Research Scientist –Horticulture Physiology

Update: Please note that the selection process has been amended to extend the closing date to October 5, 2020 - 23:59, Pacific Time.

Important messages

We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please use the Contact information below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

Assessment accommodation

Preference may be given to the following employment equity groups: Aboriginal peoples and Women.

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).

Duties

Production systems of horticultural crops are rapidly evolving to take advantage of technological advances in precision agriculture. To take full advantage of these advances, the physiology of the plant and its response to these new cropping systems must be optimized. This position will focus on the integration of crop physiology and crop sensing technologies in order to optimize crop quality and productivity.

Intent of the process

A pool of qualified and partially qualified candidates may be established and may be used to staff similar positions with various tenures as well as various linguistic requirements.

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)

EDUCATION

Graduation with an acceptable doctoral degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in the field of whole plant physiology, stress physiology or other relevant discipline.

Applications will be accepted from candidates enrolled in their final year, but who have not yet completed a Ph.D. program. Completion of the Ph.D. thesis must occur before the date of appointment.

IF YOU HAVE FOREIGN CREDENTIALS, please follow the link below for information on how to obtain a degree equivalency. You must obtain an equivalency, at your own expense, in order to be considered for appointment into the public service.

Degree equivalency

► Recognized achievement in the form of authorship and editorship of published or unpublished reports, books, papers, peer-reviewed scientific journals, or other communications resulting from:
a) Research, experimental development, or tasking associated with operational equipment and problems; OR
b) Operational research and scientific analysis; OR
c) Planning, analysis and evaluation of Canadian and foreign programs in research and development; OR
d) Developmental work leading to the issue of patents, copyrights, or the creation of improved varieties, functions, or designs, and/or recognition by the professional community of the research environment.

► Expertise in the area of plant physiology.

Expertise refers to experience and skill in using approaches, tools, and/or technologies within a scientific context.

EXPERIENCE:
►Experience in horticultural crop production research with emphasis on ecophysiology or whole-plant physiology aimed at optimizing yield, quality and/or production efficiency.
►Experience in the design and conduct of scientific research specifically as it relates to fruits, vegetables or other crops.

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

ASSET - EXPERIENCE:
►Experience with crop sensing technologies such as spectroscopy and imagery.
►Experience writing grant applications.
►Experience working on a multi-disciplinary team.
►Experience interacting with industry and other stakeholders to garner support and research direction.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE:
►Knowledge of whole plant and developmental physiology.
►Knowledge of resource management as it relates to soil, water, nutrients and light in horticulture crop production systems.
►Knowledge of statistical design and methods for summarizing and analyzing data sets.

COMPETENCIES:
►Initiative
►Interactive Communication
►Adaptability
►Teamwork
►Written Communication

ABILITY:
►Ability to present scientific information.

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

ASSET - KNOWLEDGE:
►Knowledge of precision agriculture technologies and their application to horticultural production systems.
►Knowledge of physiological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms involved in responses to environmental conditions.

Conditions of employment

►Reliability Status security clearance
►Valid driver’s license.
►Ability and willingness to travel.
►Ability and willingness to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends.
►Ability and willingness to control allergies, through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication without impinging on the duties to be performed.
►With appropriate safety precautions in place, ability and willingness to work in laboratory, greenhouse, field and/or animal rearing facility environments for extended periods at a time.
►Ability and willingness to work outdoors under various weather conditions and under normal safety precautions.
►Ability and willingness to work with hazardous materials.

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

ASSESSEMENT INFORMATION

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.

Various assessment tools may be used, such as, standardized tests, interviews, references, board member knowledge, etc.

All communication relating to this process, including email correspondence may be used in the assessment of qualifications.

A random and/or top down selection of candidates may be used in the determination of those to be given further consideration in the assessment process.

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.

You must provide proof of your education credentials.

APPLICATION & CORRESPONDENCE INFORMATION

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.

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).

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans and to Canadian citizens, in that order, with the exception of a job located in Nunavut, where Nunavut Inuit will be appointed first.

Information on the preference to veterans

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