Research Assistant – Livestock and Meat Microbiology

Duties

The successful applicant will conduct experiments in conventional and molecular microbiology on samples collected from large animals, including carcasses, meat, feces, and nasal swabs, and will prepare and maintain records of experiment protocols, standard operating procedures and safe working procedures.

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.

Intent of the process

Immediate staffing need: 1 full time permanent position

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)

B. Sc. degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in one of the following fields: Animal Science; Food Science; Microbiology; or Biology or an acceptable combination of education and experience.

Degree equivalency

Experience in planning, executing and managing research activities in a biocontainment level 2 laboratory.
Experience with molecular methods such as DNA and RNA extraction, PCR, and real-time PCR.

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

Experience in collecting blood, fecal, and nasal swab samples from large animals such as cattle, pigs, horses, sheep/goats.
Experience analyzing the microbiomes of cattle and swine.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of laboratory methodologies, tools, theories, practices, and principles of aerobic and anaerobic microbiology.
Knowledge of conventional and molecular microbiological laboratory methods for the detection, enumeration, and identification of bacteria in food or animal samples.
Knowledge of high-throughput sequencing methods such as 16S rRNA gene and metagenomic sequencing, RNA-Seq, and whole genome sequencing, as applied in microbiology.

Ability to make observations, collect and record data accurately and interpret and analyze results.

Initiative
Interactive Communication
Planning and Organizing
Teamwork
Concern for safety

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

Placement of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) employees affected by Work Force Adjustment.

In support of achieving a diversified workforce, consideration may be given to candidates self-identifying as belonging to one of the following Employment Equity groups: Aboriginal peoples, Persons with a Disability; Visible Minorities, Women.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Possession of a valid driver’s license or personal mobility to the extent normally associated with the possession of a valid driver’s license.
Ability and willingness to travel.
Ability and willingness to work overtime including evenings and weekends.
Ability and willingness to work flexible hours.
Ability and willingness to control allergies, through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication and this must not impinge upon the duties to be performed.
Ability and willingness to work in a laboratory, field, abattoir, and/or animal rearing facility environments.
Ability and willingness to work under various environmental and weather conditions.
Ability and willingness to handle large animals.
Ability and willingness to work with hazardous materials.
Ability and willingness to work with chemicals and pesticides.

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.