Graduate Student (MSc/PhD student in agriculture) - Research Affiliate Program

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

AAFC is committed to diversity and inclusion and is proud to be recognized as one of Canada’s best diversity employers. We welcome all applicants and strongly encourage candidates to self-declare if they belong to an Employment Equity designated group (i.e. Aboriginal Peoples, Persons with Disabilities, Visible Minorities, or Women).

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).

Duties

Effective sustainable farm practices are essential to conserve and improve upon soil health and fertility and to enhance associated ecosystem services in viticulture systems in the face of climate change.

The incumbent will examine the impact of agronomic management and organic amendments on various aspects of soil health and fertility, including how soil organic carbon distribution and dynamics, microbial community composition, and microbial biogeochemical cycling communities (nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus cycling) respond and/or contribute to the decomposition of these amendments. The student’s project will support the development of innovative best management practices (BMPs) and promote sustainable agricultural practices that build soil carbon, improve soil health and fertility, and enhance soil biodiversity in modern viticulture systems. More precisely, this project will consist of a literature review, the collection of soil samples and their analysis in the laboratory, followed by the statistical analysis and interpretation of the results. The candidate will be involved in writing scientific manuscripts and in presenting the findings at a conference or meetings.

Experimental sites will be conducted in six commercial vineyards in the Valley of Annapolis in Nova Scotia and greenhouse and incubation studies at KRDC. The lab work will mainly take place in KRDC and HRDC. Two scientists from AAFC (Dr. Vicky Lévesque and Dr. Lori Phillips) and two professors from the Faculty of Agriculture – Dalhousie University (Dr. Derek Lynch, Dr. Rhea Lumactud) with various expertise will be involved.

Work environment

In collaboration with the research teams of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) located at the Kentville Research Development Centre (KRDC, NS) and at the Harrow Research Development Centre (HRDC), ON, and a research team at the Faculty of Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Truro, NS, the student will conduct research leading to the writing of a Master’s or PhD thesis on the effect of organic amendments in conventional and organic viticulture systems on soil health and microbial diversity and functioning in Nova Scotia.

The successful candidate will be asked to work outdoors in the field and in the laboratory, as well as in control environments (e.g., greenhouse and incubation). Laboratory work will require some prerequisite safety training.

Day-to-day hands-on research work will be conducted at the Kentville RDC and at the Harrow RDC, with coursework and other academic activities being completed at the Faculty of Agriculture – University of Dalhousie, Truro, Nova Scotia.


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 one-page statement of research interest indicating your interest in agricultural research, your career aspirations, and a brief summary of your master’s project."

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

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

Education:

Currently enrolled or will be enrolled by the date of appointment in a Master’s or PhD program in a recognized post-secondary institution with a specialization in Agricultural Sciences.

Note: Must be currently recognized as having full-time student status in the academic institution in which they are presently enrolled, pending approval of acceptance, or in the process of submitting their application. Proof of enrollment will be required prior to start date and the student must be returning to full-time studies for their next academic term.

The student must meet the eligibility criteria to enroll in Dalhousie University.

Degree equivalency

Experience:
Experience* working in a laboratory or doing field work related to agriculture.
Experience* in collecting, compiling and analyzing experimental data.
Experience* in writing scientific manuscripts and in presenting the results at a conference or meetings.

*In the context of student recruitment in the federal public service, 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 essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge:
Knowledge of soil science with emphasis on soil health and microbial ecology.
Knowledge of biochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in agricultural systems.
Knowledge of theory and principles of statistical analysis in biological sciences.

Competencies:
Teamwork
Planning and Organization
Initiative

Abilities:
Ability to use statistical software.
Ability to summarize and communicate scientific information in oral and written form.
Ability to work independently and in collaboration with others.
Ability to troubleshoot experiments.

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

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:

Ability and willingness to work in laboratory and field environments for extended periods at a time.
Ability and willingness to work in harsh environments (outdoors, cold, hot, dust and noise).
With proper safety precautions in place, ability and willingness to work with hazardous laboratory chemicals and equipment.
Ability and willingness to use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and control allergies through necessary means, and this should not prevent the performance of the duties to be performed.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance - Each student hired through the Research Affiliate Program (RAP) must meet the security requirements of the position as a condition of employment and, therefore will be asked by the hiring organization to complete security-relevant documents.

• Some travel is required, e.g., sample collection / data recording at each farm site, lab work in two research centres located at Kentville, Nova Scotia and Harrow, Ontario, and attendance in required courses at the Faculty of Agriculture – University of Dalhousie in Truro, Nova Scotia.
• Possession of a valid Class 5 Nova Scotia driver’s licence, or other provincial/territorial equivalency. The student will mainly drive between Kentville Research Development Centre, the vineyard sites located in the Annapolis Valley and the Dalhousie University campus located in Truro, Nova Scotia. In addition, the student will travel between the provinces of Nova Scotia and Ontario. After the first year, the student will be required to drive between the Halifax airport (NS, Canada) and the Harrow Research Development Centre in Ontario to complete some laboratory works related to their research project.

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

Applications submitted by email will not be accepted. You must apply online through https://www.canada.ca/en/services/jobs/opportunities/government.html.

Persons with disabilities preventing them from applying online are asked to contact the email referenced below under “Contact Information.”

Candidates will be required to pay for their own travel related to assessment and successful candidates will be responsible for obtaining their own living accommodations.

Successful completion of both a RAP work assignment and your educational program may lead to a temporary or permanent federal public service position for which you meet the merit criteria and conditions of employment.

Preference

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

Contact information

Apply online