CSIRO Postdoctoral Fellowship in Microbial Strain Improvement - [Archived Advertisement]

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 microbial genetics, microbial engineering, or microbial chemistry?
• Want to conduct world class research and development with a team of dedicated professionals?
• 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.

The Postdoctoral Fellow falls within the CSIRO Agriculture and Food Pests and Diseases Group, that is part of the Traits Program. This is a dynamic program that develops and deploys traits to industry to sustain and enhance agriculture within Australia and across the globe. The Pests and Diseases Group works on solutions to major yield-limiting pest and disease problems of crops, with a focus on broad acre farming systems.

In this project, the successful candidate will develop a biosensor-guided strain improvement platform to accelerate the domestication and improved efficacy of non-model biocontrol microbes and their production of fungicidal biomolecules for crop protection. This is an exciting opportunity to work within world class molecular and synthetic biology laboratories, and to genomics, metabolomics, fermentation, and plant growth facilities to design-build-test your platform and deliver real-world solutions for disease control.

Your duties will include:

• Designing and building novel modular biomolecule receptors into cellular and/or cell-free biosensors
• Developing and deploying targeted and non-targeted genetic selections guided by biosensor output to improve production of target biomolecules
• Establishing the molecular mechanism(s) underlying improved strains
• Carrying out innovative, impactful research of strategic importance to CSIRO that will, where possible, lead to novel and important scientific outcomes

Location: Canberra, ACT
Salary: AU$89k - AU$98k plus up to 15.4% superannuation
Tenure: Specified term of 3 years
Reference: 79801

To be considered you will need:

• A doctorate (or will shortly satisfy the requirements of a PhD) in a relevant discipline area, such as microbial genetics, microbial engineering, microbial chemistry (chemical biology), 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.

• Strong background and demonstrated ability in fungal or bacterial synthetic biology and modern genome engineering techniques
• Demonstrated experience in the functional analysis of secondary metabolite biosynthesis gene clusters

For full details about this role please view the Position Description

Eligibility

To be eligible for this role, you must be an Australian/New Zealand Citizen, Australian Permanent Resident or Australian temporary resident currently residing in Australia and be able to commence in the role by 30 June 2022.

The successful applicant will be required to obtain and provide a National Police Check or equivalent. Additional integrity checks may be required for specific roles which require security clearance for working with children, Australian Government cybersecurity requirements or other identified security roles.

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

30 January 2022, 11:00pm AEDT