CSIRO Postdoctoral Fellowship in Experimental eDNA

Acknowledgement of Country 

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

• Support research that pushes the boundaries of eDNA science
• Join a multidisciplinary, innovative and collaborative team
• Launch your career at CSIRO – Australia’s National Science Agency!

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.

Visit CSIRO.au for more information.

The opportunity 

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is rapidly transforming how we detect and measure marine biodiversity, but its use as a reliable tool for quantifying species abundance or biomass remains limited by unresolved challenges in sampling design, DNA recovery, and signal variability. Towards this end, CSIRO has recently formed a multidisciplinary team, in collaboration with the Minderoo Foundation, dedicated to pushing the boundaries of eDNA science through exploring eDNA enrichment, quantification and modelling/software methods.

We are seeking a creative and motivated Early Career Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join this team. This is a unique opportunity to take a lead role in eDNA enrichment and quantification R&D, designing and testing novel field and laboratory methods that will expand what eDNA science can achieve.

Your high-level duties will include: 

• Design and experimentally test eDNA sampling methods, that consider variables such as volume, filtration, and replication strategies, and others to maximise eDNA/single cell recovery. Alternatively, re-imagine high-throughput eDNA sampling strategies that are not reliant on a filtration approach.
• Develop field sampling and extraction protocols that minimise between-sample variability and optimise the reliability of downstream quantification estimates from eDNA data.
• Establish sampling, laboratory, or bioinformatic methods, in conjunction with new sequencing technologies, that enrich the insights that can be drawn from eDNA metabarcoding data. For example, moving beyond community composition based on presence-absence of taxa towards population or individual-level biological insights.
• Lead the analysis and publication of data in high quality publications.
• Carry out innovative, impactful research of strategic importance to CSIRO that will, where possible, lead to novel and important scientific outcomes.

Role particulars

Location: Perth, WA

Salary: AU$96,811 - AU$109,527 per annum (pro-rata for part-time) + 15.4% superannuation

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

Reference: 100926

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

Essential criteria

• A doctorate (or will shortly satisfy the requirements of a PhD). The doctorate must be in a relevant discipline area, such as eDNA, molecular ecology or other trace DNA-based genetics (e.g. ancient DNA). Please note: To be eligible for this role you must have no more than 3 years (full-time equivalent) of relevant postdoctoral research experience.
• Experience in sampling, extracting and handling trace-level DNA, including sound knowledge and experience in trace DNA contamination measures.
• Strong hands-on experience in molecular techniques, including DNA extraction, qPCR, and library preparation for high-throughput sequencing.
• Experience conducting or supporting field-based sample collection, especially involving water sampling, filtration, or other forms of environmental sample capture.
• Experience working with next-generation (e.g. Illumina) sequencing output, especially in the context of environmental or degraded DNA.
• Demonstrated ability to design and execute experiments, including troubleshooting, iterative method development, and data-informed protocol refinement.
• Familiarity with eDNA applications, especially in biodiversity monitoring or population-level analyses (e.g. haplotype reconstruction, connectivity).

 
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. 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 Laura Mason via Careers.Online@csiro.au and let us know how we can support you.

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.

Eligibility 

Applications for this position are open to Australian/New Zealand Citizens, Australian Permanent Residents and candidates who either hold, or are able to obtain, a valid working visa for the duration of the specified term (visa sponsorship and relocation assistance may be provided to the successful candidate if required).

Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.

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 CV and cover letter (maximum 2 pages) that demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the selection criteria of this role.

Applications close 

5 October 2025, 11:00pm AEDT