Research Assistant

Duties

- Contributes to or maintains plant and seed collections, and bacterial cultures.
- Contributes to the development of plant hybrids, cultures, genetic material and identification tools.
- Contributes to the development of laboratory standard operating procedures for research activities.
- Contributes to the development of alternative methods of crop protection.
- Contributes to the understanding of fundamental plant genetics, physiology and plant-pathogen interactions.
- Contributes to the development of new knowledge and technology related to crop production.
- Contributes to the development of bioassays or analytical techniques.
- Contributes to the production of presentations, reports, and publications.
- Contributes to data analysis.
- Provides technical identification advice/training within or outside the organization.
- Carries out research activities under field/greenhouse conditions.
- Carries out research activities under lab conditions.

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.

The London Research and Development Centre was established in 1951 in London, Ontario. A satellite research location associated with the London Research and Development Centre is located in Vineland, Ontario. The Vineland Research Farm is a Minor Use Pesticide Program site which supports the Centre's mission to develop alternative and environmentally acceptable technologies to protect crops. It is also the main site of tree fruit research.

The Centre focuses its research in three key areas:
•Crop genomics, bioproducts, and biopesticides
•Protection and improvement of fruits and vegetable crops
•Soil and water quality

Intent of the process

The immediate need is to fill a position on a full time indeterminate basis in Vineland, Ontario.

A pool of qualified candidates may be established and may be used for similar permanent and temporary employment.

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)

Degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in:
Molecular Biology,
Virology, Molecular genetics,
Microbiology,
or a related agricultural program
Or an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.

Degree equivalency

Experience planning and conducting laboratory or field experiments and contributing to experimental design.
Experience using scientific instruments and tools, providing technical support and leading projects in a research or laboratory environment.
Experience working with bacteria, viruses and nucleic acids for molecular analysis and cloning.
Experience in operating, maintaining and calibrating basic and complex lab instruments such as pH meters, PCR and RT-PCR cyclers, microcentrifuges, confocal microscope, etc.

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

M. Sc. Degree from a recognized university in one of the following fields:
Molecular Biology,
Virology, Molecular genetics,
Microbiology,
Or a related agricultural program,
Or an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.

Degree equivalency

Experience in cloning and manipulation of plasmid DNA and nucleic acids;
Experience in managing culture collections of live organisms;
Experience in real time PCR protocols and techniques.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of nucleic acid synthesis and RNA silencing;
Knowledge in plant molecular biology and virology;
Knowledge of related laboratory methodologies, tools, theories, practices and principles.

Interactive communication
Teamwork
Planning and Organizing
Problem Solving
Creativity and Innovation
Concern for Safety

Ability to make observations, collect and record data, performing analysis on samples, interpret and analyze results.
Ability to apply and to adapt scientific techniques and methodologies.

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

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

Information on employment equity

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Valid driver’s license.

Ability and willingness to work flexible hours

Ability and willingness to travel

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 and under normal safety precautions able and willing to work with hazardous materials.

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.