Research Affiliate – Fungal Systematics and Herbarium Genomics - Research Affiliate Program

Duties
Duties
The successful candidate will contribute to research on the diversity, identification, systematics, and molecular characterization of forest fungi using herbarium specimens, living cultures, microscopy, and DNA sequence data. Duties may include:
• Examining herbarium specimens, confirming or refining fungal identifications, and selecting appropriate specimens for morphological and molecular study.
• Preparing and documenting herbarium specimens and associated metadata.
• Preparing fungal material and extracting DNA from herbarium specimens, cultures, and other biological samples.
• Performing molecular laboratory procedures such as PCR amplification, gel electrophoresis, amplicon purification, and preparation of samples for DNA sequencing.
• Preparing and processing samples for Sanger sequencing and assisting with Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) MinION sequencing and library preparation.
• Assessing sequence quality, editing and assembling DNA sequences, conducting sequence similarity searches and alignments, and maintaining organized sequence datasets.
• Conducting phylogenetic analyses to support fungal identification and taxonomic research.
• Preparing fungal specimens for light microscopy; examining, measuring, photographing, and documenting microscopic structures used for identification.
• Isolating, culturing, and maintaining fungi using aseptic microbiological techniques.
• Maintaining accurate laboratory, herbarium, culture, and molecular data records.
• Assisting with interpretation of results and preparation of figures, datasets, reports, presentations, and scientific publications.

Work environment
Work environment
The work will be conducted primarily on site at the Canadian Forest Service's Pacific Forestry Centre in Victoria, British Columbia. The student will work in a collaborative research environment involving herbarium collections, mycology and molecular biology laboratories, microscopy facilities, and computer-based analysis.
The position involves handling dried fungal specimens and living fungal cultures; performing precision laboratory work such as pipetting, DNA extraction, PCR, electrophoresis, and sequencing preparation; using microscopes for extended periods; and conducting computer-based sequence and phylogenetic analyses. Appropriate laboratory training, safety procedures, and personal protective equipment will be provided and must be followed.

Positions to be filled
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Important messages
To be considered for RAP opportunities, students must be:
1. Recognized as having full-time student status by the post-secondary academic institution at which you are presently enrolled (proof will be required) OR be a part-time student who is recognized by their academic institution as a having a disability;
2. The minimum age to work in the province or territory where the job is located; and
3. Enrolled in an academic program that requires research as part of their curriculum.

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• Be enrolled full-time in a research-based MSc program in biology, forest biology, mycology, ecology, or a related discipline at the University of Victoria
• Hold an undergraduate degree in biology or a closely related discipline.

• Have experience in mycology, fungal ecology, fungal systematics, or forest biology, including the handling or characterization of fungal specimens.
• Have laboratory experience with molecular biology techniques, including DNA extraction, gel electrophoresis, sample purification, and preparation of samples for DNA sequencing.
• Have experience with DNA sequencing workflows, particularly Sanger sequencing and/or the interpretation and quality assessment of DNA sequence data.
• Have experience with microscopy and morphological characterization of fungi or other biological specimens.
• Have experience documenting biological specimens, samples, and associated metadata, including preparation or curation of vouchered specimens.

Demonstrate strong organizational skills, attention to detail and accuracy, dependability, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.

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Applied / assessed at a later date

English essential

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Experience in one or more of the following would be considered an asset:
• Fungal culturing and aseptic technique.
• Identification of macrofungi or microfungi.
• Herbarium, museum, or other biological collections.
• Oxford Nanopore Technologies sequencing, including MinION.
• DNA sequence editing, assembly, quality control, alignment, or phylogenetic analysis.
• Bioinformatics software used for molecular identification or fungal systematics.

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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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