CSIRO Postdoctoral Fellowship in Zoonotic Pathogens & Advanced Cell Models

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation; Geelong; On-site; AUD 103,000 - 113,000; Full time

Job summary

CSIRO invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Zoonotic Pathogens & Advanced Cell Models at the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness in Geelong, VIC.

The role focuses on developing advanced tissue models to study high-consequence pathogens, applying virology, cell biology, and imaging within high-containment facilities, and collaborating globally to advance disease research and medical countermeasures.

Qualifications

• Doctorate in a relevant discipline (virology, cell biology, advanced cell culture) with ≤3 years post-PhD experience.
• Experience with advanced cell culture/tissue explant models is essential.
• Strong publication record and ability to present research at conferences.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimise precision-cut tissue explant models for high-consequence pathogen research.
• Perform virology, molecular biology, and imaging analyses.
• Collaborate with national and international partners and contribute to publications and grant applications.
• Mentor students and early-career researchers as appropriate.
• Ensure compliance with biosafety and institutional requirements.

Skills

Virology

Cell biology

Tissue culture

Scientific communication

Publications/grants

Biocontainment experience

Data analysis

Education

Doctorate in virology/cell biology or related

Job description

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CSIRO Postdoctoral Fellowship in Zoonotic Pathogens & Advanced Cell Models

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 .

Role highlights

• Develop advanced tissue models to study high-consequence zoonotic pathogens
• Apply virology, cell biology and imaging in high-containment research
• Collaborate globally to advance disease research and medical countermeasures

About CSIRO

As Australia's national science agency, CSIRO is solving the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. Many of our iconic innovations were once considered impossible until someone, just like you, joined us and took on the challenge.

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

The successful candidate will develop and optimise an advanced tissue platform (precision-cut tissue explants) for high-consequence pathogen research. Key activities will include tissue culture, virology, molecular and cellular biology, biological imaging and pathology, experimental design, data analysis, and scientific publications. You will work within multidisciplinary teams and contribute to studies supporting disease pathogenesis, medical countermeasure evaluation, and advanced non-animal disease models. The role will also provide opportunities for training in high-containment research, collaboration with national and international partners, and career development towards an independent research scientist position.

Your high-level duties will include:

• Work in a microbiologically secure laboratory (PC2, 3, 4) as part of a multi-disciplinary research team
• Develop, optimise and apply precision-cut tissue explant (PCTE) models to investigate host-pathogen interactions, viral pathogenesis and tissue-specific responses in physiologically relevant ex vivo systems.
• Conduct virological, molecular and cellular analyses, and interpret complex experimental datasets.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary research teams and contribute to scientific publications, reports and grant applications.
• Support the supervision and mentoring of students and early-career researchers where appropriate.
• Maintain high standards of laboratory practice and ensure compliance with biosafety, biosecurity, animal ethics and institutional requirements.

Location:

Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP), Geelong, VIC

Salary:

AU$103k - AU$113k per annum (pro-rata for part-time) + 15.4% superannuation

Tenure & work schedule:

Specified term of 3 years, Full-time

Reference:

104064

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

• A doctorate (or will shortly satisfy the requirements of a PhD). The doctorate must be in a relevant discipline area, such as virology, cell biology and/or advanced cell culture. Please note: To be eligible for this role you must have no more than 3 years (full-time equivalent) of relevant research experience.
• Experience in cell biology and advanced cell or tissue culture systems, with the ability to establish, maintain and characterise physiologically relevant biological models.
• High level written and oral communication skills with the ability to represent the research team effectively internally and externally, including the presentation of research outcomes at national and international conferences.
• A sound history of publication in peer reviewed journals and/or authorship of scientific papers, reports, grant applications or patents.
• A record of science innovation and creativity, including the ability & willingness to incorporate novel ideas and approaches into scientific investigations.
• Experience in virology and infectious disease research.
• Experience in biological imaging and/or pathology
• Demonstrated experience and competency working within PC3 and/or PC4 biocontainment facilities.

While it is CSIRO policy that the successful candidate must meet all the essential criteria, there are many ways to demonstrate this. Don’t let the list discourage you. If you are unsure about applying, please reach out to the contact person in the Position Description.

Setting you up for success

We are committed to providing arecruitment process that is fair, equitable and accessible to everyone. We recognise that it may be helpful for us to adjust our process to make it equitable for your individual situation. Please contactLaura Mason via [e-mail] let us know how we can support you.

Life at CSIRO and flexible work arrangements

Solving Australia's greatest challenges takes a diversity of minds and lived experiences. We know diverse teams are more effective and deliver more innovative outcomes. As an equal employment opportunity organisation, we are committed to creating diverse and inclusive teams where people feel they belong. We recognise true diversity encompasses all ages, abilities, cultures, faiths, levels of education, genders, sexualities, diversity of thought and much more. We focus on hiring people who share our values of People First, Further Together, Making it Real and Trusted.

CSIRO holds Gold Status for the Australian Workplace Equality Index for LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and a Science in Australia Gender Equity Bronze Award.

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

Child safety

CSIRO is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people involved in our activities and programs. View our Child Safe Policy .

We will review applications as they are received, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.