Research Assistant – Plant Biotechnology - Research Affiliate Program

Update: Please note that the selection process has been amended to extend the closing date to December 7, 2021 - 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

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 student will do research to berry improvement through adventitious shoot regeneration, somatic embryogenesis and/or protoplast isolation, culture and plant regeneration, and/or through somatic hybridization/in vitro selection. Tissue culture plants will be studied at morphological, molecular and biochemical levels and epigenetic variation will be explored for berry crop improvement.

Work environment

Blueberry and huckleberry and/or lingonberry genotypes (wild clones, cultivars and/or hybrids) will be grown at St. John’s Research and Development Centre, St. John’s, NL. Plants will be studied for in vitro culture, propagation and improvement through adventitious shoot regeneration, somatic embryogenesis and/or protoplast isolation; culture and regeneration of plants, gene editing and/or somatic hybridization. Morphological characters, growth and chemical compositions (anthocyanin contents and antioxidant activities) will be studied in in vitro-derived plants. Various molecular analyses will be followed to characterize the tissue culture plants and to study epigenetic variation in micropropagated plants. Data collection and analysis will be done following standard procedures.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter "A brief description a proposed plan on a study covering in vitro and molecular techniques along with epigenetic variation in blueberries."

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

Education:
Currently enrolled or eligible to enroll in a recognize post-secondary institution in a Ph.D. program with specialization in Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology or related areas.

Degree equivalency

Experience:
Experience* doing research in plant tissue culture or molecular biology.

*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 Vaccinium species, plant propagation, plant molecular biology and plant physiology of crop plants.
Knowledge in blueberry, huckleberry and other berry crops.

Competencies:
Teamwork
Initiative
Analytical Thinking
Concern for safety

Abilities:
Ability to collect, record, analyse and summarize data.
Ability to contribute to the preparation of research papers.

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 - 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.

All employees of the core public administration are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and attest to their vaccination status unless accommodated based on a medical contraindication, religion, or another prohibited ground for discrimination as defined under the Canadian Human Rights Act.

Ability and willingness to travel.
Ability and willingness to work in laboratory, greenhouse, and/or field environments for extended periods at a time.
Ability and willingness to work with plants in the laboratory, field, greenhouse or growth chamber.
Ability and willingness to work with chemicals.
Ability and willingness to control allergies, through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication without impinging on the duties to be performed.
Ability and willingness to work with hazardous chemicals and pesticides using appropriate safety equipment after receiving suitable training.
Ability and willingness to work in field plots with rough, uneven terrain, where agricultural amendments and pesticides (in accordance with safety standards and label specifications) are used.

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 https://www.canada.ca/en/services/jobs/opportunities/government.html.

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.

On October 6, 2021, the Government of Canada announced details of its plans to require vaccination across the federal public service. The details can be found on this site: https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/news/2021/10/backgrounder-covid-19-vaccine-requirement-for-the-federal-workforce.html

As per the new Policy on COVID-19 Vaccination for the Core Public Administration Including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, federal public servants in the Core Public Administration and members of the RCMP must attest to their vaccination status. The requirement for employees to be fully vaccinated applies whether they are teleworking, working remotely or working on-site. This is a condition of employment and it applies to indeterminate (permanent), determinate (term), casual, and student hiring. Should you reach the point in the selection process where it is necessary to verify terms and conditions of employment then the hiring manager or a human resources representative will contact you in order to complete an attestation. The Policy can be found on this site: https://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pol/doc-eng.aspx?id=32694

Preference

Preference will be given to Canadian citizens.

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