Research 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 Potato Wart Biologist will help to advance research related to the control and management of Synchytrium endobioticum, the fungal plant pathogen that causes potato wart. Based at the St. John’s Research and Development Center, the Potato Wart Biologist will contribute to research projects and objectives with collaborators across the country, including research scientists, technicians, general labourers, students, and academics. You will be responsible for implementing standardized procedures and will also participate in designing and evaluating new protocols and methods. You will work in a lab utilizing your experience in molecular biology and microbiology to extract and analyze nucleic acids from plants and fungi and to prepare and observe microscopic samples. In addition, you will be responsible for working as part of a team to perform and collect data from experiments in greenhouses, growth chambers, and in the field.

Work environment

The successful candidate will be located at the St. John’s Research & Development Centre (St. John’s RDC) located in eastern Newfoundland, close to one of several areas of agricultural production on the island of Newfoundland as well as in in Labrador. The St. John’s RDC is a leader in the research, development and technology transfer of agricultural innovations that support sustainable and productive boreal-northern agriculture and food systems. Science teams at the centre focus on the development of sustainable, climate-smart production systems for vegetables, berries and forage crops.

Intent of the process

Pools of qualified and partially qualified candidates may be established and they may be 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)

EDUCATION:
Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a natural, physical or applied science with specialization in a field relevant to the duties of the position.

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:
The Essential Experiences listed below may be acquired during the course of obtaining your graduate degree, the completion of an honours project, or through work experience, including co-op placements, work terms, internships, etc.:

- Experience with planning and executing experiments in molecular biology.
- Experience with following scientific protocols and procedures.
- Experience with collecting, recording, and analyzing scientific data.
- Experience with microbiological techniques.

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

ASSET-EDUCATION:
Graduation with a master's or doctoral degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with acceptable specialization in Biology or another discipline directly related to the duties of the position.

Degree equivalency

ASSET-EXPERIENCE:
- Experience in the development of scientific methods.
- Experience with microscopy.
- Experience with growing and maintaining plants in indoor or outdoor settings.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

COMPETENCIES:
- Initiative
- Teamwork
- Interactive Communication
- Adaptability
- Problem Solving

ABILITIES:
Ability to plan, organize, and manage multiple simultaneous tasks.

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

ASSET-KNOWLEDGE:
- Knowledge of common techniques for extracting and analyzing nucleic acids.
- Knowledge of techniques in and principles of plant pathology.

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

- Willingness and ability to have flexible operational work hours.
- Willingness and ability to travel and conduct fieldwork.
- Willingness and ability to to drive to field sites, which may include driving on highways, on narrow roads, and in a field setting.
- Willingness and ability to lift boxes and bags of potatoes up to 25 kg.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

• Possession of a valid, class 5 Newfoundland and Labrador driver’s license, or other provincial/territorial equivalency
• Ability and willingness to use Personal Protective Equipment and control allergies as necessary for the performance of duties.
• Ability and willingness to work in laboratory, greenhouse, and field environments for extended periods of time with appropriate safety precautions in place.
• Ability and willingness to work outdoors under variable weather conditions.
• Ability and willingness to work with hazardous materials under normal safety precautions.
• Ability and willingness to stand for extended periods of time on concrete floor and walk through uneven ground in fields.
• Ability and willingness to work in field requiring bending or squatting to pick samples from plants or from the ground in sunny, hot or cold conditions.

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).

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.