Research Technician - Aquatic Disease Research

The opportunity

• ​Unique role contributing to both research and diagnostic capability
• Immerse yourself in an inclusive culture at the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness
• Join CSIRO - Australia's Premier Science and Technology Research Organisation

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CSIRO’s ACDP (formerly known as the Australian Animal Health Laboratory) helps protect Australia’s multi-billion-dollar livestock and aquaculture industries, and the general public, from emerging infectious disease threats. It is a high-containment facility designed to allow scientific research into the most dangerous infectious agents in the world.

As a Research Technician – Aquatic Disease Research at the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP), you will work in the ACDP Fish Diseases Laboratory (AFDL) within the Diagnosis, Surveillance and Response (DSR) program. Reporting to the Aquatic Research Capability Team Leader you will be a part of a group that specialises in the diagnosis and research of diseases of aquatic animals (finfish, molluscs and crustaceans) with an emphasis on exotic and newly emerging diseases. In this key role, you will work in a microbiologically secure laboratory (PC2 and PC3) to undertake both in vitro and in vivo studies as part of a multi-disciplinary team and contributing to a diverse range of research projects. 

The appointee must be able to meet ACDP’s microbiological security and security assessment requirements.  

Your duties will include:

• Contribute to laboratory work, analysis, and reporting. 
• Schedule and complete tasks relating to AFDL’s research and diagnostic activities.
• Support and deliver quality assured diagnostic testing services (NATA/ISO 17025) for a broad range of aquatic pathogens, as well as the exclusion of emergency aquatic diseases, routine surveillance and diagnostic testing.
• Contribute to quality assurance requirements, including report tests, maintain up-to-date and accurate test records, and proficiency testing.
• Assist the Team Leaders and Group Leaders by providing oral and written advice upon request.
• Provide general laboratory support for housekeeping and maintenance activities.

• Location: Geelong - Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP), VIC
• Salary: AU$70k - AU$90k plus up to 15.4% superannuation
• Tenure: Indefinite / Full-time
• Reference: 96486

To be considered you will need:

Essential

Under CSIRO policy only those who meet all essential criteria can be appointed.

• Relevant bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience in a relevant field such as marine science, virology, molecular biology, bioinformatics or similar. 
• Experience in molecular biology techniques.
• Experience conducting and coordinating laboratory‐based experiments or tests, with a demonstrated ability to plan and schedule laboratory workflow.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills. 
• Effective time management skills and ability to work on parallel tasks.

Desirable

• Experience within a quality assured diagnostic testing laboratory (NATA/ISO 17025).
• Experience within a research laboratory. 

For full details about this role please review 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.