CSIRO Postdoctoral Fellowship in Zoonotic Pathogens & Advanced Cell Models

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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

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The opportunity

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.

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.

Setting you up for success

We are committed to providing a recruitment process that is fair, equitable and accessi

📌 CSIRO Postdoctoral Fellowship in Zoonotic Pathogens (Geelong)
🏢 CSIRO
📍 Geelong