Research Technician - Viral Neuropathogenesis

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Role highlights

• ​​​​​​Expertise in cell culture, molecular biology, biochemistry and virology to perform the experiments.
• Contribute to experimental planning, observations and compilation of data for patent application/publication.
• One-year, full-time opportunity.
  

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.

Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP), our national biocontainment research facility, is a vital part of Australia’s biosecurity infrastructure. Our team works closely with researchers, animal, and human health agencies to protect Australia’s multi-billion-dollar livestock and aquaculture industries, and the public, from emerging infectious disease threats.

Visit CSIRO.au and Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness - CSIRO for more information.

Join us and start creating tomorrow today!

The Opportunity

We have a dynamic and inclusive team in ACDP, and we are seeking a Research Project Officer to join an exciting and innovative study aiming to test novel therapeutics for human neurodegenerative diseases.

This role will involve performing experimental validation and testing of novel protein derivatives in human and mouse ex-vivo neuronal model systems. These experiments aim to generate therapeutic efficacy data for patent application and enable the selection of candidates for future pre-clinical trials in animal models. You'll be required to provide expertise in cell culture, molecular biology, biochemistry and virology to perform the experiments. You'll also have the opportunity to adapt their existing cell culture expertise to successfully generate and maintain ex-vivo mouse and human neuronal model systems. You should be able to assist with detailed experimental planning, undertaking and/or assisting with experimental, observational studies in neuronal cultures and compilation of data for patent application/publication

Please note the successful candidate will need to meet ACDP microbiological security and security assessment requirements.

Your high-level duties will include:

• Carrying out pre-determined experiments to test the efficacy of selected proteins to reduce neurodegeneration in ex-vivo models.  
• Isolating and culturing mouse primary neurons from embryos to establish a ex-vivo mouse neuronal system for testing the efficacy of the protein derivatives.
• Generating and maintaining 2D, 3D human stem cell-derived neuronal model systems for testing the efficacy of the protein derivatives.
• Generating recombinant lentiviruses from plasmids using specific cell lines, which would be used for the expression of peptide therapeutics in human and mouse neurons.
• Efficiently handling synthetic peptides and performing peptide dose response assays in ex-vivo neuronal cultures.
• Performing immunocytochemistry, confocal microscopy, western blotting, protein interactome analysis using coprecipitation, ELISA and molecular biology including qPCR assays in neuronal culture samples.
• Applying computational skills, including statistical and imaging software, to quantify data from microscopy and other biochemical assays.
• Operate under laboratory guidelines relevant to high containment laboratories (up to PC3 level) and under SSBA, OGTR and Department of Agriculture regulatory frameworks.

Role particulars

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

Salary: AU$96k - AU$109k plus up to 15.4% superannuation

Tenure & work schedule: Specified term of 12 months / Full-time

Reference: 99931

As the successful candidate you will bring:

Essential

• Tertiary qualifications in biomedical science or other relevant field, or equivalent relevant work experience.
• Demonstrated experience in performing experimental research, including planning, implementing, and completing research projects within defined timelines.
• Experience in sterile cell culture techniques and the ability to adapt this expertise for working with ex-vivo neuronal model systems.
• Experience in working in a high-containment laboratory, including demonstrated ability to operate within national and institutional compliance frameworks.
• Experience in basic classical virology techniques, viral cultures, and viral quantification methods.
• Demonstrated experience in data analysis and writing or compiling data for scientific reports

Desirable

• Experience in light microscopy techniques, including confocal/epifluorescence microscopy and immunostaining.
• Experience in biochemical assays, including western blotting.
• Experience in molecular biology skills including plasmid cloning, amplification and recombinant virus generation from plasmids.
• Experience in handling and maintaining neural or primary cell cultures. 

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

Eligibility

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

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. If you are unsure about applying, please reach out to the contact person in the Position Description.

Setting you up for success

We are committed to providing a recruitment process that is fair, equitable and accessible to everyone. We recognise that it may be helpful for us to adjust our process to make it equitable for your individual situation. Please contact the Talent Partner and let us know how we can support you.  

Life at CSIRO and flexible working 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 that 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 wellbeing of all children and young people involved in our activities and programs. View our Child Safe Policy.

How to apply

Please apply online and submit a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) and CV that demonstrates your motivation and ability to meet the essential requirements of this role.

Applications close

22 June 2025, 11:00 pm AEST

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