Research Technician
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 highlights
- Tackle Australia’s toughest pest challenges with cutting-edge genetic and ecological research.
- Hands-on fieldwork with wild and captive animals across diverse environments.
- Join a passionate team driving innovation in invasive species management.
About CSIRO
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 opportunity
Invasive and feral mammals—like rodents and rabbits—pose serious risks to Australia’s environment, economy, and public health. These impacts are growing due to changing land use, climate pressures, and global trade. Traditional pest control methods are struggling to keep up. We have two Research Technician roles that offer the chance to contribute to innovative research that’s developing smarter solutions to manage these pests and safeguard our ecosystems.
As a Research Technician – Vertebrate Pest Management, you’ll support innovative projects tackling Australia’s most damaging mammalian pests. Working across field sites and biosecure facilities, you’ll contribute to research in applied ecology and genetics—helping develop smarter, more effective pest control strategies for rodents and rabbits.
This role requires you to have the flexibility and stamina to undertake extended field trips—sometimes up to two weeks - in remote areas, including weekends and holidays.
Your high-level duties will include:
- Performing routine care and husbandry of animals in biosecure research facilities in strict accordance with The Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes.
- Working as part of team to undertake field work and captive animal studies to collect data on rodents and rabbits.
- Designing data recording systems and maintaining research datasets.
- Conducting literature reviews, investigations and inspections in the field or laboratory including associated analysis possibly involving statistical or graphics software.
- Maintaining laboratory or fieldwork consumables and coordinating shared lab resources and training.
Role particulars
Location: Canberra (Black Mountain), ACT
Salary: AU$73,567 - AU$93,960 per annum (pro rata for part-time), plus 15.4% superannuation
Tenure & work schedule: Specified term of 3 years; full time. Domestic travel required for field work, often to remote regions. Duration can be up to two weeks, with occasional weekend and holiday work.
Reference: 100650
As the successful candidate, you will bring:
- An Honours degree in Animal Science, plus a minimum of 6 months of relevant work experience from the date of degree conferral.
- Previous experience with and/or willingness to perform research that involves capture, handling and humane killing of vertebrate research animals.
- Demonstrated ability to accurately collect and record data from field and laboratory studies with minimal supervision.
- A willingness and ability to undertake extended field trips—often to remote areas—for up to two weeks, with occasional weekend or holiday work. Some trips may be physically demanding.
- Demonstrated evidence of effective verbal and written communication skills.
- Must not own, or have frequent close contact with, pet or wild rabbits (due to biosecurity requirements).
- A valid driver’s licence.
For full details about this role, and other criteria, please review the Position Description.
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 Cristina O’Brien via email: cristina.obrien@csiro.au 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 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.
Eligibility
Applications for this position are open to Australian Citizens, New Zealand Citizens, Australian Permanent Residents (already onshore) and Australian temporary residents with a valid working visa for the duration of the specified term. Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.
Child safety
CSIRO is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people involved in our activities and programs. View our Child Safe Policy.
How to apply
Please apply online and submit your CV along with a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) that demonstrates your motivation and ability to fulfill the essential criteria of this role listed above.
Applications close
Friday 22nd August, 2025, 11:00PM AEST
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 highlights
- Tackle Australia’s toughest pest challenges with cutting-edge genetic and ecological research.
- Hands-on fieldwork with wild and captive animals across diverse environments.
- Join a passionate team driving innovation in invasive species management.
About CSIRO
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 opportunity
Invasive and feral mammals—like rodents and rabbits—pose serious risks to Australia’s environment, economy, and public health. These impacts are growing due to changing land use, climate pressures, and global trade. Traditional pest control methods are struggling to keep up. We have two Research Technician roles that offer the chance to contribute to innovative research that’s developing smarter solutions to manage these pests and safeguard our ecosystems.
As a Research Technician – Vertebrate Pest Management, you’ll support innovative projects tackling Australia’s most damaging mammalian pests. Working across field sites and biosecure facilities, you’ll contribute to research in applied ecology and genetics—helping develop smarter, more effective pest control strategies for rodents and rabbits.
This role requires you to have the flexibility and stamina to undertake extended field trips—sometimes up to two weeks - in remote areas, including weekends and holidays.
Your high-level duties will include:
- Performing routine care and husbandry of animals in biosecure research facilities in strict accordance with The Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes.
- Working as part of team to undertake field work and captive animal studies to collect data on rodents and rabbits.
- Designing data recording systems and maintaining research datasets.
- Conducting literature reviews, investigations and inspections in the field or laboratory including associated analysis possibly involving statistical or graphics software.
- Maintaining laboratory or fieldwork consumables and coordinating shared lab resources and training.
Role particulars
Location: Canberra (Black Mountain), ACT
Salary: AU$73,567 - AU$93,960 per annum (pro rata for part-time), plus 15.4% superannuation
Tenure & work schedule: Specified term of 3 years; full time. Domestic travel required for field work, often to remote regions. Duration can be up to two weeks, with occasional weekend and holiday work.
Reference: 100650
As the successful candidate, you will bring:
- An Honours degree in Animal Science, plus a minimum of 6 months of relevant work experience from the date of degree conferral.
- Previous experience with and/or willingness to perform research that involves capture, handling and humane killing of vertebrate research animals.
- Demonstrated ability to accurately collect and record data from field and laboratory studies with minimal supervision.
- A willingness and ability to undertake extended field trips—often to remote areas—for up to two weeks, with occasional weekend or holiday work. Some trips may be physically demanding.
- Demonstrated evidence of effective verbal and written communication skills.
- Must not own, or have frequent close contact with, pet or wild rabbits (due to biosecurity requirements).
- A valid driver’s licence.
For full details about this role, and other criteria, please review the Position Description.
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 Cristina O’Brien via email: cristina.obrien@csiro.au 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 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.
Eligibility
Applications for this position are open to Australian Citizens, New Zealand Citizens, Australian Permanent Residents (already onshore) and Australian temporary residents with a valid working visa for the duration of the specified term. Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.
Child safety
CSIRO is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people involved in our activities and programs. View our Child Safe Policy.
How to apply
Please apply online and submit your CV along with a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) that demonstrates your motivation and ability to fulfill the essential criteria of this role listed above.
Applications close
Friday 22nd August, 2025, 11:00PM AEST
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