Diagnostic Virologist - Avian Diagnostic Virology Team

CSIRO • Geelong, VIC, AU • 2w ago

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 highlight

Play a critical role in Australia's biosecurity by detecting and characterising avian viruses.
Operate in BSL3 biocontainment labs using classical virology techniques, supporting diagnostics services.
Support on-site teams and CSIRO’s wider scientific community.

About CSIRO and ACDP

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 Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP, formally known as AAHL) helps protect Australia’s multi-billion dollar livestock and aquaculture industries, and the general public, from emerging infectious disease threats. It is a high-containment facility designed to allow scientific research into the most dangerous infectious agents in the world. Visit the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness - CSIRO for more information.

The opportunity

Join the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) as an experienced Diagnostic Virologist in the Avian Diagnostic Virology Team, part of the Diagnosis Surveillance and Response (DSR) Program. This role offers the chance to contribute to Australia’s frontline defence against emerging animal diseases through high-impact diagnostics and research.

You’ll work in high biocontainment (BSL3) laboratories, applying classical virology techniques to detect and characterise avian viruses from diagnostic and research samples. Responsibilities include managing laboratory projects, coordinating reagent production, supporting disease surveillance and health certification, and conducting innocuity testing of imported biologicals.

This position also involves general lab support and participation in an on-call roster for urgent after-hours and weekend disease testing. If you're passionate about animal health and ready to make a national impact, we’d love to hear from you.

The appointee must be able to meet ACDP’s microbiological security and security assessment requirements.

Your high-level duties will include:

Conduct diagnostic testing for avian viral pathogens and emergency animal diseases in a secure laboratory, ensuring compliance with NATA/ISO 17025 standards.
Manage research activities within the Avian Diagnostic Virology Team, including scheduling, testing, data collation, and reporting.
Coordinate the production of reagents (antigens and antisera) to maintain a current and reliable stockpile aligned with program goals.
Support general lab operations through housekeeping, maintenance, and quality assurance tasks such as record-keeping and proficiency testing.
Plan and execute diagnostic tasks independently, using discretion and foresight to meet operational demands.
Provide expert advice to team leaders and management, and collaborate on designing and implementing diagnostic or experimental workplans.
Contribute to team performance goals while maintaining confidentiality around sensitive CSIRO and partner information.

Location: Geelong, Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP), VIC
Salary: AU$96k - AU$109k per annum, plus up to 15.4% superannuation
Tenure: Specified Term until 30/06/2027; Full-time
Reference: 101436

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

Essential

Bachelor of Science degree or equivalent relevant experience in Biological Sciences or a related discipline.
Experience conducting and coordinating laboratory‐based experiments or tests, with a demonstrated ability to plan and schedule laboratory work.
Experience working both independently and co-operatively as a member of a larger project team, with a demonstrated ability to form and maintain effective and respectful relationships with a range of colleagues and collaborators.
Demonstrated strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to document results and communicate effectively with colleagues and other stakeholders.
Previous laboratory experience, in particular working with infectious agents.

Desirable

Postgraduate or honours degree in virology or a related discipline.
Experience working in a diagnostic laboratory conducting and coordinating testing, including experience using a LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) within a quality management system (e.g. ISO17025).
Experience in producing virological or serological test reagents under a quality system and, where required, adhering to relevant animal ethics requirements.
Prior experience working at physical containment level 3 laboratories or higher

CSIRO thrives on innovation; innovation that is harnessed by the diversity of the minds and lived experiences brought to our greatest challenges. If you meet some, but not all, requirements, we would still encourage you to submit your application.

To see the full list of criteria for this role, please view the Position Details. Do let us know on your cover letter if you tick a few boxes of the desired criteria.

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 Talent Consultant 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 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 well-being of all children and young people involved in our activities and programs. View our Child Safe Policy.

Eligibility

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

How to Apply

Please apply online, and provide a CV and a detailed cover letter (maximum 2 pages), 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 2025, 11:00 pm AEDT

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

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