Research Assistant - Mycology

Important messages

AMENDMENT TO CLOSING DATE

Duties

To maintain a modern molecular biology and mycology research laboratory
To maintain and practice standard laboratory safety procedures
To modify and develop experimental procedures
To plan and carry out experiments with minimal supervision
To collect data, analyze data, and interpret results
To isolate, maintain, manipulate, and identify fungal specimens
To characterize fungal samples using a variety of phenotypic and molecular assays
To perform a wide range of molecular biology procedures
To work with large amounts of molecular data produced by next-generation sequencing technologies
To use computer software packages related to sequence analyses, phylogenetics, and bioinformatics
To communicate and consult with collaborators, write technical reports and contribute to publications

Work environment

As one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers, 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.

Science and Technology Branch, Ottawa Research and Development Centre (ORDC), Central Experimental Farm. The incumbent will be responsible for supporting research on the biosystematics, phylogenetics, and genomics of plant-pathogenic fungi. As part of the ORDC and the Mycology research group, the successful applicant will also work closely with other researchers and support staff in a variety of disciplines, including members of the Canadian Collection of Fungal Cultures, the Canadian National Mycological Herbarium, and the Molecular Technologies Laboratory.

Intent of the process

The immediate need for this appointment process is to staff 1 position indeterminately.

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)

Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with acceptable specialization in Biology or a discipline directly related to the duties of the position

Degree equivalency

Experience with microbiological techniques
Experience with the isolation, handling, and identification of fungi or related organisms
Experience with microscopy
Experience with molecular biology procedures and methods of molecular characterization, such as the extraction of nucleic acids, PCR, cloning, genotyping, and sequencing of nucleic acids
Experience with analyses of DNA sequence data
Experience with planning experiments and interpreting results
Experience with the production of scientific presentations, reports, or publications

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

Graduation with a Masters or Doctorate degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with acceptable specialization in Biology or another discipline directly related to the duties of the position

Degree equivalency

Experience working with and tracking large numbers of specimens, cultures, and samples
Experience with adaptation and optimization of molecular protocols for specific implementations
Experience with the application of molecular markers for the purposes of biosystematics or taxonomy
Experience with phylogenetic analyses or molecular systematics
Experience with bioinformatics or computational biology
Experience with scripting in common programming languages
Experience with database development and management
Experience working as a part of a multi-disciplinary team with external partners and clients
Experience with the maintenance and care of laboratory equipment

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of theory of molecular systematics, population genetics, and phylogenetics
Knowledge of computer software packages related to sequence analyses, phylogenetics, and bioinformatics
Knowledge of next-generation methods of whole-genome sequencing or related protocols for high-throughput molecular characterization

Adaptability
Concern for Safety
Problem Solving
Interactive Communication

Ability to independently prioritize, plan, and execute laboratory procedures

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

Knowledge of biological classification and fungal taxonomy

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.

Willingness and ability to have flexible operational work hours
With appropriate safety precautions in place, willingness and ability to work with hazardous laboratory chemicals and equipment
With appropriate safety precautions in place, willingness and ability to work with organisms that may cause allergies
Willingness and ability to conduct fieldwork
Willingness and ability to work at a computer for extended periods of time

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Valid driver’s license
Known allergies must be controlled through use of protective mask and/or medication and must not impinge on tasks 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.