ANTICIPATORY - Aquatic Science Technician

Important messages

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Assessment accommodation

Duties

Provide technical, logistical and analytical support and guidelines for research and monitoring projects in fisheries sciences, which are carried out on behalf of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) in the Estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The appointee are required to work most of the time in the laboratory and occasionally in the field. The appointee will carry out and supervise technical work in the laboratory. They will be conducting various tasks, including (but not limited to) :

• Participate in the development and implementation of experiments.
• Prioritize, plan, perform and manage analyses in the laboratory
• Manage instrument functioning and quality assurance/quality control in the laboratory.
• Contribute to the drafting and review of operating procedures.
• Contribute to the training of students in laboratory techniques and/or best practices.
• Manage the daily logistics of the analysis laboratory.
• Ensure the preparation, maintenance or adequate storage of samples, data or laboratory specimens to ensure their longevity.

Work environment

Please note that this is a laboratory position at the Maurice Lamontage Institute in Mont-Joli, Québec and employees will have to be on-site for work.

Intent of the process

When you apply to this specific selection process, you are not only applying for one particular job but also for an pool list for future vacancies. As positions become available, applicants who meet the qualifications may be contacted for further assessment.

Immediate positions to be filled: 1

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

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 recognized post-secondary degree in a field of biology, biochemistry, chemistry, wildlife management and laboratory technology, or in a field of natural sciences related to the duties of the position, or an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE :

1. Recent* and extensive ** experience, especially in conducting complex analytical procedures and methodologies for research activities in a laboratory in the context of scientific projects in biology, biochemistry or chemistry. To qualify, the candidate must possess experience minimally in one OR a few of the following fields of analysis: measurement of hormones; genetic; isotopic analyses; metabolites; lipids; biochemistry; other molecular analyses;

2. Recent* experience in operating, maintaining or troubleshooting of laboratory equipment;

3. Extensive** experience in manipulating hazardous material, such as organic solvents or other flammable, toxic, explosive and corrosive chemicals or hazardous biological samples;

4. Recent* experience in database management;

5. Experience in preparation of solutions (dilution, dosage, pH calculation, titration of solution, etc.);

6. Experience in quality control of the data derived from the analyses

*Recent experience is defined as experience normally acquired within the last five (5) years.

**Extensive may be defined as the depth and extent of experience generally associated with having worked continuously in a laboratory for 2 years or intermittently for 2 years but cumulative over a maximum of 6 years. Experience gained through M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs might be considered.

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

French essential

Information on language requirements

ABILITIES :

1. Ability to assume operational responsibility for daily scientific activities in the laboratory, including logistics related to consumables, renewal/optimization of equipment and/or other specific needs depending on current and future projects;

2. Ability to lead multiple priority projects concurrently, which may include very different types of laboratory analyses/tasks.

PERSONAL SUITABILITY :

1. Thoroughness and meticulousness;

2. Analytical thinking;

3. Autonomy and initiative;

4. Motivation and dynamism;

5. Teamwork.

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

EDUCATION :

1. Graduate degree - B.Sc. - in biology, microbiology, molecular biology, virology, immunology, genomics, bioinformatics, biotechnology, genetics, or other specialty relevant to the position;

2. Graduate degree - M.Sc. - in biology, microbiology, molecular biology, virology, immunology, genomics, bioinformatics, biotechnology, genetics, or other specialty relevant to the position.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE :

1. Analytical experience with stable isotopes analyses (lyophilization, encapsulation, analyses (IRMS), data integration and analyses, etc.);

2. Experience in hormones or immunological/serological analyses (ELISA, hemagglutination, RIA, etc.);

3. Experience with genetic analyses or protocols (DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, RFLP, cloning, etc.) or genomic (microarray, sequencing, etc.) analyses;

4. Analytical experience with amino acids (sample preparation, analyses, data analysis, etc.);

5. Analytical experience with lipid analyses, including fatty acids (e.g., extractions, analyses (FID, HPLC, GS-MSetc.), data analyses, etc.);

6. Analytical experience with lipidomic analyses (samples preparation, dosage (IC-MS), etc.);

7. Experience in performing complex analyses with other chemical compounds (contaminants, trace metals, etc.);

8. Experience in the planning of laboratory experiments;

9. Experience in handling, labelling and/or shipping biological samples or chemicals through ground, air or ship (national, international, CITES, etc.);

10.Experience in writing documents, such as standard operating procedures or protocols;

11. Experience using programming software (R, python, SQL, etc..) for statistical analyses and/or results graphing to control data quality;

12. Experience in identification (taxonomy) of zooplankton;

13. Experience in identification (taxonomy) of fishes;

14. Experience in sampling or collecting organisms in the field;

15. Experience in conducting scientific work on the water using small boats or medium to large vessels.

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS :

1. Necessity to be able to adapt to a variable work schedule and do overtime;

2. Necessity to be able to work standing or sitting repeatedly and for prolonged periods.

Conditions of employment

- Reliability Status security clearance;
- Health Canada Medical Clearance;
- Valid driving licence;
- Accept and be able to travel for periods of a few days to a few weeks per year , and to work outside of regular working hours;
- Accept to work at sea and/or in the field for periods of up to six consecutive weeks;
- Appointee must adhere and follow all safety measures/procedures/protocols;
- Be available to work on the site at the laboratory location;
- Necessity to be able to work with hazardous chemicals.

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

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.

All communication relating to this process, including email correspondence may be used in the assessment of qualifications.

A test may be administered.

An interview may be administered.

Reference checks may be sought.

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 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.