Research Assistant

Important messages

Position 1: Molecular Plant Virology, Position 2: Molecular Insect Virology

Duties

Duties (Position 1)
• Contributes to the development of knowledge and new technologies in molecular plant virology aimed at understanding plant virus diversity and evolution, plant-virus interactions, antiviral plant defense responses and the function of plant virus proteins.
• Contributes to the development of novel methods for improved disease management strategies.
• Contributes to the development of bioassays, analytical techniques and laboratory standard operating procedures for research activities, including proper biosafety practices for the study of pathogens.
• Contributes to data analysis and to the production of presentations, reports and publications.
• Provides technical advice/training within or outside the organization.
• Carries out research activities under laboratory or greenhouse conditions.
• Maintains a molecular biology laboratory by ordering supplies and materials, maintaining and calibrating equipment and managing budgets.

Duties (Position 2)
• Working in a team environment with scientists, technicians and students will contribute to the development of knowledge and new technologies in a molecular insect virology laboratory with the aim of understanding the molecular biology of host-virus interactions with the goal of developing novel insect biocontrol agents. This includes performing structure function studies on viral and insect host genes as well as genomic and transcriptomic analyses, to understand the molecular basis of insect diseases.
• Contributes to the development of bioassays, analytical techniques and laboratory standard operating procedures for research activities. This includes proper biosafety practices for the study of pathogens.
• Contributes to data analysis and to the production of presentations, reports and publications.
• Provides technical advice and training to laboratory members from within or outside the organization.
• Operates standard molecular biology laboratory equipment.
• Maintains animal cell tissue culture.
• Maintains an orderly and properly functioning molecular biology laboratory, which includes ordering supplies and materials, maintaining and calibrating equipment and managing budgets.

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

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: 2

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)

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS COMMON FOR BOTH POSITIONS

Bachelor of Science degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in one of the following fields: Biochemistry, Microbiology, Virology, Biology, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology or a related program.

Degree equivalency

Experience using scientific instruments and tools, providing technical support and leading projects in a research environment.
Experience (minimum two years) planning and conducting laboratory experiments and contributing to experimental design. NOTE: This does not include experience acquired while doing course work in order to meet educational requirement.
Experience in managing budgets, and ordering supplies.
Experience in maintaining small molecular biology equipment
Experience in coaching and training interns, students or colleagues.
Experience working with tissues infected with pathogens and with proper biosafety practices.
Experience with the principles and techniques in molecular biology including DNA and RNA purification, molecular cloning, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), real-time PCR (or droplet-digital PCR) and sequencing.
Experience with the principles and techniques in protein biology and/or enzymology such as protein isolation and purification, production of recombinant proteins in bacterial expression systems, immunoblots, immunoprecipitation, ELISA, yeast two hybrid analyses.
Experience with bioinformatics tools (e.g. Vector NTi, CLC, LaserGene or Linux based systems) to perform analyses such as sequence assembly and alignments, protein structure, database searches.
Experience in general microscopy, confocal microscopy or electron microscopy.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATION SPECIFIC TO POSITION 1

Experience with principles and techniques in molecular plant biology such as purification of nucleic acids from plant tissues, preparation of plant protoplasts, agroinfiltration, plant tissue culture.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS SPECIFIC TO POSITION 2

Experience in the principles and techniques in molecular animal virology such as the isolation and purification of animal viruses, use of laminar flow containment hoods, animal cell tissue culture, nucleic acid transfections and cell transformation.
Experience in bacteriology.

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

ASSET QUALIFICATIONS COMMON TO BOTH POSITIONS

Master’s in Science degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in one of the following fields: Biochemistry, Microbiology, Virology, Biology, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology or a related program.

Degree equivalency

Experience conducting gene expression studies using Northern and/or quantitative RT-PCR methods.
Experience analyzing protein-protein interactions using immunoblot, immunoprecipitation, yeast two-hybrid, ELISA and/or confocal microscopy associated techniques.
Experience with complex gene cloning including in frame fusions with reporter proteins and epitope tags using a variety of techniques (Gateway, restriction enzymes etc…).
Experience with advanced bioinformatics techniques and analysis of large data sets obtained through next-generation sequencing.
Experience in the use of radioisotopes.

ASSET QUALIFICATIONS SPECIFIC TO POSITION 1

Experience with purification and analysis of total RNAs and small RNAs from plant tissues.
Experience with agroinfiltration of plant tissues.
Experience with enzymatic assays (e.g., protease assays using in vitro translation techniques or other assays).

ASSET QUALIFICATION SPECIFIC TO POSITION 2

Experience with the construction of recombinant viruses using bacterial bacmid technologies.
Experience with baculoviruses.
Experience in insect bioassays.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS COMMON TO BOTH POSITIONS

Knowledge of Next Generation genomics and transcriptomics technologies.
Knowledge of laboratory safety procedures and directives.

Ability to apply and to adapt scientific techniques and methodologies.
Ability to make observations, collect and record data accurately, performing analysis on samples, interpret and analyze results.
Ability to create draft reports and contribute to the preparation of research reports or posters.
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing

Planning and organizing
Teamwork
Problem Solving
Adaptability
Initiative

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

ASSET QUALIFICATION SPECIFIC TO POSITION 1

Knowledge of plant virology and of plant antiviral responses (e.g., RNA silencing).

ASSET QUALIFICATION SPECIFIC TO POSITION 2

Knowledge of bacterial bacmid technology.

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 licence
Ability and willingness to travel.
Ability and willingness to work overtime.
Ability and willingness to work flexible hours.
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 and proper training, able and willing to work in laboratory and/or greenhouse for extended periods at a time; able and willing to work with hazardous materials (including radioactivity).

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.