CSIRO Postdoctoral Fellowship in Infectious Animal Diseases

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Do you have a PhD in immunology, virology, cell biology, molecular biology, veterinary immunology or a related field?
Want to contribute to research in the prevention, detection and response to exotic disease threats?
Join CSIRO – Australia’s leading scientific research organisation!

CSIRO Early Research Career (CERC) Postdoctoral Fellowships provide opportunities to scientists and engineers who have completed their doctorate and have less than three years of relevant postdoctoral work experience. These fellowships aim to develop the next generation of future leaders of the innovation system.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a vector borne disease of cattle and is considered to be one of the most economically important viral diseases of cattle due to its impacts on animal health, production and trade. It is now present in South-East Asia and the CERC Fellow  will support key preparedness activities, develop our research portfolio and contribute to enhanced response capability should incursion occur.

This role is part of a “Team Sport” CERC Fellowship where two new CERC Fellows work with multiple teams collaborating on an overarching, multi-disciplinary research project to characterise lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) infection. Each CERC Fellow will lead an individual sub-project, contributing their expertise, and work closely with the other team members with the aim of delivering significant scientific and translational impact on a broad research topic.

An opportunity exists for an innovative and creative early career researcher to join a team of CERC postdoctoral fellows and scientists who will collectively investigate the host-immune responses to LSDV. Working closely with other team members, this CERC fellow will be responsible for using classical virology, immunology, and molecular biology methods to reveal deep knowledge of the host immune response and resistance to infection with LSDV.

This research will generate foundational knowledge that can be used to develop novel diagnostic platforms and approaches by understanding the immune response to infection.  This will be achieved using functional immunology techniques such as virus neutralisation assays, ELISA, ELISPOT, characterisation of antibody response and cytokine assays. In addition to generating a fundamental understanding of the immune response to disease and drivers of host resistance, the key strength of this project is that the key outcomes and outputs will have a rapid pathway for translation, impacts and adoption internationally.

Your duties will include:

• Carry out innovative, impactful research of strategic importance to CSIRO that will, where possible, lead to novel and important scientific outcomes.
• Recognise and exploit opportunities for innovation and the generation of new theoretical perspectives, and progress opportunities for the further development or creation of new lines of research.
• Utilise design thinking methodology to plan and prepare research proposals, and apply non-academic impact methodology to research projects.
• Carry out research investigations requiring originality, creativity and innovation.

To be considered you will need:

Essential

• A doctorate (or will shortly satisfy the requirements of a PhD) in a relevant discipline area, such as immunology, virology, cell biology, molecular biology, veterinary immunology or similar. Please note: To be eligible for this role you must have no more than 3 years (or full-time equivalent) of postdoctoral research experience.
• Experience with immunology assays and/or relevant emerging technologies.
• 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.

Desirable

• Remain productive, positive and resilient in complex, ambiguous and/or uncertain environments.
• The ability to work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary, potentially regionally dispersed research team, plus the motivation and discipline to carry out autonomous research.
• Experience in cell culture.

For full details about this role please view the Position Description

Eligibility

• Applications for this position are open to Australian/New Zealand Citizens, Australian Permanent Residents, or you must either hold or be able to obtain a valid working visa for the specified term of the fellowship.
• Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.
• Candidates will be expected to commence employment by 30 June 2024. 

Flexible Working Arrangements

We work flexibly at CSIRO, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work. 

Diversity and Inclusion

We are working hard to recruit people representing the diversity across our society, and ensure that all our people feel supported to do their best work and feel empowered to let their ideas flourish. 

About CSIRO

At CSIRO Australia's national science agency, we solve the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. We put the safety and wellbeing of our people above all else and earn trust everywhere because we only deal in facts. We collaborate widely and generously and deliver solutions with real impact. 

CSIRO is committed to values-based leadership to inspire performance and unlock the potential of our people.

Join us and start creating tomorrow today!

How to Apply

Please apply on-line and provide a cover letter and CV that best demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the requirements of this role.