MSc student through University of Western Ontario - Research Affiliate Program

Important messages

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Assessment accommodation

AAFC is committed to diversity and inclusion and is proud to be recognized as one of Canada’s best diversity employers. We welcome all applicants and strongly encourage candidates to self-declare if they belong to an Employment Equity designated group (i.e. Aboriginal Peoples, Persons with Disabilities, Visible Minorities or Women).

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).

Duties

•Carry out fundamental biochemical techniques (e.g. enrich for protein activity from complex matrices, produce recombinant protein, set up protein crystallization trials)
•Carry out fundamental molecular biology techniques (e.g. cloning, transformation, nucleic acid extraction, PCR, analysis of DNA sequencing data)
•Carry out fundamental mycological techniques (e.g. grow fungal cultures, extract DNA)
•Independently troubleshoot and modify experimental protocols, read scientific literature to solve problems
•Must document, interpret, and report experimental data

Work environment

The London Research and Development Centre was established in 1951 and is one of twenty Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) research centres located throughout the country. The AAFC-London site conducts research in several areas including antimicrobial resistance, veterinary vaccines, sustainable agriculture, and insect biocontrol. The Centre is located in the heart of one of the most intensive, diverse and productive agri-food regions in Canada.
Mycotoxins are toxic small molecule secondary metabolites produced by phyto-pathogenic fungi, including Fusarium and Aspergillus spp. Ingestion of mycotoxin contaminated food and feed is detrimental to health, and can be lethal when consumed at high doses. Novel methods that mitigate mycotoxin toxicity are required. Enzymes capable of detoxifying fumonisins have significant potential to remediate contaminated food and feed in a robust, rapid, specific, and cost-effective manner. We have recently identified strains of Aspergillus fungi that are capable of synthesizing and detoxifying fumonisin mycotoxins. The goal of this project is to identify and characterize the enzymes responsible for this bio-transformation. This research will entail growing cultures of Aspergillus fungi that produce detoxified fumonisins, and then enriching for the detoxification activity via standard biochemical techniques including column chromatography and enzymatic assays. Enzymes will be identified via proteomics analysis, and potential bio-transformation candidates will be produced recombinantly to confirm activity. The enzyme will be further characterized biochemically and structurally via X-ray crystallography to understand its function at the molecular level.

Students will develop skills related to mycology (e.g. culturing fungal strains, media preparation), biochemistry (protein enrichment from source, enzyme kinetics, recombinant protein production, reverse-phase liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, proteomics, and X-ray crystallography), molecular biology (deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extraction, polymerase chain reaction, DNA cloning). The successful candidate should be able to independently troubleshoot and modify experimental protocols, read scientific literature to solve problems and must document, interpret, and report experimental data.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter in 250 words (maximum) "Please provide a short paragraph (up to 250 words) describing your research experience and/or your knowledge of biochemistry based on experience/coursework."

Contact information for 2 references.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

EDUCATION
Currently enrolled/or willing to enroll in a Master of Science (MSc) program at the University of Western Ontario, Biochemistry Department with specialization in Biochemistry and Structural Biology.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE
Experience working in a wet-laboratory setting in fields that include biochemistry, molecular biology, and structural biology.
Experience setting up protein crystallization trials for X-ray crystallography.
Experience with Microsoft office suite, Seqbuilder (or similar sequence analysis programs), SigmaPlot (or similar data analysis programs), PyMOL (or similar molecular visualization software).

*In the context of student recruitment in the Federal Public Service, the experience can be acquired through the studies, work experience, or volunteer activities.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge in molecular biology, biochemistry, and structural biology.

COMPETENCIES
Problem Solving
Planning and organizing
Analytical/Creative Thinking
Initiative
Teamwork
Responsible
Communicate effectively orally and in writing

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.

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.

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 designated groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

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.

Candidates will be required to pay for their own travel related to assessment and successful candidates will be responsible for obtaining their own living accommodations.

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.

Preference

Preference will be given to Canadian citizens.

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