Research Technician - Genome Engineering & Cell Culture

CSIRO; Canberra; On-site; AUD 76,000 - 96,000; Full time

Job summary

CSIRO in Canberra seeks a Research Technician – Genome Engineering & Cell Culture to help develop and translate genetic technologies for managing invasive vertebrate species, focusing on rodents and rabbits.

You will work in the Genetic Biocontrol Team on precision genome engineering, cell culture and molecular biology techniques, performing lab duties and contributing to data recording and project objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in science, biotechnology or related discipline; relevant molecular biology training.
• Demonstrated proficiency in basic molecular techniques: reagent prep, nucleic acid purification and quantification, PCR, gel electrophoresis.
• Experience in eukaryotic cell culture and aseptic technique.
• Ability to collect and record data from field and laboratory studies with minimal supervision.
• Experience maintaining lab notebooks, records and databases.
• Previous work with vertebrate handling and humane killing may be required.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Must not own or frequently contact rabbits or rodents.
• Valid driver’s licence.

Responsibilities

• Lab duties include cell culture maintenance, preparing cells for experiments, preparing reagents and stock solutions, and performing basic molecular biology techniques.
• Manage PC2 laboratory operations, routine upkeep, instrument maintenance, and HSE equipment/supplies.
• Collaborate with team to plan and coordinate lab activities and support project objectives.
• Under limited supervision, design and perform straightforward experiments and routine analyses; adapt methods for special cases.
• Design data recording systems and maintain research datasets.
• Conduct literature reviews, investigations and field/lab inspections with potential use of stats/graphics software.
• Perform non-routine analyses or technology development across multiple tasks.
• Plan ahead to meet experimental/project demands and test solutions to problems.
• Instruct staff in shared equipment use and maintain laboratory consumables.

Skills

Nucleic acid purification

PCR

Gel electrophoresis

Data recording

Oral and written communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in science

Tools

CRISPR

Cell culture

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. View our vision towards reconciliation .

Role highlights

• Advance genetic technologies to help tackle Australia’s invasive vertebrate species
• Build expertise across genome engineering, cell culture and molecular biology
• Join a collaborative research team delivering innovative, real-world science

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. Visit CSIRO.au for more information.

The opportunity

Invasive and feral mammals pose a major threat across Australia, causing significant economic and health impacts while placing our unique biodiversity at risk. These pressures are expected to intensify as agricultural practices evolve and the effects of land-use change, global trade and climate change grow. With existing management approaches struggling to keep pace, innovative new solutions are urgently needed. As a Research Technician – Genome Engineering & Cell Culture, you will help develop and translate innovative genetic technologies to improve the management of invasive vertebrate species, with a focus on rodents and rabbits. Working alongside research scientists in the Genetic Biocontrol Team, you will bring hands‑on technical capability to a primarily laboratory‑based role spanning precision genome engineering, cell culture and molecular biology techniques.

Your high-level duties will include:

• Lab duties will include cell culture maintenance, preparing cells for experimentation, preparing chemical reagents and stock solutions, general molecular biological techniques (e.g. DNA extraction and PCR), microscopy and flow cytometry.
• Management of PC2 laboratory including routine lab upkeep, coordinating maintenance of lab instruments and maintaining HSE equipment and supplies.
• Work collaboratively as part of the team to plan and coordinate laboratory activities, share information and resources, and support colleagues to meet project objectives.
• Under limited supervision, design and perform straightforward experiments and routine laboratory analyses, design new processes or apparatus by adapting existing techniques and components to meet special circumstances or undertake modifications to methods requiring some innovation.
• Design of data recording systems and maintenance of research datasets.
• Conduct literature reviews, investigations and inspections in the field or laboratory including associated analysis possibly involving statistical or graphics software.
• Perform some non-routine analyses or technology development activities using a range of techniques, often working on a number of parallel and competing tasks.
• Work with discretion to decide on the timing of operations within the work team’s plan and plan ahead to meet experimental and/or project demands.
• Independently test possible solutions to resolve identified problems.
• Maintaining laboratory consumables and scheduling and instructing staff in the use of shared equipment.

Role particulars

Location: Canberra, ACT

Salary: AU$76k - AU$96k per annum + 15.4% superannuation

Tenure & work schedule: Specified Term of 28 months, Full-time

Reference: 104323

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

Essential

• Minimum bachelor’s degree in science, biotechnology or a related discipline, with relevant training in molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry or cell biology.
• Demonstrated proficiency in performing basic molecular laboratory techniques such as reagent preparation, nucleic acid purification and quantification, PCR, and gel electrophoresis.
• Experience in eukaryotic cell culture and aseptic technique.
• Demonstrated ability to accurately collect and record data from field and laboratory studies with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated experience in maintaining laboratory notebooks, records, and databases.
• Previous experience with and/or willingness to perform research that involves capture, handling and humane killing of wild and lab‑reared vertebrate animals.
• Demonstrated evidence of good oral and written communication skills.
• Must not own or come into frequent close contact with pet or wild rabbits or rodents.
• A valid driver’s licence.

Desirable

• A higher-level qualification such as Honours or Master’s degree in a relevant biological discipline, involving research in molecular biology, cell culture, genetics, genome engineering or a related field.
• Previous work experience involving CRISPR genome engineering techniques.
• Experience working independently in Physical Containment (PC2 or higher) research facilities.
• Previous work experience with adherent mammalian cell culture.
• Recent experience as a molecular lab manager/custodian (e.g., routine lab housekeeping, performing regular HSE inspections, developing and documenting new procedures and protocols, maintaining lab supply stock, induction and training of new staff)
• Willingness to participate in occasional field work involving wild pest vertebrates, sometimes outside of normal working hours.
• A demonstrated record of contributing to published research outputs (e.g., peer-reviewed journal articles, reports)

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

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

CSIRO offers a range of leave entitlements, benefits and career development opportunities. To find out more, visit Careers at CSIRO .

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 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.

Eligibility

Applications for this position are open to Australian/New Zealand Citizens, Australian Permanent Residents, and Australian Temporary Residents with a valid working visa for the duration of the specified term. 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 .

Applications close

25 November 2026, 11:00pm AEDT We strongly encourage early applications as we will be reviewing applications as they come through. CSIRO reserves the right to close the advertising early if we find our desired candidate.