Acknowledgement of Country

CSIRO acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, sea and waters, of the area that we live and work on across Australia. We acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. View our vision towards reconciliation

The Opportunity

• Do you have a PhD in virology, molecular biology, or vaccine development?
• Contribute to the Immune Resilience Future Science Platform
• Join CSIRO – Australia’s leading scientific research organisation!

CSIRO Early Research Career (CERC) Postdoctoral Fellowships provide opportunities to scientists and engineers who have completed their doctorate and have less than three years of relevant postdoctoral work experience. These fellowships aim to develop the next generation of future leaders of the innovation system.

This position will form part of the Immune Resilience Future Science Platform (FSP). The Immune Resilience FSP aims to harness the fundamental understanding of the immune system to develop novel strategies and platforms that will build resilience in animals to combat disease and parasite challenges.

The successful candidate will undertake cutting-edge vaccine development for African swine fever (ASF), a devastating disease of pigs that is currently causing a global pandemic and threatens Australia’s biosecurity. You will join our multidisciplinary ASF research project team, working across science programs and as part of the World Organisation for Animal Health ASF Reference Laboratory at ACDP in Geelong, VIC.

Your duties will include:

• Undertaking research in vaccinology, virology and cell line engineering including (but not limited to):
  • The design of innovative methodologies for generating ASF viral deletion mutants, using relevant genome engineering tools and techniques.
  • Engineering helper cell lines, which constitutively express the deleted viral gene(s) in trans to facilitate virus rescue, using CRISPR/Cas9 methodologies
  • Establishing and characterising prototype master seed stocks and confirm replication incompetence by infection studies using permissive non-helper cell lines.
  • Developing a novel and complementary antibody test to detect the major viral structural protein (p72), as well as antibodies to a novel peptide encoded by the DISC virus for differentiating infected and vaccinated animals.
• Working closely with other post-doctoral fellows in the Immune Resilience FSP vaccine stream to deliver aligned objectives
• Work in a diverse and multi-disciplinary team with a high-level collegiate and respectful approach to help deliver combined and independent outcomes.
• Carry out innovative, impactful research of strategic importance to CSIRO that will, where possible, lead to novel and important scientific outcomes.

Location: Geelong, VIC

Salary: AU$89k - AU$98k plus up to 15.4% superannuation

Tenure: Specified term of 3 years

Reference: 88367

To be considered you will need:

• A doctorate (or will shortly satisfy the requirements of a PhD) in a relevant discipline area, such as virology, molecular biology, vaccine development, or similar. Please note: To be eligible for this role you must have no more than 3 years (full-time equivalent) of postdoctoral research experience.
• Experience in employing molecular virology or molecular microbiology techniques.
• Experience in the application of CRISPR-based techniques for targeted gene knock out. 

For full details about this role please view the Position Description

Eligibility

Applications for this position are open to Australian Citizens only. Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.

To enter a CSIRO site, CSIRO will require you to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (or show a valid medical exemption from vaccination). If you are unable to meet this requirement, then you must return a negative result on a Rapid Antigen Test (within 48 hours prior to attending site) and wear a face mask whilst on the CSIRO site. These requirements apply if you are attending a CSIRO site as part of a recruitment process.

Flexible Working Arrangements

We work flexibly at CSIRO, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work. 

Diversity and Inclusion

We are working hard to recruit people representing the diversity across our society, and ensure that all our people feel supported to do their best work and feel empowered to let their ideas flourish. 

About CSIRO

At CSIRO Australia's national science agency, we solve the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. We put the safety and wellbeing of our people above all else and earn trust everywhere because we only deal in facts. We collaborate widely and generously and deliver solutions with real impact. 

Join us and start creating tomorrow today!

How to Apply

Please apply on-line and provide a cover letter and CV that best demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the requirements of this role.

Applications Close

16 October 2022, 11:00pm AEDT