Plant Pathologist

**General information**:
**Organisation **:Limagrain Cereals Research Canada (LCRC) is a new and rapidly growing Canadian company, passionate about using its plant breeding expertise to support the Canadian grains industry. LCRC is a partnership between LIMAGRAIN and CANTERRA SEEDS, bringing together global germplasm, technology and plant breeding knowledge, with deep market awareness and access to deliver value to Western Canadian growers and their customers. LCRC is a strong supporter of career and personal growth and therefore a great place to further your career in the agricultural sector.

**Reference **:2023-8615

**Company**:
Limagrain Cereals Research Canada

**Local contract**:
Local contract only

**Position description**:
**Function**:
RESEARCH & INNOVATION - BREEDING

**Employment Type**:
Regular Full Time

**Contractual hours**:
Full-time

**Main Goal**:
To develop resistance breeding strategies and effective screening systems to enable Limagrain to provide commercially successful cereal and pulses varieties with superior and robust resistance to major diseases.

**Job description**:

- To provide direct pathology support to the Limagrain Cereals Research Canada (LCRC) cereals and pulses programs and a high level of coordination, advice and support for the programs in Limagrain Cereal Seeds.
- Coordinate disease trial networks in the most relevant locations across North America and visit the breeding teams to provide support in scoring and analysis plus training where required.
- Design, prepare and conduct registration disease screening as per prescribed protocols and collect, collate, analyze and present data at the Canadian variety registration meetings.
- Coordinate and collaborate with disease nurseries and research with other pathologists in North America.
- Together with the breeders, formulate new resistance breeding strategies and provide pathology information and ratings to advise and inform both breeders and commercial teams.
- Work closely with the Cereals and Pulses Support (CAPs) team in the analysis and development of molecular markers for resistance genes.
- Act as company representative in external collaborative projects and as the main contact for pathology-related issues with both the key research institutions and official testing bodies.
- Advise breeders on the priorities and suitable strategies for marker-assisted introgression of novel disease resistances into the core breeding programs including the development of specific pre-breeding populations.
- Work closely with the CAPs and global traits and technology teams regarding the identification of novel traits, effective testing screens and forward breeding strategies.
- Commission-controlled environment plant tests to characterize specific resistance factors.
- Coordination of the collation and curation of disease data for use in genomic predictions.
- Multiplication of inoculum for the infection of local pathology and breeding nurseries.
- Coordinate activities and training to ensure safe operations of equipment and safety of project personnel in accordance with company, provincial and government guidelines.
- As a member of a small breeding station team, participate in most tasks conducted at the station.

**Profile**:

- Driven to have a positive impact on the prosperity of farmers and broader global grains industry.
- Team player, who wants to develop and inspire their team to achieve the collective goals and celebrate collective success.
- Knowledge of the target production region associated biotic stresses, and relevant germplasm bases would be highly advantageous.
- Ability to use software for data analyses, management, presentation, and reporting; competence in statistics and data management is required.

**Position localization**:
**Job location**:
America/Carribean, Canada

**Location**:
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canadá

**Minimum level of education required**:
Master's degree

**Specific expertise**:
Agriculture/Agronomy

**Minimum level of experience required**:
3 years or more

**Others**:

- A Master in plant science, agronomy or equivalent job experience is required.
- Experience with cereals and/or pulses pathology is essential.
- Experience with field research techniques, including plot maintenance and evaluation of field plots, seed processing and data collection is required.
- Ability to work independently and/or with others and the willingness to participate in all LCRC cereal breeding program duties.
- The ability to spend extended periods of time traveling domestically, and to travel internationally (have, or qualify for, a valid passport).
- Ability to work extended or variable hours under variable environmental and ergonomic conditions associated with collecting field data, planting and harvesting.

**Languages**:
English (5 - Mother tongue)

**Requester**:
**Position start date**:
01/07/2023