Research Project Officer - Cotton Insect / Disease Resistance

CSIRO; Canberra; On-site; AUD 73,000 - 93,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading science agency in Canberra is seeking a candidate to support research in crop production and pest management. The role requires experience in plant transformation, tissue culture, and molecular biology techniques. Responsibilities include maintaining insect populations and conducting laboratory analyses. The position offers a salary range of AU$73k - AU$93k per annum, along with a commitment to flexible work arrangements and diversity.

Qualifications

• Relevant qualification in biological science or equivalent experience.
• Experience in plant transformation and tissue culture.
• Demonstrated experience with PCR assays.

Responsibilities

• Plant transformation and tissue culture.
• Maintain insect populations.
• Conduct transient leaf expression assays.
• Care for plant populations in the glasshouse.

Skills

Plant transformation

Tissue culture

Molecular biology assays

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Education

Relevant trade certificate / diploma / bachelor’s degree

Job description

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.

Role highlights

• Support research that aims to improve crop production and pest management
• Join a skilled team in the Agriculture & Food Research Unit
• Join CSIRO – Australia’s National Science Agency!

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.

The opportunity

Crops are susceptible to insect pests and disease which can impact yield and industry return. The successful candidate will work with the team to test the use of RNAi to control insect pests and disease progression. The successful candidate will be responsible for undertaking numerous activities including molecular biology techniques, plant transformation and tissue culture, insect rearing, and insect / disease assays.

Your high‑level duties will include

• Plant transformation and tissue culture.
• Maintaining insect populations.
• Conducting transient leaf expression assays in Nicotiana benthamiana.
• Taking care of plant populations in the glasshouse / growth cabinets, including sowing, transplanting, sampling, and molecular characterization.
• Assisting in timely planning of experiments, participating in project meetings and working closely with other team members.
• Under limited supervision, design and perform straightforward experiments and routine laboratory analyses.
• May have responsibility for maintaining laboratory or fieldwork consumables and scheduling and instructing staff in the use of shared equipment.

Role particulars

Location : Canberra, ACT

Salary: AU$73k - AU$93k per annum (pro‑rata for part‑time) + 15.4% superannuation

Tenure & work schedule: Specified term until 31 December 2026, Full‑time

Reference: 100960

As the successful candidate, you will bring

Essential criteria

• Relevant trade certificate / diploma / bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant work experience in biological science.
• Experience in plant transformation and tissue culture.
• Demonstrated experience in the preparation of molecular biology reagents and conducting molecular assays such as PCR assays.
• Excellent organisational and record‑keeping skills.
• Good oral and written communication skills.

For full details about this role, and other criteria, please review the .

Not sure if you meet all the criteria?

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 a recruitment 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 contact Laura Mason via [e-mail] and let us know how we can support you.

Life at CSIRO and flexible work arrangements

We offer a range of options for how, when and where you work. We can discuss flexible work arrangements with you during the recruitment process. CSIRO also offers a range of leave entitlements, and opportunities. To find out more, visit .

Inclusion and belonging

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 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.

Eligibility

Applications for this position are open to Australian / New Zealand Citizens and Australian Permanent Residents. 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 .

How to apply

Please apply online and submit a CV and cover letter (maximum 2 pages) that demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the selection criteria of this role.

Applications close

22 September 2025, 11:00pm AEST