Research assistant in pig behaviour and welfare - Research Affiliate Program

Duties

This work is a part of a research program on the influence of farm management on welfare of pigs. The research position proposed is part of a project on alternative pig production systems. The student will participate to a study on gestating sows housed outdoor. The student will be located at the Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre (QC). The student will have to participate to the preparation of an experiment, and to collect and process data and samples. The student will be supervised by a research scientist and a technician specialised in ethology.

Work environment

The Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre was established in 1914 in Sherbrooke, in the Eastern Townships region of Quebec. The centre is the only Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research centre specialized in innovative research primarily for the Canadian dairy and swine industries.

The centre leads research in three key areas:
•Environmental sustainability
•Dairy and swine production systems
•Dairy and swine health and welfare

Facilities at the Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre
•Modern laboratories (5,820 square metres) and animal facilities for dairy cattle and swine, sows and their breeding, growing and finishing
•Specialized facilities for: ◦radioimmunoassay
◦cell culture
◦molecular biology and genetic engineering
◦meat quality evaluation
◦metabolic cages and equipment for individual feed intake evaluation
◦environmental laboratories
◦bioreactors
◦an olfactometry laboratory

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

Contact information for 1 references.

A list of the courses you have taken as well as any courses that you are taking now, or that you will be taking this academic year.

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)

Currently enrolled in or eligible to enroll in a bachelor program in a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization in agriculture and/or animal sciences.

The candidate must be recognized as a full time post-secondary student in an accredited institution AND required to do a research work term in order to fulfill academic requirement.

Degree equivalency

Experience in using Microsoft Office (including MS Outlook, MS Word and MS Excel)

Experience conducting field experiments.

Experience collecting and performing analysis on samples.

Please note that experience could have been acquired through your studies, work experience or volunteer activities.

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

French essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of agronomy and animal science (physiology, production).

Knowledge of ethology

Planning and Organizing

Interactive communication

Teamwork

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 - Each student hired through the Research Affiliate Program (RAP) must meet the security requirements of the position as a condition of employment, and therefore will be asked by the hiring organization to complete security-relevant documents.

Ability and willingness to work with animals

Ability and willingness to work outdoors

Possession of a valid driver's license

Other information

Applications submitted by email will not be accepted. You must apply on-line through www.jobs.gc.ca.

Successful completion of both a RAP work assignment and your educational program may lead to a temporary or permanent federal public service position for which you meet the merit criteria and conditions of employment.

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 Canadian citizens.

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.