Research Assistant

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

We want you to succeed! Our objective is to identify qualified candidates by fairly assessing their abilities. Assessment accommodations are intended to remove obstacles without altering the criteria being assessed so that all candidates can showcase their capabilities.

Please help us meet our commitment of providing an inclusive and barrier-free environment by letting us know if you require assessment accommodations, including assistance with the application process. Additional information on the assessment format(s) (for example: exam, interview) will be provided at each assessment stage.

As one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is proud to celebrate our achievement in creating a diverse, respectful, and positive workplace where all employees are valued and recognized for their unique qualities, ideas, voices and perspectives. We are dedicated to building and promoting a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce, representative of all Canadians regardless of race, ethnicity, colour, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, socio-economic background or lived experience. By embracing diversity and inclusion, our department ensures broader discussions, better decisions, and a more positive workplace.

We welcome all candidates, including Indigenous Peoples, Black, other racialized groups, persons with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ2+ community to apply and strongly encourage candidates to self-declare if they belong to an Employment Equity designated group (i.e. Indigenous (Aboriginal*) Peoples, Persons with Disabilities, Women or Visible Minorities - Black people and other racialized groups).

*The term “Aboriginal” is used within this job advertisement as it relates to the Employment Equity Act and other legislative frameworks. The term “Indigenous” is used where possible, in alignment with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Duties

Stream 1 : Agronomy
-Provide technical support and assist various research projects on crop diseases.
-Organize seeding plans and set up seeds for research trials.
-Support with seeding of the field plots.
-Organize and prepare specific seed treatments.
-Field trial maintenance.
-Survey commercial fields for plant diseases.
-Collect plant and soil samples from field plots and commercial fields.
-Perform disease assessments in commercial fields and field plots.
-Maintain a detailed annual field log of activities.
-Computer data entry and verification as well as inventory documentation and organization.
-Assist in various research projects in a laboratory when required.

Stream 2 : Plant Pathology and Molecular Biology
-Provide technical support and assist in various research projects on crop diseases in a laboratory environment.
-Perform plant, soil and fungal DNA extractions, conventional PCR, qPCR and droplet digital PCR.
-Run agarose gels and perform PCR purification and interpretation of sequencing results.
-Prepare media for culturing.
-Perform culturing, isolation, and identification of plant pathogens through microscopic and molecular diagnostics.
-Catalogue and maintain fungal isolates.
-Conduct experiments in plant pathology, preparing fungal inocula for application within a specific field and greenhouse trials.
-Perform pathogen inoculation and disease evaluation.
-Participate in analyzing data and preparing reports.
-Assist in various research projects in the field when required.

Work environment

Brandon Research and Development Centre supports innovative research, development, technology and knowledge transfer activities related to the following AAFC Science Sector Strategies, Agro-Ecosystem Resilience, Cereals and Pulses / Oilseeds and Horticulture focusing on developing new and improved varieties of wheat, oats and barley, sustainable and profitable crop production systems, and agro-ecosystems. This research advances scientific knowledge and delivers innovative technologies in the areas of: agricultural management systems and land resource conservation for the Black and Dark Gray soil zones; agro-ecological processes and environmental sustainability; varietal development of barley; beef production systems; and management.

Intent of the process

Immediate need:

Stream 1: Agronomy - 1 term position (18 months)
Stream 2: Plant Pathology and Molecular Biology - 1 term position (18 months)

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.

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

Positions to be filled: 2

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

Contact information for 2 references.

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

EDUCATION
A secondary school diploma or an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.

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
Experience planning or conducting or carrying out agronomic, or plant pathology, or molecular biology research in the laboratory and/or field.
Experience operating or maintaining laboratory or field or greenhouse research equipment or instrumentation used in agronomy or plant pathology or molecular biology.
Experience with methods for crops assessment including agronomic quality or disease or pest response.
Experience providing technical support in research projects.

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

EDUCATION
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, genetics, biochemistry or a related discipline, OR an acceptable combination of education, training and experience.

Degree equivalency

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE
Stream 1: Agronomy
Knowledge of field research operations, sample (soil or plant) collection procedures and performing analysis.
Knowledge of field methodologies, and principles.

Stream 2: Plant Pathology and Molecular Biology
Knowledge of plant pathology techniques including disease assessment, fungal isolation, culturing, and inoculation procedures.
Knowledge of molecular biology techniques including nucleic acid extraction, PCR and gel electrophoresis.

COMPETENCIES
Teamwork
Interactive communication
Initiative
Concern for safety

ABILITIES
Ability to make observations, collect, record, and compile data accurately, summarize and analyze results.
Ability to use basic computer programs, such as MS Excel and Word.

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

Stream 1: Agronomy
Pesticide applicator’s license.

EXPERIENCES
Stream 1: Agronomy
Experience operating field equipment such as tractors, seeders, sprayers or implements attached to a tractor in a research environment.

Stream 2: Plant Pathology and Molecular Biology
Experience with advanced plant pathology and molecular biology techniques, and nucleic acid extraction from soil and/or various plant tissues.
Experience with pulse and oilseed crop disease.

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 including evenings and weekends.
Ability and willingness to travel.
Ability and willingness to work in laboratory environment for extended periods of time while standing and under normal safety precautions.
Ability and willingness to work with toxic chemicals and other hazardous material using proper personal protective equipment.
Ability and willingness to perform repetitive actions such as pipetting.
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.
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.

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).


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.