Aquaculture Research Technician - Genome Engineering - [Archived Advertisement]

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The opportunity

• Bring your passion & experience working with aquatic animals into a varied role
• Play a key role managing daily animal husbandry activities to support research projects
• Grow your career with our supportive team at CSIRO – Australia’s National Science Agency!

We are currently seeking a motivated Aquaculture Research Technician, with an interest in genome engineering and working with a diverse research team, to join our Hobart team!

CSIRO’s Aquaculture Precision Genome Engineering (PGE) team focuses on developing advanced genetic technologies to improve aquaculture traits and sustainability. It aims to address challenges in aquaculture by improving disease resistance, thermal resilience, and overall productivity of farmed fish. Our talented research team has made significant progress in this area of research and is currently routinely generating fish that have been gene edited for several different traits. Therefore, the Hobart laboratory holds gene edited fish at different life stages, which require daily monitoring and husbandry activities.

Joining this dynamic team in a lab-based role, you will bring your previous experience working in aquaculture to work collaboratively with the research scientists and take responsibility for performing all day-to-day animal husbandry activities, including feeding, larval rearing, system maintenance, water quality measurements and record keeping. You will also require strong knowledge and experience constructing and maintaining freshwater & saltwater recirculating aquarium systems, as well as the ability to interpret and implement necessary regulations. These daily, routine activities are crucial in ensuring that our research projects progress and deliver impact, and therefore, you will play a key role in assisting our projects. Due to the nature of this position, you would generally have set hours, and it is generally expected that you would work 3 full-days during the week and be available for half-days on both Saturdays and Sundays, for at least 3 weekends per month.

If you are an early-career animal technician who enjoys working in aquatic settings, interested in building your career with a reputed R&D organisation, and have a positive attitude towards working in a multi-disciplinary team, we would love to hear from you!

Your duties will include:

• Performing all aspects of day-to-day fish husbandry and recirculating aquaculture system maintenance, including feeding, larval rearing, cleaning systems, water quality measurements and record keeping.
• Maintaining experimental conditions as per protocols, monitoring fish welfare and ensuring they are maintained as per animal ethics approvals.
• Undertaking general laboratory tasks, which may include having responsibility for maintaining/stocking laboratory consumables, inventory management and instrument scheduling.
• Being responsible for the construction and maintenance of aquarium systems.
• Assisting in planning experiments and developing protocols.
• Accurately observing, measuring and record scientific measurements, including data entry and basic data summaries.
• Working as part of a multi-disciplinary research team, to carry out tasks under limited direction in support of scientific research, and assisting other staff to complete allocated tasks and activities, as required.
• Being available for occasional intra- or inter- state travel to support project activities as required.

Location: Hobart, TAS
Salary: AU$70K – AU$90K pa (pro-rata for part-time) + up to 15.4% superannuation
Tenure: Specified Term of 18 months; Part-time 0.8 FTE (including half-days on Saturdays and Sundays)
Reference: 97760

To be considered you will need:

• Previous experience working in aquatic animal rearing (either commercial or research setting), with demonstrated knowledge and experience of aquatic animal husbandry activities.
• Demonstrated experience in construction & maintenance of aquarium systems, including connecting pipes, managing water quality, and knowledge of the principles of recirculating aquaculture system operation.
• Strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and computer skills including data entry and record keeping.
• Demonstrated strong focus on safety, and ability to closely follow processes and procedures, including working-alone practices.
• Ability to communicate effectively via different mediums in a team environment.
• Ability to work autonomously as well as working effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary research team, and carry out tasks under the direction of senior staff.
• Ability and willingness to work on weekends.
• A current Australian driver’s license.

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

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for this role, you must be either an:

• Australian or New Zealand Citizen;
• Australian Permanent Resident; or
• Australian Temporary Resident, currently residing in Australia, with an existing valid visa and unrestricted work rights for the full duration of the term (at least until May/June 2026) and no requirement for visa sponsorship. Please note this does not include bridging visas or other visas that are dependent upon the approval of future visas.

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

Flexible working arrangements

Our roles at CSIRO are varied. However, depending on the nature of the role and its requirements, we can work flexibly, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work. Please refer to the Position Description for further information around the nature of this role and what’s required.

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 online, and provide a CV and a detailed cover letter, 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

20 October 2024, 11:00pm AEDT

We encourage early applications as we will be reviewing applications as they come through. CSIRO reserves the right to withdraw this ad prior to the closing date, if we find our desired candidate and/or if required.