Computational Biologist

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

We want you to succeed! Our objective is to identify qualified candidates by fairly assessing their abilities. Assessment accommodations are intended to remove obstacles without altering the criteria being assessed so that all candidates can showcase their capabilities.

Please help us meet our commitment of providing an inclusive and barrier-free environment by letting us know if you require assessment accommodations, including assistance with the application process. Additional information on the assessment format(s) (for example: exam, interview) will be provided at each assessment stage.

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

We are in need of a highly motivated computational biologist who will be based at the Ottawa Research & Development Centre. The biologist's role entails comprehensive genomics and metagenomics data analysis, particularly with large-scale sequencing data, as well as machine learning modeling, especially in the context of microbiome evolution and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) tracking. Additional tasks involve fieldwork and sampling in poultry barns, isolating microorganisms, performing cell cultures, and carrying out various microbiological and molecular biological experiments in wet-lab settings.

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.

The Ottawa Research and Development Centre (ORDC) is one of the largest R&D centres of the Science & Technology Branch (STB) at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). ORDC is located on the beautiful, historical, 425-hectare Central Experimental Farm in downtown Ottawa and leads research in three areas: 1) Crop genetic enhancement and genomics; 2) Biodiversity of vascular plant, fungi and bacteria, and invertebrates; and 3) Integrated assessment of long-term environmental effect of agricultural practices. Research conducted at ORDC, as well as all R&D centres of STB, are aligned with national priorities to help the sector adapt and remain competitive in domestic and global markets. We work closely with other federal government agencies, provincial governments, industry, academia, and other partners in Canada and abroad to increase agricultural productivity; improve environmental performance; improve attributes for food and non-food uses; and to address threats to the agriculture and agri-food value chain.

Intent of the process

Immediate need: 1 full-time temporary position

A pool of qualified and partially qualified candidates may be established and may be used to staff similar positions with various tenures.

In the event that an employee of the public service is qualified through this process, and there is a temporary need, he/she may be considered for acting, deployment, assignment or secondment opportunities.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

Education:
If you were educated outside of Canada, you must have your certificates and/or diplomas assessed against Canadian education standards. Click on the link below to contact the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC).

EDUCATION:
Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization* in biological science or in a natural, physical or applied science with specialization* in a field relevant to the duties of the position.

*The courses for the specialization must be acceptable and must have been taken at a recognized post-secondary institution, but not necessarily within a degree program in the required specialization.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE:
• Experience in planning and conducting both wet-lab and dry-lab research projects in genomics and meta-genomics.
• Experience in high-throughput sequencing data analysis using bioinformatics and statistical approaches.
• Experience in interpreting and summarizing research results using data visualization tools and techniques.

If you possess any of the following, your application must also clearly explain how you meet it (other qualifications)

EDUCATION:
• Graduation with an acceptable master’s or doctoral degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a field of natural sciences with a specialization related to the duties of the position.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE:
• Experience in demonstrating productivity as evidenced by proven track record authorship in peer- reviewed scientific journals, books or patents.
• Experience in developing or implementing bioinformatics toolkits such as novel algorithms, data processing pipelines, packages or Python modules.
• Experience in using machine learning approaches in analyzing large-scale research data, such as supervised or unsupervised learning and neural networks.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE:
• Knowledge of computational programming using languages like BASH, R, python or others.
• Knowledge of genomics, metagenomics or other Omics research.
• Knowledge of microbial ecology.

ABILITIES:
• Ability to coordinate progress and budgets of multiple research activities.

The following may be applied / assessed at a later date (may be needed for the job)

KNOWLEDGE:
• Knowledge of using machine learning approaches in analyzing large-scale data.
• Knowledge in data management.

Agriculture and Agri-food Canada recognizes that the diversity of its employee population contributes to its strength and integrity. We are committed to achieving employment equity and developing a highly capable workforce that is representative of Canadian Society. We encourage women (especially in non-traditional occupations), Indigenous peoples (Aboriginal peoples), persons with disabilities, and members of visible minority groups to apply and declare themselves as part of one or more of the Employment Equity groups, as selection may be limited to candidates belonging to one or more of the groups.

Information on employment equity

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
• Willingness and ability to travel (within and outside Canada).
• Willingness and ability to work on short notice or without notice.
• Ability and willingness to work overtime including evenings and weekends.
• Willingness and ability to work in both dry-lab and wet-lab settings.
• Willingness and ability to work in fields and poultry barns.
• Known allergies must be controlled through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication and must not impinge upon the duties to be performed.
• Ability and willingness to work under various environ-mental and weather conditions.
• Ability and willingness to work with hazardous sub-stances and pathogenic level II bacteria.
• With appropriate safety precautions in place, able and willing to work in laboratory, fields, and poultry barns for extended periods at a time.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Must work onsite in Ottawa RDC.

Other information

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

You must meet all essential qualifications in order to be appointed to the position. Other qualifications may be a deciding factor in choosing the person to be appointed. Some essential and other qualifications will be assessed through your application. It is your responsibility to provide appropriate examples that illustrate how you meet each qualification. Failing to do so could result in your application being rejected.

Various assessment tools may be used, such as standardized tests, interviews, references, board member knowledge, etc.

All communication relating to this process, including email correspondence may be used in the assessment of qualifications.

A random or top down selection of candidates may be used in the determination of those to be given further consideration in the assessment process.

Appointment decisions may be based on one or more of the following criteria:
• Matching the individual's experience or qualifications to the strengths and weaknesses of the work team.
• Matching the individual's experience or qualifications to the specific duties of the position being staffed.
• Depth, breadth, and type of work-specific experience.
• Level/degree of one or more competencies/qualifications.

A test may be administered.

An interview may be administered.

Reference checks may be sought.

You must provide proof of your educational credentials.

Asset qualifications may be used in the determination of those to be given further consideration in the assessment process.

APPLICATION & CORRESPONDENCE INFORMATION

Applications submitted by email will not be accepted. You must apply on-line through www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/jobs/services/gc-jobs.html.

Persons with disabilities preventing them from applying on-line are asked to contact the email referenced below under "Contact Information."

Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice. Applicants are asked to indicate their preferred official language in their application.

Communication for this process will be sent via email. It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure accurate contact information is provided and updated as required. Candidates who apply to this selection process should include an email address that accepts emails from unknown users (some email systems block these types of emails).

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans first and then to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, with the exception of a job located in Nunavut, where Nunavut Inuit will be appointed first.

Information on the preference to veterans

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Contact information

Apply online