MSc / PhD position

MSc / PhD position - Research Affiliate Program

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Science and Technology Branch

Closing date : February 18, 2026 - 23 : 59, Pacific Time

Reference number

AGR26J-170898-000012 Selection process number

26-AGR-RAP-9 Location

Agassiz (British Columbia) Employment tenure

The projected start date is September 1, 2026 with an end date of March 30, 2029 (or depending on the candidate's availability or needs) with the possibility of part-time extension. It is expected that the student will work 20 hours per week. Salary

$25.17 to $38.38 per hour - Varies as per the level of education and experience. Who can apply

Persons residing in Canada, and Canadian citizens and Permanent residents abroad. Organization information

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About the position

Duties

The student will conduct research evaluating the influence of temperature regimes and seasonal dynamics on plant developmental physiology and phenology. This study requires assessing crop performance across diverse experimental settings, including field conditions with and without modified microclimates, and laboratory environments to understand environmental impacts on vegetative and reproductive development in blueberries. A major component of this position involves the optimization and application of UAV-based remote sensing technologies. The student will develop high-throughput workflows to rapidly assess physiological status and morphological traits across large sample sets. Key duties include data acquisition, statistical modeling, image analysis, and the synthesis of findings for an MSc / PhD thesis and peer-reviewed publications. Additionally, the student will assist in supervising undergraduate research assistants and managing laboratory operations. Work environment

The majority of field research activities will be conducted at the Agri-Food Canada’s Agassiz Research and Development Centre in Agassiz, BC, a research facility with nearly 20 research teams representing diverse fields of agriculture. All coursework will be completed at Simon Fraser University, a major public university located in Greater Vancouver. The chosen candidate will work closely with researchers specializing in plant physiology, and remote sensing. Positions to be filled

1 Important messages

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.

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.Willingness and ability to work in diverse environments, including outdoor field sites (handling drones and collecting plant phenological and physiological data) and controlled laboratory settings

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You need (essential for the job)

Your application must clearly explain how you meet the following Education :

Candidate must be enrolled now, or will be enrolled by the date of the appointment, in a master's or doctorate program at a recognized postsecondary institution with a specialization in plant physiology and remote sensing.Note : Must be currently recognized as having full-time student status in the academic institution in which you are presently enrolled, pending approval of acceptance or in the process of submitting your application. Proof of enrollment will be required prior to start date and the student must be returning to full-time studies for your next academic term.

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Applied / assessed at a later date Knowledge :

Knowledge of plant physiology, specifically regarding abiotic stress responses (e.g., drought, heat)

Knowledge of remote sensing principles (multispectral / hyperspectral imaging), acquisition of multi-type images, and image processing

Knowledge of statistical methods and experimental design

Knowledge in programming languages for data analysis (e.g., R, Python) and geospatial software (e.g., QGIS, ArcGIS, ENVI)Competencies :

Interactive Communication

Initiative

Problem Solving

Planning and OrganizingAbilities :

Ability to analyze research findings and communicate them effectively through oral presentations and scientific writing (reports, manuscripts)

Ability to work effectively within a research team or individually, depending on study requirements

Language requirements (essential for the job)

Applied / assessed at a later date English essential

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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 below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

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Equity, diversity and inclusion

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

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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.

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