Research Assistant - Plant Biology

Update: UPDATE: Please note that the selection process has been amended to extend the closing date to February 14, 2022 - 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).

Intent of the process

Immediate need: 1 full-time permanent position.

A pool of qualified candidates may be established and may be used for similar permanent and temporary employment.

In the event that an employee of the public service is qualified through this process, he/she may be considered for acting, deployment, assignment or secondment opportunities.

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)

Secondary school diploma or acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.

Degree equivalency

Experience with biochemistry and molecular biology techniques including SDS-PAGE, immunoblotting, DNA or RNA extraction, PCR, and DNA gel electrophoresis.
Experience adapting and evaluating scientific methods, protocols, and standard operating procedures.
Experience performing and optimizing protein or metabolite separations via computer-controlled chromatography (GC, HPLC, or FPLC).
Experience with statistical or graphing software (GraphPad Prism, SPSS, R, SigmaPlot or equivalent).

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

Degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in one of the following fields:
• Biochemistry; Biology; Biotechnology; Botany; Life Science; Plant Biology; Plant Science; or a related program or other specialization in a field relevant to the duties of the position.

Master’s degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in one of the following fields:
• Biochemistry; Biology; Biotechnology; Botany; Life Science; Plant Biology; Plant Science; or a related program or other specialization in a field relevant to the duties of the position.

Degree equivalency

Experience with biochemistry techniques such as protein extraction from biological samples, protein quantification, concentration of protein solutions, enzyme activity assays, or protein-protein interactor analyses.
Experience updating laboratory inventory and ordering materials.
Experience developing, managing, and prioritizing projects in a research laboratory.
Experience maintaining laboratory records with database or laboratory information management software.
Experience training and assigning daily tasks to others such as students, volunteers, staff or contractors.
Experience maintaining scientific laboratory equipment or working with service providers to troubleshoot and correct malfunctioning lab equipment.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of the fundamentals of molecular biology and biochemistry.

Conscientiousness
Planning and Organization
Analytical Thinking
Teamwork
Concern for Safety
Interactive Communication

Ability to prepare complex biochemical solutions from concise descriptions.
Ability to accurately observe, record, analyze and interpret biological data using appropriate statistical tests.

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

Knowledge of plant biology.

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

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.

Willingness and ability to work for long periods in the laboratory, greenhouse or field.
Willingness and ability to work in harsh environments (outdoors, cold, hot, dust and noise).
Willingness and ability to work with pesticides and hazardous laboratory chemicals and equipment (with proper safety precautions in place).
Willingness and ability to work at a computer for extended periods of time.
Willingness and ability to use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and control allergies as necessary for the performance of duties.

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

ASSESSMENT 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).

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 veterans first and then to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, 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.