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The Opportunity

• Interested to grow a career in aquatic animal research?
• Work with a collaborative, multidisciplinary research team
• Join Australia’s National Science and Innovation Agency!

As the Research Technician, you will have a sound knowledge of aquatic animal husbandry and the ability to intervene when poor animal health is apparent. An awareness of aquatic animal biosecurity and Animal Ethics principles relating to the use of animals for research purposes is expected.

As a member of the Zootechnics team within CSIRO’s Agriculture and Food business unit, you will be partly responsible for the management of several aquatic species (fish, prawn) experiments within the Livestock & Aquaculture Research Program working on nutrition, physiology, metabolism, breeding, health and animal production technologies. You may be a project lead investigator and may interact directly with external clients and industry.

There also may be a need to perform work duties and possibly relocate to a Northern Australian Aquaculture facility in the near future.

Your duties will include:

• Perform a range of laboratory tasks including bacterial and microbiology culture, the operation and maintenance of various pieces of equipment, the co-ordination and purchase of general lab supplies, provision of technical advice, maintenance of accurate and complete records of tests and experiments.
• Provide daily animal husbandry to animal stocks and animals under experimentation.
• Provide expertise in managing fish brood-stock health, reproduction and welfare
• Maintain extensive microalgae cultures and live feed sources used in larval rearing systems.
• Data management including the collection, analysis and storage of data and provision of information for incorporation into technical reports for various clients and scientific publications.
• Assist with project planning and preparation of animal experimental infrastructure and ensuring active support and compliance with the code of conduct, WHS, and budget monitoring.
• Other duties as directed

Location:  Bribie Island, QLD

Salary:  AU$89k – AU$101k plus up to 15.4% superannuation

Tenure:  3 year specified term

Reference:  91559

To be considered you will need:

• A Bachelor’s degree in a science area with a strong component in aquatic animal health, nutrition, reproduction, husbandry, and microbiology.
• Extensive aquatic animal husbandry techniques, water quality testing, RAS, and filtration techniques.
• Demonstrated ability in microbiology culturing techniques and maintaining cultures of live feed and algae used in larval rearing systems.
• A high degree of precision, accuracy, and attention to detail in laboratory work and the ability to work independently under limited supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritise tasks to meet deadlines, keep accurate records of experimental results, and experience in using Excel and Word for data analysis and presentation in reports for external clients.
• Demonstrated ability to manage laboratory consumables, chemical manifests, project planning, delivery, and budget monitoring.
• The ability to work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary, regionally dispersed research team, and carry out tasks under general direction in support of scientific research.
• Demonstrated ability & willingness to contribute novel ideas and approaches in support of scientific investigations.

Desirable

• Knowledge and skills in the design, plumbing and operation of experimental aquaculture systems such as tank arrays, decontamination techniques, aquaponics, and multi-trophic systems.
• Experience in finfish brood-stock management.
• Demonstrated experience in working with aquatic animals in a research environment.
• Demonstrated experience in animal tissue dissection and using sample collection protocols.
• Demonstrated experience in using basic laboratory equipment, pipettes, centrifuges, PH meter and incubators.

For full details about this role please review the Position Description

Eligibility

Applications for this position are open to Australian or New Zealand citizens, Australian permanent residents and Australian temporary residents who hold a valid work visa for the duration of the specified term, without the requirement for sponsorship by CSIRO.

Appointment to this role is subject to the provision of a national police check and pre-employment medical examination prior to commencement.

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.

Applications Close

18 April 2023, 11:00pm AEST