Biology Study Leader

Duties

The incumbent will participate in research in the wheat biotechnology, genetics, and germplasm development of wheat. Traits include, but are not limited to: Fusarium head blight resistance, adult plant resistance to rusts, resistance to other diseases, and agronomic traits. The research will include development of biotechnological tools for plant breeding such as improved doubled haploid techniques, and marker development and validation. The incumbent will collect phenotypic data, and perform genotyping and molecular breeding. He/she will contribute to multi-year research grant proposals, and will manage laboratory controlled environment and field experiments. The incumbent will communicate research results through peer-reviewed publications, project reports and presentations as appropriate. The position, headquartered at Swift Current, Saskatchewan, is part of an internationally recognized research program in wheat genetic enhancement. The successful candidate will interact closely with colleagues conducting applied research in wheat. The position is part of a research network with access to research facilities and scientific expertise across Canada.

Work environment

The Swift Current Research and Development Centre is one of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's (AAFC) network of 20 research centres. Located at Swift Current, in the southwest corner of Saskatchewan, Swift Current Research and Development Centre conducts major agricultural research on the dryland regions of Canada's prairies. The research centre was established in 1920 with the mandate to address severe drought, erosion, frost, pests, and crop disease related problems, and to provide support to the expanding settlements in the region characterized by a semi-arid climate.

The semi-arid prairie region, where Swift Current Research and Development Centre – Swift Current is situated, encompasses 20% of the arable land in Canada (the Brown soil zone). In addition, Swift Current Research and Development Centre research extends across the Dark- Brown and Thin- Black soil zones via the associated research site at Indian Head.

Canada is known worldwide for producing high performance and quality wheat which researchers located at Swift Current Research and Development Centre have played and continue to play a key role developing. Today, Swift Current Research and Development Centre wheat varieties are grown on about 50% of the wheat acreage in Canada. Durum wheat varieties at Swift Current Research and Development Centre account for well over 85% of the Canadian acreage. In addition to a strong effort in wheat research, scientists at Swift Current Research and Development Centre are conducting research to further our understanding of integrated cropping systems, especially for pulse and forages, and developing best practices to enhance environmental performance and sustainability. Long-term-rotation field experimental plots have been in place at Swift Current Research and Development Centre for more than 40 years and at Indian Head for more than 50 years.

Intent of the process

Immediate needs: 1 full time term position - 1 year term

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.

In the event that an employee of the public service is qualified through this process, and there is a temporary need, he/she may be considered for acting or assignment/secondment opportunities.

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)

Graduation with a Master’s degree or PhD from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization in plant science or a relevant field.

Degree equivalency

Experience in the design and conduct of scientific research as it relates to biotechnology.
Experience in doubled haploid production in durum wheat.
Experience with mapping and QTL analysis of disease resistance traits in wheat.
Experience with validating markers for use in a plant breeding program.
Experience preparing scientific documents and reports.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of gene mapping and application of genetic markers to breeding in cereal crops.
Knowledge of traditional plant breeding in self-pollinated cereal crops.

Adaptability
Initiative
Interactive Communication
Teamwork

Ability to present scientific information within a team setting.
Ability to perform statistical analysis on data sets for summarizing and interpreting results.

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

Graduation with a PhD from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization in plant science or a relevant field.

Degree equivalency

Knowledge of wheat pathology and biology.

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

Valid driver’s license.
Ability and willingness to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends.
Ability and willingness to control allergies, through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication without impinging on the duties to be performed.
Ability and willingness to travel regionally, nationally and internationally as required for field studies, liaison with industry and academia, and attendance at scientific or technical meetings.
Ability and willingness to work under challenging conditions (eg. temperature extremes in the field).

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.