CSIRO Postdoctoral Fellowship in Viral Genomics and Nanotechnology

• Do you have a PhD in microbiology, virology, biochemistry, molecular biology or a related field?
• Lead the exploration of innovative genomics approaches for the development of pathogen and antibody detection technologies
• Work with experts with a diverse range of knowledge and expertise in this exciting postdoctoral role

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.

Endemic animal diseases put a major strain on Australian livestock industries, and wellbeing at farmer level. Incursion of exotic animal diseases further pose a major threat to livestock health and socioeconomic wellbeing. Early identification of introductions of highly contagious or vector borne transboundary animal diseases, such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), African swine fever (ASF), African horse sickness (AHS) and lumpy skin disease (LSD), is a key component in preparedness and efforts to control outbreaks. Incursion and widespread outbreaks of emergency animal diseases in Australia would lead to losses of billions of dollars and, consequently, jobs. Continued diagnosis and surveillance of endemic diseases, or exotic diseases after incursion, is therefore important to direct control efforts and reduce outbreak impacts.

The Postdoctoral Fellow will be leading the exploration of innovative genomics approaches for the development of pathogen and antibody detection technologies, such as Phage-immunoprecipitation-sequencing (PhiP-Seq) and CRISPR diagnostics and translating these to field ready devices through utilisation of nanotechnology. The project involves three CSIRO business units; Health and Biosecurity, Australian Animal Health Laboratory and CSIRO-Manufacturing. The Postdoctoral Fellow will therefore be exposed to experts with a diverse range of knowledge and expertise including virology, molecular biology, bioinformatics, infectious disease diagnosis and nanotechnology.