Research Assistant - Plant Pathology

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

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

Under the supervision of a Research Scientist, the successful candidate will lead a technical team consisting of technicians and co-op/summer students to implement wheat pathology/genomics research projects. He or she will coordinate research activities in the laboratory and in field, including (but not limited to) developing bioassays, experimental protocols, and standard operating procedures. The duties will involve working with fusarium head blight (FHB) including its attendant mycotoxins, and leaf spot diseases, and on identifying new and superior sources of resistance to deploy against these in adapted cereal cultivars. The successful candidate will contribute to the study of pathogen diversity, host parasite interactions and resistance mechanisms, as this affects successful crop development. He or she will also work with a multi-disciplinary team towards understanding crop responses to plant diseases and devising effective and sustainable methods for their control.

Intent of the process

Immediate need: 1 full-time permanent position.

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)

Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization in plant science, plant pathology, plant breeding, biology, plant physiology, microbiology, environmental science, natural resources, horticulture, soil science, genetics, biology or a related discipline.

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

Experience in contributing to the design of research experiments, developing projects plans and developing methodologies/tools of field or laboratory experiments.
Experience in the implementation of goals, assigning staff and allocating work within and across projects.
Experience in drafting, writing or assisting in the preparation of reports, manuscripts or poster presentations.

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

Graduation with a degree from a Master’s program from a recognized post-secondary institution in plant science, plant pathology, plant breeding, biology, plant physiology, microbiology, environmental science, natural resources, horticulture, soil science, genetics, biology or a related discipline.

Degree equivalency

Experience working with field equipment, including tractor, specialized seeder or combine harvester.
Experience in analysis of variance of large datasets using statistical software.
Experience with bioinformatics packages and tools to perform Next-Generation Sequencing analyses.
Recent* and relevant** experience planning and conducting plant pathology related research under field or laboratory settings.

*Recent is defined as experience that was executed for approximately two years in the past five years.
**Relevant is defined as an experience gained at a commercial, research or institutional agricultural enterprise.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of related field research methodologies, tools, theories, practices and principles.
Knowledge of concepts and methodologies used in plant pathology research.
Knowledge of cereals development and common cereal diseases.
Knowledge of host-pathogen interactions.
Knowledge of basic concepts and methodologies used in molecular biology.

Adaptability
Leadership
Planning and organizing
Concern for safety
Teamwork

Ability to analyze, interpret and summarize research data accurately.

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

Agriculture and Agri-food Canada recognizes that the diversity of its employee population contributes to its strength and integrity. We are committed to achieving employment equity and developing a highly capable workforce that is representative of Canadian Society. We encourage women (especially in non-traditional occupations), Indigenous peoples (Aboriginal peoples), persons with disabilities, and members of visible minority groups to apply and declare themselves as part of one or more of the Employment Equity groups as selection may be limited to candidates belonging to one or more of the groups.

Information on employment equity

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Valid Driver’s license.
Ability and willingness to work overtime.
Ability and willingness to travel.
Known allergies must be controlled through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication and must not impinge upon the duties to be performed.
With appropriate safety precautions in place, able and willing to work in laboratory, greenhouse and/or field environments for extended periods at a time; able and willing to work outdoors under various weather conditions and under normal safety precautions able and willing to work with hazardous materials.
Ability to perform physically demanding work activities, including moderate to heavy manual work such as lifting objectives up to 25 kg.

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 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.

A test may be administered.

An interview may be administered.

Reference checks may be sought.

You must provide proof of your education credentials.

Asset qualifications may be used in the determination of those to be given further consideration in the assessment process.

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 the email referenced below under "Contact Information".

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.