Research Assistant

Duties

Under the responsibility of the researcher, the Research Assistant will have to prepare material, equipment and premises for analytical, experimental or in-depth studies in the field of agriculture, natural, physical or applied science; perform tests and prescribed

Work environment

The Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre is part of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's (AAFC) national network of 20 research centres. The Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre was established in 1914 in Sherbrooke, in the Eastern Townships region of Quebec. The centre is the only AAFC research centre specialized in innovative research primarily for the Canadian dairy and swine industries.

The centre leads research in three key areas:
•Environmental sustainability
•Dairy and swine production systems
•Dairy and swine health and welfare

Intent of the process

A pool of qualified candidates may be established and may be used for similar permanent and temporary employment for the location indicated for this process.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

Contact information for 2 references.

You must meet all essential qualifications in order to be appointed to the position. Other qualifications may be a deciding factor in choosing the person to be appointed. Some essential and other qualifications will be assessed through your application. It is your responsibility to provide appropriate examples that illustrate how you meet each qualification. Failing to do so could result in your application being rejected.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

A degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in one of the following fields: agronomy; biology; molecular biology; biochemistry; agri-environment; animal science; animal health or a related agriculture program
OR
An acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.

Degree equivalency

Experience in collecting and analyzing samples.
Experience in conducting experiments in the laboratory or in livestock facilities.
Experience providing technical support in a research or laboratory setting.

If you possess any of the following, your application must also clearly explain how you meet it (other qualifications)

Experience working with liquid chromatography (HPLC) or gas chromatography (GC) for various compounds (e.g. fat-soluble vitamins, water-soluble vitamins, fatty acids).
Experience in conducting or participating in animal phases of dairy cattle or swine projects (e.g. collection of feces/urine/milk, digesta, cannulation, blood sampling, perfusion, metabolic cage, respiration chamber, continuous abomasal infusions).
Experience performing physico-chemical analyses (e.g. dry matter, nitrogen, proteins, lipids, ash) on samples from various sources (manure, feed, animal tissues and fluids).
Experience using laboratory instruments (e.g. pH meter, Technicon, Soxtec, Kjeltec, spectrophotometer, plate reader and cytometer).
Experience using Excel and/or Word and/or Access software.
Basic laboratory experience: pipetting, preparation of solutions.
Working experience in classical and molecular microbiology.
Experience with techniques used in protein analysis (e.g. Western blot hybridization, immunohistochemistry, ELISA).
Experience in enzymology and determination of hormones and metabolites (e.g. RIA assais).
Working experience in experimental surgery and post-operative follow-up.
Experience with techniques used in cell biology, primary cell culture and cell line culture.
Experience with techniques used in molecular biology (e.g. DNA and RNA extraction, molecular cloning, conventional and real-time PCR, sequencing and genotyping).
Experience in measuring milk and mammary gland composition in sows.
Experience observing animal behaviour (ethology) and using data recorders (e.g. accelerometers, GPS).
Experience with techniques used in optical and fluorescence microscopy.
Experience using experimental farm effluent treatment processes.

Ability and willingness to work with strong odours (manure, sludge, etc.).
Ability and willingness to work in a confined environment comply with the instructions and apply established procedures.
Ability and willingness to take and / or handle a range of samples (including, without limitation, feces, tissue, body fluids, organs, meat, fruits, vegetables, environmental samples, etc.) from production systems, slaughterhouses, processing plants, field trials and clinical trials.
Ability and willingness to work with acids and strong bases.

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

French essential

Information on language requirements

Interactive communication
Teamwork
Problem Solving
Results orientation
Initiative

The following may be applied / assessed at a later date (may be needed for the job)

Ability to compile and analyse scientific data.

Selection may be limited to members of the following Employment Equity groups: Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, women

Information on employment equity

Placement of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) employees affected by workforce adjustment.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Ability and willingness to work on call.
The candidate must be able to work in contact with farm animals and in agricultural conditions that may cause allergic reactions (hay fever).
Ability and willingness to travel on occasion.
Ability and willingness to work overtime.
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.
With appropriate safety precautions in place, able and willing to work in laboratory, greenhouse, field and/or animal rearing facility environments for extended periods at a time; able and willing to work outdoors under various weather conditions
Under normal safety precautions ability and willingness to work with hazardous materials and farm animals.
Valid driver's licence or have the aptitude to travel associated with possession of a valid driver's licence.

Other information

Applications submitted by email will not be accepted. You must apply on-line through www.jobs.gc.ca.

Persons with disabilities preventing them from applying on-line are asked to contact 1-800-645-5605.

Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice. Applicants are asked to indicate their preferred official language in their application.

Communication for this process will be sent via email. It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure accurate contact information is provided and updated as required. Candidates who apply to this selection process should include an email address that accepts email from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email).

All communication relating to this process, including email correspondence, may be used in the assessment of qualifications.

Appointment decisions may be based on one or more of the following criteria:
- Matching of the individual's experience or qualifications to the strengths and weaknesses of the work team.
- Matching of the individual's experience or qualifications to the specific duties of the position being staffed.
- Depth, breadth, type of work-specific experience.
- Level/degree of one or more competencies/qualifications.

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled, diverse workforce reflective of Canadian society. As a result, it promotes employment equity and encourages candidates to indicate voluntarily on their application if they are a woman, an Aboriginal person, a person with a disability or a member of a visible minority group.

The Public Service of Canada is also committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free selection processes and work environments. If contacted in relation to a job opportunity or testing, you should advise the Public Service Commission or the departmental official in a timely fashion of the accommodation measures which must be taken to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans and to Canadian citizens, in that order.

Information on the preference to veterans

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.