Research Assistant

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Science and Technology Branch Lethbridge (Alberta) EG-03 $65,216 to $81,985 For further information on the organization, please visit Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Discover the interesting work we do at Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada Videos **Closing date: 2 June 2025 - 23:59, Pacific Time** **Who can apply**: Persons residing within a 90 km radius of Lethbridge, Alberta **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 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**: Under the supervision of a Research Scientist, the duties will include: - Assisting with setting up of seed for field planting, including treating seed, preparation of tests for multiple locations, arranging seed in planting order, organising various nurseries, packing, shipping to various locations. - May involve assisting with seeding of various types of plots (yield, single row and two rows, etc.) using tractor and specialized seeders. - May involve staking of plots in the field, maintaining plots, mowing pathways, roguing off types. - May involve collecting various agronomic data from the field (yield, height, days to flower, maturity, lodging, disease and insect damage, etc.). - Preparing for harvesting of grain plots, including: labelling bags, arranging them in harvest order etc. - Harvesting single plants and small plots using threshers, stationary combines and plot combines. - Arranging of seed in plot order, weighing, cleaning and collecting data (agronomic, disease resistance and seed quality). - Setting up of seed for indoor planting of seed increases and crossing blocks. - Maintenance of plants in greenhouse and growth rooms. - Assisting in developing new protocols and modifying existing protocols. - Organizing and cataloging of seed using software. - Maintenance of seed collections. - Other plant breeding related duties as required. **Work environment**: 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. **Intent of the process**: Immediate need: 1 temporary seasonal position (duration of 3 years - sunset funding). The seasonal work period will be from August to April (8 months per year). Please note that this position requires on-site presence in Lethbridge, Alberta. 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 **Information you must provide**: Your résumé. - Secondary school diploma or acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience. Degree equivalency - Experience providing support in an agricultural field operation. - Experience harvesting or threshing individual plants or plots. - Experience processing a large number (> 100) of seed samples (e.g. cleaning, weighing, maintenance). - Experience in the maintenance of plants grown in a greenhouse. - Experience in the operation of small field equipment such as tractor or small-plot combine. - Experience with hybridisation of field crops. - Experience with hauling small-plot combine, seeder or other equipment using a trailer to off-station field sites. **The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)**: English essential Information on language requirements - Knowledge of g