Research Associate - Molecular Plant Breeding and Genetics

University of Alberta; Edmonton; Hybrid; CAD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Brassica and Pulse Genetics Program (BPGP) at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, invites a Research Associate to lead key germplasm resistance projects for canola and pulse diseases. The role is in-person with work at North Campus and South Campus.

You will mentor students, manage technical staff, assist with budgets and procurement, coordinate with industry partners on marker testing, and help develop new research opportunities and grant proposals.

Qualifications

• Expertise in host disease resistance genetics and marker development.
• Experience mentoring students and managing research activities.
• Ability to collaborate with industry partners and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Set research objectives for the Brassica and Pulse Genetics Program and advance germplasm resistance.
• Mentor students in experimental design, data analysis, and manuscript writing.
• Oversee day-to-day activities of technical staff and summer/undergraduate students.
• Contribute to budget planning, reagent and equipment purchases, and space allocation.
• Lead marker testing requests from industry partners to develop disease-resistant germplasm.
• Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to identify new research opportunities and grant proposals.

Skills

Host disease resistance genetics

Marker development

Mentorship

Project management

Job description

This position has an initial appointment of 2 years.

Location - This role is in-person. Work primarily takes place at North Campus and South Campus, Edmonton. Work also takes place at Alberta Agriculture CDC North, Edmonton.

The Brassica and Pulse Genetics Program (BPGP) supports a broad portfolio of basic and applied plant science research. The program typically employs 1–2 technicians, 3–7 graduate students, and 2–5 summer/undergraduate students. In this role, the Research Associate (RA) will serve as the primary driver of research projects aimed at identifying germplasm resistant to major canola and pulse diseases.

Setting research program objectives:

• Research: The RA will leverage their expertise in host disease resistance genetics and marker development to advance future research in the BPGP.
• Mentorship: The RA will mentor students in experimental design, data analysis, and manuscript preparation and writing, contributing to graduate student training in plant pathology, genetics, genetic mapping, and marker analysis.
• Management: The RA will oversee the day-to-day activities of technical staff and summer and undergraduate students, ensuring effective management of research activities, data collection, and data analysis.
• Administrative Responsibilities: The RA will contribute to the group's administration, assisting with budget planning, reagent and equipment purchases, and the allocation of facilities and research space.
• Industry Collaboration: The RA will lead all marker testing requests from industry partners to develop canola germplasm resistant to diseases such as clubroot, blackleg, verticillium, and sclerotinia.
• Program Initiation: The RA will coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to identify research opportunities and help develop new research objectives and projects.
• Grant Writing: Activities will include developing and writing competitive research proposals and serving as a team member alongside the Principal Investigator.