Research Technician - Plant Tissue Culture & Gene Editing

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

- Put your plant tissue culture skills to work in hands‑on research.
- Help develop gene editing tools to improve commercial crops.
- Join CSIRO’s Plant Trait Innovation team in Canberra.

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

As a Research Technician at CSIRO, you’ll work alongside research staff to plan and carry out experiments, observations and technology development activities, providing hands‑on support for scientific research.

Joining the Plant Trait Innovation team, you’ll help develop gene editing and cell delivery methods for a range of commercial crop species, with opportunities to contribute to other strategic research areas.

Your high-level duties will include:

- Contribute to plant tissue culture and innovative gene editing research that advances germplasm improvement, championing high‑quality research, inclusive teamwork and creative thinking.
- Prepare tissue culture media, establish and maintain plant cell cultures, conduct gene editing experiments, and regenerate and propagate plants.
- Design and conduct experiments and laboratory analyses under limited supervision, adapting techniques and developing recent processes to meet research needs.




- Conduct literature reviews, field and laboratory investigations and inspections, and analyse findings using statistical or graphics software as required.
- Collaborate across teams and projects, balancing multiple tasks and competing priorities.
- Plan ahead and use your judgement to schedule activities within agreed team plans, meeting experimental and project requirements.
- Independently test potential solutions to resolve research and technical problems.
- Maintain accurate electronic notebook records of all experimental procedures and results to support research decisions, publications and intellectual property protection.
- Support day‑to‑day laboratory, glasshouse and field maintenance, including preparing solutions and media, caring for plants and maintaining laboratory supplies.

Role particulars

Location: Canberra, ACT

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

Tenure & work schedule: Specified term of 3 years, Full‑time

Reference: 104264

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

Essential

- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant work experience in Molecular Biology/Plant Physiology or related field.
- Experience with plant tissue culture techniques
- Experience with molecular biology and genetic transformation of plant material
- Demonstrated excellence in laboratory record keeping and data storage
- Demonstrated ability to work with a range of stakeholders in a dynamic team
- Focus on continuous improvement in Health and Safety in the workplace

Desirable

- Experience with plant propagation and husbandry
- Experience with Gene Editing and new breeding technologies
- Previous experience with use of Electronic Laboratory Record systems
- Previous experience with use of Health and Safety management and incident recording software suc

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