Research Assistant in Swift Current

A Research Assistant is required at the Swift Current Research and Development Centre to work within the Cereal Molecular Pathology program. The program focuses on understanding the genetic and molecular mechanisms associated with the response of cereal crops to several diseases. The successful candidate will contribute to diverse aspects of the cereal molecular pathology program, investigating plant pathogens and host resistance.

The incumbent will conduct and manage experiments in plant pathology and be responsible for isolating pathogens, performing inoculations, conducting pathology tests, maintaining pathogen cultures, organizing planting materials, and performing disease assessments in field plots and greenhouse. The incumbent will collect data, conduct statistical analyses, and contribute to scientific reports and publications. The incumbent will perform DNA extraction and nucleic acid analyses leading to new knowledge and the development of tools such as molecular markers.

The incumbent will interact with students and postdoctoral fellows and provide leadership and training within the laboratory and field to students, casual workers, and visitors.

Conditions of employment:

• Security: Reliability Status
• Possession of a valid, class 5 Saskatchewan driver's license, or other provincial/territorial equivalency.
• Ability and willingness to work overtime as required, including evenings and weekends.
• Ability and willingness to travel.
• Ability and willingness to work with chemicals, pesticides, and other hazardous substances using personal protective equipment.
• Ability and willingness to perform physically demanding work activities including moderate to heavy manual labour requiring bending and lifting heavy objects (up to 20kg).
• Ability and willingness to work outdoors under variable weather conditions.
• Ability and willingness to work in laboratory, greenhouse, and field environments for extended periods at a time.
• Ability and willingness to control allergies, through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication.

Your application must clearly explain how you meet the following:

• Education: Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization in Plant Pathology, Plant Biology, Plant Science, Plant Genetics, Agronomy, Microbiology, or an acceptable combination of education, training, and/or experience.
• Experience: Experience providing technical support for field and/or controlled environment research in plant breeding, plant pathology, and/or molecular plant pathology. Experience working in a plant pathology laboratory undertaking activities such as preparing regular and selective culture media for fungal and bacterial pathogens, and manipulating instruments associated with fine work, such as syringes, pipettes, and forceps. Experience collecting, recording, compiling, and analyzing experimental data. Experience working with multidisciplinary and multi-institutional teams.
• Knowledge: Knowledge of experimental designs in agricultural research. Knowledge of plant pathology methodologies. Knowledge in molecular biology. Knowledge of cereal diseases.
• Competencies: Adaptability, Interactive Communication, Planning and organizing, Teamwork.
• Abilities: Ability to identify plant disease symptoms and the causal agents. Ability to lead experimental setup, collect and summarize data, and visualize results in tables or graphs related to field and laboratory trials.

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

Our commitment: We're 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 contact the hiring organization below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.