Research Technician

Important messages

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Information on accommodation for persons with disabilities

Duties

The incumbent will work in a cereal chemistry/nutrition laboratory focusing on the nutrition and quality of wheat, oat and barley cultivars. Main areas of work will be in cereal chemistry laboratory, cereal nutrition laboratory. In the chemistry lab the incumbent will contribute to the design and plan of experiments and may adapt methodology when running experiments with grain and flour samples for the measurements such as protein, starch and antioxidant activity. In the cereal nutrition lab, the incumbent will work on the starch and protein digestibility of cereal products and the nutritional bioavailability using static and dynamic in vitro tools including cell culture system and stomach model. The incumbent will also be responsible for food formulations and methods with direction to produce products with desired nutritional content. The incumbent will contribute data to scientific manuscripts and descriptions of materials and methods. The research technician will be responsible for ensuring that lab equipment runs properly and there are adequate supplies required for uninterrupted research. Research technician will review data on Excel spreadsheets, calculate basic statistics and look for anomalies and errors.

Work environment

This position will report to the AAFC’s Cereal Research Scientist located at the Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg. 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: To staff a full-time permanent Research Technician.

Anticipatory: A pool of qualified candidates may be established and may be used to staff similar positions on a permanent full-time or part-time basis or on a temporary full-time or part-time basis for the location indicated for this process.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

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 agriculture, food science, plant biology, microbiology, chemistry, biochemistry, or related field of study.

Degree equivalency

Experience in providing technical support in a laboratory environment.
Experience in operating, maintaining and calibrating basic and complex laboratory instrumentation related to food and grain analyses.
Experience in designing experiments, developing project plans and developing methodologies and tools.
Experience in managing and analyzing phenotypic data resulting from experimental treatments using a variety of software (eg. word processing, spreadsheet, graphic and statistical analysis software).

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of principles and practices used in a cereal chemistry or food science laboratory (including: carbohydrates, proteins, oil and minor components).
Knowledge of instruments used for wet chemistry such as but not limited to pH meters, ELISA readers, centrifuge, liquid chromatography (HPLC/UPLC), mass spectrometers and near infrared analyses.
Knowledge of statistical analysis and quality control.
Knowledge of related laboratory methodologies, tools, theories, practices and principles.

Concern for Safety
Adaptability
Initiative
Interactive Communication
Teamwork
Problem Solving
Planning and Organizing

Ability to compile and analyze data and summarize results.
Ability to implement safety procedures within a food science laboratory.

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

Experience in conducting research in the area of cereal derived bio-actives.
Experience in basic cell culture and cell imaging techniques.
Experience in conducting static and dynamic in vitro digestion experiments.
Experience supervising and training others.

Knowledge of agricultural production systems in Canada.

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.

Willingness and ability to travel (within and/or outside Canada).
Willingness and ability to work overtime on short notice or without notice.

Conditions of employment

Reliability security clearance.

Ability and willingness to work overtime.
Ability and willingness to lift up to 25 kg.
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 with hazardous chemicals.

Other information

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the targeted groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

Applications submitted by email will not be accepted. You must apply on-line through www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/jobs/services/gc-jobs.html.

Persons with disabilities preventing them from applying on-line are asked to contact 1-800-645-5605.

Please identify the following on your application: substantive group and level; employment status; Personal Record Identifier (PRI).

Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language(s) of their choice. Applicants are asked to indicate their preferred official language(s) in their application.

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.

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.

Please note that candidates can be eliminated by the Public Service Resourcing System (PSRS) based on PSRS screening questions. Candidates may request to informally discuss their elimination at any point during the process. To do so, please contact the department at the coordinate(s) indicated on this poster.

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.