There are a number of different and exciting pathways in a plant biosecurity career.
There are a number of different and exciting pathways in a plant biosecurity career.
Primary objective Identify insects, develop control strategies and provide advice to support biosecurity and pest management in plant industries in the Northern Territory in line with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade Strategic Plan. Key duties and responsibilities 1. Take an active role in the Entomology Branch’s diagnostic and advisory service to government and industry. 2. Assist with conducting risk assessments and developing pest management and market access strategies 3. Assist with planning and managing all aspects of complex research, development and extension projects. 4. Prepare and publish key scientific publications to promote adoption of new technologies and methodologies that maximise farming system profitability and sustainability with a biosecurity focus. 5. Implement extension strategies to communicate via a range of methods to target audiences. 6. Be part of a working environment, which encourages the sharing and effective utilisation of complementary knowledge and skills within multidisciplinary project teams. 7. Establish and maintain key networks with researchers and industry to keep abreast of technology, with reference to plant biosecurity, tropical entomology and pest management. 8. Support emergency disease and pest responses in the Northern Territory though provision of expertise, including diagnostics and surveillance.
Selection criteria Essential 1. Tertiary qualifications relevant to the position. 2. Demonstrated experience in the diagnosis of insect pests and beneficials. 3. Experience in conducting risk assessments and knowledge of pest management and market access strategies. 4. Knowledge and experience in pest management research, development and extension. 5. Demonstrated ability to design, conduct and analyse biological experiments with particular relevance to pest status, biology and control strategies. 6. Demonstrated ability to develop and lead projects that advance trade, market access, and/or the economic and sustainable development of horticultural industries. 7. Excellent written and oral communication skills, including demonstrated experience in achieving positive outcomes through stakeholder engagement. 8. Ability to develop and maintain networks with a wide range of stakeholders working in similar fields and across disciplines, including the ability to interact effectively with people of diverse cultures. 9. Demonstrated experience in drafting high level documentation, including reports, correspondence, funding proposals, and briefings. Vacancy closes: 12/06/2023
CSIRO’s Health and Biosecurity Business Unit is dedicated to conducting scientific research that develops products and services to address the complexity and interdependencies of human, animal and environmental health and biosecurity challenges to provide benefits to Australia and the world. As a Research Projects Officer, you will contribute to planning, formulating and undertaking experimentation to develop and optimise innovative molecular diagnostic tools and platforms that detect endemic and exotic pests and pathogens affecting a range of Australian crops and native plants. This will be a hands-on role and we are seeking a proactive, inquisitive biologist who enjoys spending time in a laboratory and glasshouse setting undertaking experimentation to generate high quality results that are used in downstream analyses.
To be considered you will need: Relevant bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant work experience in plant pathology, microbiology, mycology, bacteriology, virology, biological sciences. Experience in laboratory-based experimentation using standard molecular biology techniques. Experience in handling and maintaining microbial (fungal or bacterial) cultures. Proven experience in undertaking and maintaining glasshouse plant experiments. Previous experience in propagating and maintaining plants. Demonstrated understanding of experimental procedures and effective record keeping. The ability to work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team under the general direction from Research Scientists. Desirable Previous experience working with fungal or bacterial plant pathogens. Previous experience in the analysis of DNA sequence data. Applications Close: 22 June 2023
Everyone working in plant biosecurity diagnostics in Australian or New Zealand is encouraged to join NPBDN. Relevant disciplines include bacteriologists, botanists, entomologists, general plant pathologists, molecular biologists, mycologists, nematologists, phytoplasmologists, virologists and weed scientists.
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