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The opportunity

• Contribute to research in the prevention, detection and response to exotic disease threats
• Collaborative, flexible, innovative workplace that values you and your career development
• Join CSIRO – Australia's premier 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.

An opportunity exists for an innovative and creative early career researcher to join a team of scientists at the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) to develop advanced ex vivo model biosystems to answer key challenges in infectious disease research. Working closely with other team members, you will adopt recent developments in 3D tissue culture technologies in neuroscience field for modelling brain, neurovascular unit and olfactory systems and leveraging new developments in the field of infectious disease. The established ex vivo models will be used to improve understanding of pathogenesis and immune responses for a broad range of diseases, with a specific focus on diseases of high consequence and increasing concern to Australia’s agricultural and aquatic industries, such as Influenza, Lumpy skin disease, African swine fever and African horse sickness. The development of ex vivo models and techniques will support vaccine and drug development programs at CSIRO.

Your duties will include:

• Carry out innovative, impactful research of strategic importance to CSIRO that will, where possible, lead to novel and important scientific outcomes. 
• Develop neurovascular unit models, utilising various techniques such as cell lines, stem cells, or dissociated cells from harvested animal tissues. These models should be characterised by their defined, repeatable, and scalable nature, proving relevant to diseases and suitable for health and disease investigations.
• Develop 2D and 3D organ biosystems for infectious disease studies, ensuring adherence to strict biosafety and biosecurity regulations at the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP). 
• Utilise design thinking methodology to plan and prepare research proposals and apply non-academic impact methodology to research projects.

Location:  Geelong, VIC (Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness)

Salary:  AU$96k - AU$105k plus up to 15.4% superannuation

Tenure:  Specified term of 3 years

Reference:  97042

To be considered you will need:

• A doctorate (or will shortly satisfy the requirements of a PhD) in a relevant discipline area, such as neuroscience, medical science, biotechnology, biomedical engineering or bioengineering. Please note: To be eligible for this role you must have no more than 3 years (full-time equivalent) of postdoctoral research experience.
• Experience with mammalian cell culture techniques and experience with dissociating cells from harvested animal tissues as well as primary neuron and olfactory cell culture using harvested cells from animals.
• Experience with 3D cell culture and/or organ-on-a-chip culture for in vitro and/or ex vivo organ models.
• Experience in cell characterisation skills including confocal microscope imaging, imaging analysis, tissue section, and immunostaining. 
• Experience PC3 virology techniques and working with infectious viruses. 

For full details about this role please view the Position Description

Eligibility

Applications for this position are open to Australian Citizens only. Appointment to this role is subject to the ability to obtain a national security clearance at Negative Vetting 1 level and is subject to other security/medical/character requirements specific to the ACDP/AAHL facility.

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. 

CSIRO is committed to values-based leadership to inspire performance and unlock the potential of our people.

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

15 July 2024, 11:00pm AEST