Research Technician - Plant Tissue Culture & Gene Editing

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Role highlights

• ​​​​​​Apply your skills in plant tissue culture & molecular biology to a varied role
• Contribute to strategic research projects focused on developing gene-edited crops
• Great opportunity to join Australia’s national science & innovation agency!

The opportunity

CSIRO has an exciting opportunity for a Research Technician – Plant Tissue Culture & Gene Editing to join our Plant Trait Innovation Team in Black Mountain site in Canberra and be a part of the Agriculture & Food Research Unit, contributing to the development of gene editing and cell delivery methods across a range of commercial crop species.

In this hands-on, lab-based role, you will bring your skills & experience in plant tissue culture techniques, molecular biology, and genetic transformation of plant material, to undertake a variety of plant tissue culture tasks, design and perform experiments & laboratory analyses, and assist the team in delivering cutting-edge scientific research in the areas of plant tissue culture and gene editing.  

If you are an early-career research technician with a keen interest in the plant tissue culture field & new breeding technologies, this would be a great opportunity to build your career within a reputed R&D organisation, and collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team.

Your high-level duties will include:

• Contributing to the development and delivery of cutting-edge scientific research in the areas of plant tissue culture and gene editing.
• Undertaking plant tissue culture tasks including preparation of media, initiation and maintenance of plant cell cultures, conducting plant gene editing experiments, regeneration of plants and plant propagation.
• Under limited supervision, designing and performing experiments and laboratory analyses, designing new processes by adapting existing techniques to meet special circumstances or undertaking modifications to methods requiring some innovation.
• Working across teams and projects, often on several parallel and competing tasks.
• General laboratory/glass house/field maintenance including solution/media preparation, maintenance of glass house and field plants, and maintenance of laboratory supplies.
• Maintaining accurate records of all experimental procedures and results obtained, which underpin future research decisions, publication, and IP protection, using an electronic notebook system.

Role particulars

Location: Black Mountain, Canberra, ACT

Salary: AU$ 73k - AU$ 93k plus up to 15.4% superannuation

Tenure: Specified term of up to 3 years / Full-time (open to part-time option with 3 days per week onsite)

Reference: 100112

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 such as DoneSafe.
• Proficient in Microsoft programs, Word, PowerPoint, Excel and collaboration tools, Teams and Sharepoint.

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

Eligibility

Applications for this position are open to Australian/New Zealand Citizens and Australian Permanent Residents. Appointment to this role is subject to the provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.

Life at CSIRO and Flexible Work Arrangements

We work flexibly at CSIRO, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work. We can discuss flexible work arrangements with you during the recruitment process. CSIRO also 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.

Child safety

CSIRO is committed to the safety and well-being of all children and young people involved in our activities and programs. View our Child Safe Policy.

How to apply

Please apply online, and provide a CV and a detailed cover letter (maximum 2 pages), responding to each of the selection criteria in detail, that best demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the requirements of this role. Please attach your selection criteria responses to your cover letter as one document.

Applications close

30 July 2025, 11:00 pm AEST

We strongly encourage you to apply early, as we will be reviewing applications as they come in. CSIRO reserves the right to withdraw this ad prior to the closing date if necessary.