Research Assistant

Duties

- Isolate and identify fungi and bacteria from plant disease samples; prepare media and produce inoculum for greenhouse and field plot inoculations; prepare seed, growth media and field plots for planting and care of cereal plants; inoculate plants, rate disease symptoms and collect disease samples for pathogen and mycotoxin analysis
- Handling of fungal and bacterial cultures and ensuring safe storage
- Purchase supplies and equipment as per requirements for a plant pathology lab
- Perform data analyses using SAS software and develop tables and charts of research results
- Preparing summary reports of greenhouse and field experiments

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)

College diploma from a recognized Post-secondary institution in one of the following fields:

Microbiology,
Phytopathology,
Plant/Crop Science,
Biology,
or a related agricultural program

Degree equivalency

Experience collecting and performing analysis on samples.
Experience providing technical support for research projects in a laboratory environment.
Experience planning and conducting laboratory or field experiments and contributing to experimental design.
Experience in isolation and identification of fungi
Experience with growing cereal plants in greenhouse and field plots
Experience in conducting greenhouse and field experiments in plant pathology
Experience in using spreadsheets, word processing, graphic and statistical software package

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

Bachelor degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in one of the following fields:
Microbiology,
Phytopathology,
Plant/Crop Science, Biology,
or a related agricultural program

Degree equivalency

Experience with aseptic culture techniques for sterile handling of fungi and bacteria
Experience with isolation and identification of fungi and bacteria
Experience with planting, maintaining and harvesting cereal plants in growth chambers, greenhouse and field plots
Experience with planning and conducting plant pathology research experiments in laboratory, greenhouse and field environments
Experience in operating, maintaining and calibrating basic and specialized lab equipment (e.g. microscopes, pH meters, autoclaves, centrifuges, mass balances, digital photography equipment)

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of plant pathology and the taxonomy of fungi
Knowledge of safety procedures and safety precautions to be followed in a plant pathology laboratory

Adaptability
Initiative
Teamwork
Interactive Communication
Manual dexterity

Ability to prioritize, plan and carry out laboratory, greenhouse and field plot experiments
Ability to apply plant pathology techniques
Ability to make observations, collect and record data accurately and analyze results

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

Knowledge of fungal isolation techniques, culturing procedures, preservation, and the operation of both dissecting and compound microscopes

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

Information on employment equity

Ability and willingness to work in greenhouse and field conditions
Ability and willingness to work with fungal specimens and/or cultures

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Ability and willingness to work with microscopes and other laboratory equipment for extended periods requiring focused mental effort and manipulation of minute specimens

With appropriate safety precautions in place, ability and willingness to work in laboratory, greenhouse, and field environments for extended periods at a time; able and willing to work outdoors under various weather conditions and under normal safety precautions able and willing to work with hazardous materials.

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.

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.