as selection may be limited to candidates belonging to one or more of the groups.

Preference will be given to veterans first, followed by Canadian citizens and permanent residents, with the exception of jobs located in Nunavut or Yukon. For positions located in Nunavut, qualified Inuit enrolled under the Nunavut Agreement will be appointed first. For positions located in Yukon, qualified Yukon First Nations will be appointed first, followed by qualified Indigenous persons.

We'd like to thank all those who apply. However, only the people selected for further consideration will be contacted.