Cotton Biotechnology Research Technician

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**The opportunity**:

- **Contribute to the development of crop varieties for industry**:

- **Join CSIRO, Australia's premier scientific research organisation**

The role of Research Projects staff in CSIRO is to collaborate in scientific and technological activities with other research staff usually by assisting with detailed planning, undertaking, or assisting with experimental, observational or technology development work, and in carrying out the more practical aspects of the work.

The Cotton Biotechnology Research Technician will be part of the Breeding Innovations Group within the Agriculture & Food Business Unit. This laboratory-based role will be critical in supporting the breeding and the creation of new commercial cotton varieties by CSIRO's highly successful breeding program that is based in Narrabri, NSW.

The technician will help process and screen a mutagenic cotton population for specific DNA changes using advanced molecular and biochemical assays.
The role will work as part of a small integrated technical team interacting closely with our field staff in Narrabri and gain some experience in the processes of developing crop varieties for industry.

**Your duties will include**:

- As part of a small team, undertake high throughput sample preparation of leaf or seed material and/or extraction of DNAs for trait genotyping and genome sequencing.
- Analyse cotton DNAs for specific sequences using digital PCR and the presence/absence and zygosity of several different GM and non-GM agronomic traits using fluorescence-based PCR assays such as KASP and TaqMan, set up using a liquid handling robot.
- Undertake general laboratory housekeeping and stock management in a shared laboratory space.
- Work collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary, regionally dispersed, cotton breeding research team to carry out tasks in support of CSIRO's obligations to its commercial seed industry partner and the Australian cotton industry.

**Location**:Black Mountain, Canberra

**Salary**:AU$70K- AU$90K pa plus up to 15.4% superannuation

**Tenure**:Specified term of 3 years, full-time

**Reference**:96250

**To be considered you will need**:
**Essential**:

- Under CSIRO policy only those who meet all essential criteria can be appointed._
- Relevant trade certificate/diploma/bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant work experience in molecular biology, biotechnology or genetics or relevant work experience.
- Demonstrated experience in the preparation of molecular biology reagents and conducting molecular assays such as PCR assays.
- Demonstrated experience in the use of equipment such as thermal cyclers, centrifuges and electronic pipettors and an ability to follow and, when necessary, optimise a written protocol.
- Demonstrated organisation skills coupled with the ability to keep careful records of experimental work and basic computer skills for data entry and analysis.
- Good oral and written communication skills.
- Demonstrated commitment to a high level of personal performance and a track record of following good Health and Safety practices at work.
- Ability to be adaptable and flexible in assigned tasks as work priorities change or in response to externally imposed commercial deadlines and to self-manage allocation of time to tasks.
- A history of professional and respectful behaviours and attitudes in a collaborative environment.

**Desirable**
- Experience in working with liquid handling robots and more complex scientific equipment under instruction.
- Experience with programming and script writing.
- Familiarity with the techniques of ELISA, high-throughput DNA extraction and DNA genotyping would be an advantage.
- Experience working with plants.

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

**Eligibility**:
Applications for this position are open to Australian/New Zealand Citizens, Australian Permanent Residents.

**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**:
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