Graduate Student

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Science and Technology Branch
Vineland Station (Ontario)

$24.62 to $37.53 per hour (Master: $24.62 to $30.99; Doctorate: $28.99 to $37.53 - Varies as per the level of education and experience.)
For further information on the organization, please visit Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

For further information on the Research Affiliate Program (RAP), please visit Research Affiliate Program (RAP)

**Closing date: 31 May 2024 - 23:59, Pacific Time**

**Who can apply**: Persons residing in Canada, Canadian citizens, and Permanent residents abroad.

- Be enrolled in an academic program that requires research as part of the curriculum.
- Be at least the minimum age to work in the province or territory where the job is located.

**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

**Duties**:
The potential research areas include: (i) isolation and characterization of nematodes from soil and plant root by morphological and molecular techniques (ii) understand the pathogenicity of plant parasitic nematodes and their impact on plant growth (iii) development of new molecular technique for identification of closely related nematode species (iv) NGS of selected nematode species by using high end technology (v) bioinformatics and molecular data analysis using Linux based computer programs.

The day-to-day work will take place at two locations: laboratory research and green house study at Vineland campus of London Research and Development Centre; and Jordan farm located at Jordan station for the field research.

The successful applicant will conduct the following tasks:

- Isolation and characterization of nematodes from soil and plant roots using morphological and molecular techniques.
- Greenhouse study of nematodes.
- Field evaluation of different combinations of plant parasitic nematodes with or without presence of other pathogens.
- On-farm demonstration trials of parasitic nematodes.
- Develop molecular-based diagnostic tools to differentiate between closely related nematode species.
- Genome sequencing, data analysis using different bioinformatics programs and sequencing by high end technologies such as hiseq, miseq and nenopore.
- Etc.

**Work environment**:
The Vineland campus of the London Research and Development Centre is located in Vineland Station in the Niagara region, where research is focused on improving integrated pest (insects, nematodes, fungi, bacteria, virus) management in fruit and other specialty crops.

Field research will be conducted at AAFC Jordan Farm, and laboratory and greenhouse research at the Vineland facility with a collaboration with different Gov. and non Gov. agencies, Universities and foreign Gov.

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

**Positions to be filled**: 1

**Information you must provide**:
Your résumé.

A covering letter "A covering letter in 1,000 words (maximum) "Please provide a short (no more than one page) statement of how your research experiences and knowledge prepare you for this PhD position.""

Contact information for 2 references.

A list of the courses you have taken as well as any courses that you are taking now, or that you will be taking this academic year

**Education**:
Currently enrolled or will be enrolled by the date of appointment in a Master’s or a PhD program in a recognized post-secondary institution with a specialization in Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Microbiology or Parasitology.

Degree equivalency

**Experience**:
Experience* with laboratory and agricultural field or greenhouse experiments.

Experience* working with microorganisms, diseases and plant parasites.

Experience* with molecular and bioinformatics techniques.

Experience* in executing experiments and writing manuscripts.
- In the context of student recruitment in the Federal Public Service, the experience can be acquired through studies, work experience, or volunteer activities.

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