Priority may be given to the following designated employment equity groups: women, Indigenous Peoples* (First Nations, Inuit and Métis), persons with disabilities and racialized persons*.
* The Employment Equity Act, which is under review, uses the terminology Aboriginal peoples and visible minorities.
Candidates are asked to self-declare when applying to this hiring process.
City: Halifax
Organizational Unit: Aquatic and Crop Resource Development
Classification: CS-2
Tenure: Continuing
Language Requirements: English
Work arrangements:
- Due to the nature of the work and operational requirements, this position will require full-time physical presence at the NRC work location identified.
At the NRC, we recognize that Indigenous candidates may have important connections to their communities and you may be eligible for an exception to this work arrangement. Alternative work arrangements may also be considered to accommodate candidates as required. To learn more about these options, please contact the NRC Hiring team using the contact information below.
Discover the possible
Anything is possible at the NRC, named in 2026 one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People, Top Employer in the National Capital Region and Forbes Canada’s Best Employers!
As Canada’s largest research and innovation organization, our world-renowned research pushes the boundaries of science and engineering to make the impossible, possible. Every day we explore new ideas through innovative research and help companies discover possibilities that impact Canada’s future and the world.
At the NRC, you’ll also discover new possibilities. Our supportive workplace fosters a culture of creativity, welcoming fresh perspectives and innovation at all levels. We value teamwork. You’ll collaborate across multiple fields and with the brightest minds to find creative solutions. Most importantly, you’ll discover what’s possible within you as you grow, make valuable contributions and progress in your professional journey. From ground-breaking discoveries to a life-changing career, discover your possible at the NRC.
The role
Help bring research to life and drive your career forward with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), Canada’s largest research and technology organization.
We are looking for a Bioinformatics Support Specialist to join the Aquatic and Crop Resource Development (ACRD) Research Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. This is an opportunity to apply your bioinformatics expertise to meaningful research in environmental genomics, toxicogenomics, bioprospecting, and algal biotechnology, while working with multidisciplinary teams across government, academia, and industry. The incumbent would be someone who shares our core values of Integrity, Excellence, Respect and Creativity.
The successful candidate will develop, implement, and maintain reproducible bioinformatics workflows and computational tools to process, analyze, and interpret high-throughput sequencing data, including genomics, transcriptomics, metabarcoding, and metagenomics datasets.
Working under the direction of a Team Lead, the Bioinformatics Support Specialist will contribute to the development and validation of genomic platforms, including zebrafish transcriptomics models for toxicological risk assessment, and its relevance to human-specific outcomes. Their role will also support research that advances our understanding of biological responses to environmental change, pollutants, climate change, and other stressors in aquatic and marine ecosystems, with a particular focus on the analysis of microbial and algal communities.
The Bioinformatics Support Specialist will:
- Provide bioinformatics support for the analysis and interpretation of functional genomics data, with an emphasis on RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq).
- Provide bioinformatics support for the analysis of genomic, metagenomic, metabarcoding, and other high-throughput DNA sequencing datasets.
- Develop, implement, maintain, and document reproducible bioinformatics workflows and computational pipelines for omics data analysis.
- Maintain accurate documentation of analytical workflows, methods, and results, and communicate findings effectively through written reports and oral presentations.
- Prepare and contribute to scientific publications, technical reports, conference presentations, and other knowledge dissemination activities.
- Conceive and initiate computational biology projects, contribute to grant and funding proposals, and collaborate with a broad range of internal and external partners.
- Contribute to ACRD's multidisciplinary research environment by providing technical expertise, supporting collaborative research projects, and mentoring researchers and trainees as appropriate.
Screening criteria
Applicants must demonstrate within the content of their application that they meet the following screening criteria in order to be given further consideration as candidates:
Education
B.Sc. or M.Sc in Computer Science combined with extensive experience in biological applications or M.Sc. in Life Sciences combined with strong demonstrated computer science/bioinformatics skills.
For information on certificates and diplomas issued abroad, please see Degree equivalency
Experience
- Significant* experience managing, processing, and analyzing next-generation sequencing (NGS) data generated using Illumina and/or Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) sequencing platforms.
- Significant* experience developing, implementing, and maintaining reproducible bioinformatics workflows for DNA sequence (genomic and metagenomics), including quality control and processing, assembly, taxonomic classification and bioprospecting to identify novel genes, metabolic pathways, and bioactive compounds.
- Significant* experience developing, implementing and maintaining complete RNAseq workflow from sequencing data to downstream analysis.
- Experience** using bioinformatics software and tools for DNA/RNA sequence analysis and manipulation in Linux/Unix environments.
- Experience** programming and scripting for bioinformatics applications using one or more languages such as Python, R, Bash (Unix shell), Perl, Java, or C/C++.
- Experience** using version control systems (e.g., Git) and working in high-performance computing (HPC) or cloud computing environments is considered an asset.
- Experience** documenting bioinformatics workflows and providing technical support or training to users is considered an asset.
*Significant experience is defined as three (3) or more years of experience. **Experience is defined as one (1) or more years of experience.
Condition of employment
Reliability Status
For a Reliability Status, verification of background information over a period of 5 years is required.
Language requirements
English
Information on language requirements and self-assessment tests
Assessment criteria
Candidates will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:
Technical competencies
- Advanced knowledge of the development and implementation and maintenance of reproducible genomic/transcriptomic/metagenomic bioinformatics workflows, including web-based tools, algorithms, pipelines, software solutions and database resources in the area of bioinformatics for data manipulation and analysis.
- Advanced understanding of Linux/Unix fundamentals and using command-line tools as applied to systems administration and bioinformatics software development in a distributed and heterogeneous Linux environment.
- Ability to download/manipulate raw sequence data (including quality control and processing), alignment/generation count matrices using STAR (or equivalent), statistical correction of count data (DESeq2 or equivalent) and generation of downstream input files for ontological analysis using web-based approaches, development of data analysis methods, identifying human orthologs of differentially expressed genes, and mapping to transcriptome atlases.
- Ability to process and analyze data, compose draft reports, protocols and standard operating procedures, and contribute to the preparation of research publications and client reports.
- Ability to analyze and discuss technical issues, troubleshoot and solve problems relating to application to bioinformatics.
- Ability to program and script for bioinformatics applications using one or more languages such as Python, R, Bash (Unix shell), Perl, Java, or C/C++. Ability to work in high-performance computing (HPC) or cloud computing environments is considered an asset.
Behavioural competencies
- Research Technician/Technologist - Communication (Level 2)
- Research Technician/Technologist - Creative thinking (Level 3)
- Research Technician/Technologist - Initiative (Level 2)
- Research Technician/Technologist - Results orientation (Level 2)
- Research Technician/Technologist - Teamwork (Level 2)
- Research Technician/Technologist - Client focus (Level 2)
Competency Profile(s)
For this position, the NRC will evaluate candidates using the following competency profile(s): Research Technician/Technologist;
View all competency profiles
Compensation
From $86,503 to $108,068 per annum.
NRC employees enjoy a wide-range of competitive benefits including a robust pension plan, comprehensive health and dental coverage, disability and life insurance, office closure at the end of December, and additional supports to enhance your well-being throughout your career and beyond.
Notes
- In 2026, the NRC was chosen as one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People, a National Capital Region Top Employer and Forbes Canada’s Best Employer.
- Relocation assistance will be determined in accordance with the NRC's directives.
- A pre-qualified list may be established for similar positions for a one-year period.
- Preference will be given to Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents of Canada. Please include citizenship information in your application.
- The incumbent must adhere to safe workplace practices at all times.
- We thank all those who apply, however only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.
Please direct your questions, with the requisition number (25821) to:
E-mail: NRC.NRCHiring-EmbaucheCNRC.CNRC@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Telephone: 3439909603
Closing Date: 14 October 2026 - 23:59 Eastern Time
For more information on career tools and other resources, check out Career tools and resources
*If you are currently a term or continuing employee at NRC, please apply through the SuccessFactors Careers module from your NRC computer.
