Bioinformatics Biologist

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.

Duties

The position involves working in a bioinformatics support unit catering to multiple research programs, primarily at the Lacombe Research and Development Centre and its associated satellite location at Beaverlodge Research Farm, but also nationwide as part of the Bioinformatics research support network within Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC).

Some of the main duties include:
• assist in the development and use of bioinformatics tools and pipelines for analysis of genomics, metagenomics and other next-generation sequencing datasets and interpretation of results;
• perform digital image analysis and interpretation with use of machine learning/artificial intelligence techniques where applicable;
• perform basic and intermediate level statistical analysis relevant to biological data;
• assist with preparation of scientific manuscripts and technical reports and present at scientific meetings, workshops, and conferences;
• assist with preparation of research proposals with other project team members and provide advice on bioinformatics research to colleagues and managers;
• assist with preparation of documentation and training material on use of bioinformatics tools and pipelines and delivery of bioinformatics training sessions;
• assist with scientific data management;
• review scientific literature to maintain an awareness of current research developments in bioinformatics and computer vision image analysis and upgrade skills and expertise in those areas in line with requirements from research projects within AAFC.

Work environment

AAFC is committed to diversity and inclusion. We have several networks dedicated to ensuring that the department continues to grow as an inclusive, accessible, respectful and diverse workplace. All employees are encouraged and welcomed to join the networks and participate in their activities and events.

• The Gender and Sexual Diversity Inclusiveness Network
• The Indigenous Network Circle
• The Managers' Community
• The Persons with Disabilities Network
• The Student Panel of Representatives for Orientation, Unity and Training
• The Visible Minorities Network
• The Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Network
• The Young Professional's Network

Intent of the process

Immediate need: 1 full-time permanent position.

A pool of qualified and/or partially qualified candidates may be established and used to fill similar positions on a temporary or permanent basis.

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: 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 a biological science.

Note: The courses for the specialization must be acceptable and must have been taken at a recognized post-secondary institution, but not necessarily within a degree program in the required specialization.

If you were educated outside of Canada, you must have your certificates and/or diplomas assessed against Canadian education standards. Click on the link below to contact the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC).

Degree equivalency

Experience developing and using computational pipelines for data analyses.
Experience working with common data formats used in bioinformatics analyses.
Experience using and developing machine learning models including deep learning for application with big data or computer vision image analysis.

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

Master’s degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization in a biological science.

Degree equivalency

Experience developing and using applications based on relational databases.
Experience writing or assisting in the preparation of bioinformatics related technical reports and scientific manuscripts.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of computational methods used in molecular biology and next-generation sequencing data analyses.
Knowledge of methods used in machine learning and artificial intelligence.
Knowledge of code optimisation and job scheduling on high performance computing (HPC) clusters.

Interactive Communication
Planning and organizing
Teamwork
Initiative
Concern for safety

Ability to do bash scripting and programming in R and/or Python to analyse large and complex biological datasets including big data/images.

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

Possession of a valid class 5 Alberta driver’s license or other provincial/territorial equivalency.
Ability and willingness to travel occasionally.
Ability and willingness to work flexible hours and overtime.
Ability and willingness to work with research and commercial data and images from livestock (e.g., cattle, swine), abattoirs and meat processing plants.

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).

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.