PhD student - Research Affiliate Program

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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

The research project will investigate the response of greenhouse vegetables to long photoperiods of lighting (up to 24 hours per day) and associated mechanisms to develop novel lighting strategy for improving the energy efficiency in year-round greenhouse vegetable production. The effects of various dynamic long-photoperiod lighting on leaf photosynthesis, plant growth and yield will be investigated to increase whole plant photosynthesis and plant productivity (high light & energy use efficiency and fruit yield) in both growth chamber and greenhouse trials, using plant photosynthesis monitoring system, and various plant growth and biochemical analysis techniques.

This research project is a multidisciplinary study. The successful candidate will need to be a good team player, and well organized. The candidate will have a strong background in plant physiology and biochemistry.

The work will be conducted at the Harrow Research and Development Centre of Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada under the supervision of Dr. Xiuming Hao, and at the Department of Plant Agriculture at the University of Guelph under the supervision of Professor Bernie Grodzinski.

Work environment

The Harrow Research and Development Centre, located at Harrow, Ontario is a Canadian Government centre of excellence for greenhouse and field crops research. The facilities include a modern lab/office complex to house more than 100 full-time staff, a research farm for field studies and a state-of -the-art greenhouse complex for greenhouse crop production research. The mission of the greenhouse research team is to develop new technology/strategy for improving crop management, greenhouse environmental control and energy efficiency, to enhance the productivity of greenhouse vegetables.

The plant physiology laboratory headed by Prof. Grodzinski in Department of Plant Agriculture is one of the leading groups in the world on leaf photosynthesis, C-partitioning and crop productivity, and is located on the campus of University of Guelph, a campus town known for agricultural and food research, and vibrant scientific community that offers cutting-edge facilities for agriculture and food science. The physiology and biochemical studies in the laboratory include leaf photosynthesis and export studies, and the investigation of CO2 and carbon exchanges of plants in controlled environment environments such as commercial greenhouses and specialized chambers.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

Contact information for 2 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

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 PhD program in University of Guelph (Guelph, Ontario) with specialization in Plant Physiology and Biochemistry.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE
- Experience in plant physiology and biochemical analysis such as, but not limited to, leaf photosynthesis monitoring/measurement or plant sample biochemical analysis.

*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 of plant physiology and biochemistry, especially on the processes of photosynthesis, response of plants to light or to other environmental factors.

COMPETENCIES
- Interactive Communication
- Initiative
- Team Work

ABILITY
Ability to perform scientific data analysis and interpret the results.

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

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 the email referenced below under “Contact Information”.

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.