Research Assistant - Plant Pathology

Employment and Social Development Canada; Swift Current; On-site; CAD 79,000 - 99,000; Full time

Job summary

A Research Assistant is needed at the Swift Current Research and Development Centre as part of AAFC's cereal molecular pathology program. The role involves investigating disease responses in cereals, managing experiments, isolating pathogens, performing inoculations, and conducting data analysis in field plots and greenhouse settings.

You will also handle DNA extraction and molecular analyses, contributing to reports and publications while training students and coordinating with other

Qualifications

• Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization in Plant Pathology, Plant Biology, Plant Science, Plant Genetics, Agronomy, Microbiology, or an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.
• If educated outside of Canada, credentials must be assessed against Canadian education standards.
• Experience providing technical support for field and/or controlled environment research in plant breeding, plant pathology and/or molecular plant pathology.
• Experience collecting, recording, compiling and analyzing experimental data.
• Experience working with multidisciplinary and multi-institutional teams.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to diverse aspects of the cereal molecular pathology program, investigating plant pathogens and host resistance.
• Conduct and manage experiments in plant pathology and perform DNA extraction and nucleic acid analyses.
• Isolate pathogens, perform inoculations, conduct pathology tests, and maintain pathogen cultures.
• Interact with students, postdoctoral fellows and provide leadership and training in the laboratory and field.

Education

Plant Pathology

Plant Biology

Plant Genetics

Agronomy

Microbiology

Job description

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada- Science and Technology Branch

Selection process number
26-AGR-MBSK-EA-STB-69261

Salary
$78,909 to $99,200-Salary under review

Level
EG-05

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

Duties
A Research Assistant is required at the Swift Current Research and Development Centre to work within the Cereal Molecular Pathology program. The program focuses on understanding the genetic and molecular mechanisms associated with the response of cereal crops to several diseases. The successful candidate will contribute to diverse aspects of the cereal molecular pathology program, investigating plant pathogens and host resistance.The incumbent will conduct and manage experiments in plant pathology and be responsible for isolating pathogens, performing inoculations, conducting pathology tests, maintaining pathogen cultures, organizing planting materials, and perform disease assessments in field plots and greenhouse. The incumbent will collect data, conduct statistical analyses, and contribute to scientific reports and publications. The incumbent will perform DNA extraction and nucleic acid analyses leading to new knowledge and the development of tools such as molecular markers.The incumbent will interact with students, and postdoctoral fellows and provide leadership and training within the laboratory and field to students, casual workers and visitors.

Intent of the process
Immediate need: 1 full-time permanent positionA 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.

Positions to be filled
1

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

Security: Reliability Status

• Possession of a valid, class 5 Saskatchewan driver's license, or other provincial/territorial equivalency.
• Ability and willingness to work overtime as required, including evenings and weekends.
• Ability and willingness to travel. With appropriate safety precautions in place:
• Ability and willingness to work with chemicals, pesticides and other hazardous substances using personal protective equipment.
• Ability and willingness to perform physically demanding work activities including moderate to heavy manual labour requiring bending and lifting heavy objects (up to 20kg).
• Ability and willingness to work outdoors under variable weather conditions.
• Ability and willingness to work in laboratory, greenhouse, and field environments for extended periods at a time.
• Ability and willingness to control allergies, through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication and this must not impinge upon the duties to be performed.

Operational Requirements

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

You need (essential for the job)

Your application must clearly explain how you meet the following

Education:

• Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization in Plant Pathology, Plant Biology, Plant Science, Plant Genetics, Agronomy, Microbiology, 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 providing technical support for field and/or controlled environment research in plant breeding, plant pathology and/or molecular plant pathology.
• Experience working in a plant pathology laboratory undertaking activities such as preparing regular and selective culture media for fungal and bacterial pathogens, and manipulating instruments associated with fine work, such as syringes, pipettes and forceps.
• Experience collecting, recording, compiling and analyzing experimental data.
• Experience working with multidisciplinary and multi-institutional teams.

Applied / assessed at a later date

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of experimental designs in agricultural research.
• Knowledge of plant pathology methodologies.
• Knowledge in molecular biology.
• Knowledge of cereal diseases.

Competencies:

• Adaptability
• Interactive Communication
• Planning and organizing
• Teamwork

Abilities:

• Ability to identify plant disease symptoms and the causal agents.
• Ability to lead experimental setup, collect and summarize data, and visualize results in tables or graphs related to field and laboratory trials.

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

Education:

• Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization in one of the following fields: plant pathology, plant science, plant breeding, plant physiology, genetics, agronomy, biology or a specialization related to the position.

Experience:

• Experience isolating, identifying and preserving wheat pathogens.
• Experience with the development, morphology and common diseases of wheat.
• Experience in the application of molecular marker systems for wheat genetic analyses.
• Experience conducting statistical analyses.
• Experience conducting literature searches and preparing reports, manuscripts, or poster presentations.
• Experience managing multiple research projects which could involve: setting priorities, organizing work schedule, basic supervisory techniques, communications and/or safety protocols.

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.