Research Assistant - Pulse Pathology

Duties
The incumbent’s responsibilities will include:1. Leading the development, writing, and testing of procedures, and contributing to experimental design under the supervision of the scientist.
2. Leading and coordinating activities, including setting up greenhouse, outdoor microplot, and/or large container trials; assigning work to student assistants; and collecting, organizing, and curating data on traits such as plant symptomology, height, biomass, chlorophyll fluorescence, soil moisture, and oospore cage retrieval.
3. Operate, verify, calibrate, and maintain soil moisture probes; troubleshoot and resolve any issues that arise.
4. Validate and enter data (or delegate data entry to students), and conduct preliminary statistical analysis using Excel and statistical software such as SAS and/or R. Produce summary reports, including graphs and data visualizations, to be reviewed and revised by the scientist.
5. Collect samples from the field, greenhouse and lab, and take the lead in analyzing samples, distributing samples to collaborators or BI-02 in the Pulse Pathology lab and curating data sent by collaborators or service labs. The incumbent would also maintain an inventory of samples and supplies related to these projects.
6. Participate in annual project planning and administration, including making recommendations for supplies, equipment, or services.

Intent of the process
Immediate need: 1 full-time temporary position.A pool of qualified and partially qualified candidates may be established and may be used to staff similar positions with various tenures.In the event that an employee of the public service is qualified through this process, and there is a temporary need, they may be considered for acting, deployment, assignment or secondment opportunities.

Positions to be filled
1

Important messages
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 also have various employee diversity networks dedicated to ensuring that our department continues to grow as an inclusive employer.

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Conditions of Employment:
Reliability and Security: Reliability Status
Possession of a Valid Class 5 Saskatchewan driver’s license or provincial/territorial equivalency.
Ability and willingness to work in a field environment under various weather conditions.
Ability and willingness to work in a greenhouse and laboratory.
Ability and willingness to work with chemicals and reagents using personal protective equipment.
Ability and willingness to perform physically demanding work, including bending and lifting objects up to 15kg.
Ability and willingness to work overtime.
Ability and willingness to control allergies, through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication and this must not impinge upon the duties to be performed.
Ability and willingness to travel for field related work.

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Education:
A secondary school diploma or an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.At a later stage in the selection process, you will be required to provide documentation verifying your educational credentials.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).

Experience:
Experience providing technical support for research projects in greenhouse and field settings.
Experience working in a research laboratory, focusing on plant pathology, microbiology, or plant biology.

Knowledge:
Knowledge of agricultural field research techniques.
Knowledge of diseases affecting pulse crops.
Knowledge of appropriate research record keeping.

Competencies:
Interactive Communication
Adaptability
Planning and Organizing
Teamwork

Abilities:
Ability to contribute to experimental design and develop experimental protocols.
Ability to lead experimental setup, collect and curate data, and visualize results in tables or graphs.

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Applied / assessed at a later date

English essential - You are entitled to participate in the selection process in the official language of your choice.

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Education:
Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization in one of the following fields: Plant Pathology, Plant Biology, Agronomy, Microbiology, or other specialization relevant to the position.

Experience:
Experience working in agricultural field research.
Experience working with plant parasitic nematodes.
Experience working with abiotic stress in crops, such as drought.
Experience with statistical analysis.

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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.

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Preference will be given to veterans first, followed by Canadian citizens and permanent residents, with the exception of jobs located in Nunavut or Yukon. For positions located in Nunavut, qualified Inuit enrolled under the Nunavut Agreement will be appointed first. For positions located in Yukon, qualified Yukon First Nations will be appointed first, followed by qualified Indigenous persons.

Learn more about preference to veterans.

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