About the role#
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is hiring two research assistants for the Research Affiliate Program. This position supports graduate students pursuing a Master's or Ph.D. degree through research projects focused on plant virus epidemiology and sustainable agriculture. You will work 20 hours per week under the joint supervision of a university professor and the Research and Development Center in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.
What you'll do#
Your work will focus on one of two innovative research topics. You will contribute to the following activities:
- Collect field samples and process them in the laboratory.
- Analyze large-scale metagenomic and viromic datasets.
- Build an integrated bioinformatics pipeline to discover, rank, and validate beneficial bacteriophages from soil viromes.
- Characterize the host range of two novel extracellular mycoviruses.
- Optimize formulation and field application methods for stability and infectivity.
- Integrate metabolomics to decipher mechanisms behind fungal hypovirulence.
- Use machine learning algorithms to predict phage-host interactions.
- Analyze research data and write manuscripts.
What you'll need#
- Current enrollment or upcoming enrollment in a Master's or Ph.D. program at a recognized post-secondary institution.
- Full-time student status, with a requirement to return to full-time studies for the next academic term.
- Specialization in molecular biology, virology, plant pathology, microbiology, biotechnology, genetics, or a related discipline.
- Ability to perform field sample collection and laboratory processing.
- Proficiency in analyzing nanopore sequencing data.
- Strong writing skills for manuscript preparation.
- Demonstrated creativity, innovation, attention to detail, and a motivation to learn.
Location & details#
- Location: Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec.
- Term: January 18, 2027, to January 18, 2029 (renewable based on study program duration).
- Work Modality: On-site.
- Compensation: $25.17 to $38.38 per hour, depending on education level and experience.
About Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada/ Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is a government agency based in Ottawa, Ontario. It works with farmers and food producers to support the growth and development of the agriculture and agri-food sector. The organization employs approximately 6,399 people.
How to get in at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada/ Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada
Securing a position at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada requires speed because early applicants are often reviewed before the applicant pool grows too large. Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published, which helps you apply among the first. Applying early is a practical way to ensure your materials are seen. You can also reach out to the recruiters behind these roles to ask about the position or a potential referral. Intern Insider surfaces these specific contacts, which often improves your response rates compared to submitting an application into a general queue.
