Research Assistant – Plant Physiology - AMENDMENT to CLOSING DATE

Update: UPDATE
Please note that the selection process has been amended to extend the closing date to April 9, 2018 - 23:59, Pacific Time.

Important messages

UPDATE
Please note that the selection process has been amended to extend the closing date to April 9, 2018 - 23:59, Pacific Time.

Duties

A Research Assistant position is available at the Swift Current Research and Development Centre to provide assistance in improving grain quality and end use functionality of durum and bread wheat. The individual will be working in the laboratory, greenhouse and field using various tools and technologies to conduct experiments in wheat physiology, studying C and N remobilization to seeds, photosynthesis, and the biochemical and molecular events influencing these processes. The incumbent will also study abiotic and biotic stress tolerance in wheat; characterizing genetic diversity based on biochemical, protein and molecular markers; generate mapping populations, and perform QTL analysis, including extraction and quantification of nucleic acids and proteins from plant samples. The individual will interact with the cereal breeding group, conduct data analysis and contribute to the production of presentations, reports, and 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.

Intent of the process

Immediate 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)

A secondary school diploma or employer-approved alternatives.

Degree equivalency

Experience providing technical support to crop physiology related projects in a laboratory, and greenhouse or field environment.
Experience conducting experiments with plant physiology tools (such as NDVI, NIR and photosynthesis measuring equipment), performing analysis and interpreting results.
Experience in molecular biology and biochemical studies with plants.
Experience working with statistical packages for research data analysis.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of plant molecular physiology and biochemistry.
Knowledge of phenotypic and genetic characterization of plant physiological traits.

Adaptability
Initiative
Interactive Communication
Teamwork

Ability to use scientific instruments in plant physiology studies.
Ability to adapt scientific methodologies.
Ability to analyze data using experimental statistics.
Ability to compose technical documents.

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

Graduation from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization in one of the following fields: Plant Biology, Plant Physiology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, or some other science relevant to the position.

Graduation from a recognized post-secondary institution with a Master’ s degree in Plant Physiology, Plant Molecular Biology, Biochemistry or some other science relevant to the position.

Degree equivalency

Experience with protein sequence analysis or metabolomics.

Knowledge of crop physiological mechanisms and traits that form the basis of seed quality.

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.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Valid driver’s license.
Ability and willingness to work in a greenhouse, and laboratory or field environment under various weather conditions.
Ability and willingness to work with chemicals and reagents using personal protective equipment.
Ability and willingness to perform physically demanding work, including bending and lifting objects up to 15kg.
Ability and willingness to work overtime
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.

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.