Position Details
Postdoctoral Fellow
Advertised Job Title:
Postdoctoral Fellow in Wheat Photosynthesis
Reference Number:
ACT15/00656
Classification:
CSOF4
Salary Range:
AU$81k to AU$88k plus up to 15.4% superannuation
Location:
Black Mountain, ACT, Australia
Indefinite OR
Tenure:
Relocation assistance:
Specified Term of 36 months
Will be provided to the successful candidate if required.
Australian Citizens Only
Australian Citizens and Permanent Residents Only
All Candidates
Applications are open to: 

For Specified Term positions, we will accept applications from Temporary Residents with
working rights for the length of the term, who do not require sponsorship.
Functional Area:
Research Scientist/Engineer - Postdoc
% Client Focus - Internal
80%
% Client Focus - External
20%
Reports to the:
Photosynthesis Team Leader
Number of Direct Reports:
0
Role Overview:
Postdoctoral Fellows at CSIRO provide opportunities to scientists and engineers, who have completed
their doctorate and have less than three years relevant postdoctoral work experience. These
fellowships will help launch their careers, provide experience that will enhance their career prospects,
and facilitate the recruitment and development of potential leaders for CSIRO.
CSIRO is a world leader in phenomics research and in trait-based cereal breeding. This postdoctoral
position will link these two fields to help overcome a key global challenge: providing sufficient food and
feed for the burgeoning world population. A substantial bottleneck to raising the genetic yield potential
of wheat is Radiation Use Efficiency (RUE – dry matter production per unit of solar radiation
intercepted). RUE has barely changed in the modern era of wheat breeding. To achieve a quantum
boost to RUE and wheat yield potential, major improvements in photosynthetic capacity and/or
efficiency are required, at the leaf and canopy levels.
This position requires a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow with an in-depth understanding of plant
photosynthesis. The successful applicant will be part of a multi-disciplinary team developing and
exploiting novel, effective, time-efficient techniques to characterise the genetic and mechanistic basis of
traits conferring variation in photosynthetic performance in wheat. A particular focus of the position will
be the scaling up of leaf-level measures of photosynthetic performance to measures of canopy RUE by
exploiting state-of-the-art phenotyping technologies. A wide range of genetic resources will be used to
undertake both detailed and plot-scale phenomic studies using the facilities of the High-Resolution Plant
Phenomics Centre in Canberra and glasshouse and field facilities in Canberra and at more-remote field
sites. This project offers the opportunity to work with leaders in the field of plant phenomics,
photosynthesis and crop yield improvement and will provide an excellent postdoctoral experience.
Duties and Key Result Areas:

Under guidance of the supervisors, develop new, fast, user-friendly, controlled-environment and
field screens for leaf and canopy photosynthetic capacity and efficiency.

Demonstrate the validity of the new techniques and the interpretation of results by determining
the mechanistic basis behind the variation in phenotypes observed with the new techniques.

Communicate the outputs of the studies to collaborators at CSIRO, the ANU, CIMMYT and other
research institutes, the wheat breeding and pre-breeding community and the scientific community
in the form of high quality scientific publications, conference papers and talks and industry articles.

Undertake regular reviews of relevant literature

Contribute to the development of innovative concepts and ideas for further research.

Contribute to the effective functioning of the research team and provide support or supervision to
junior staff and students as required.

Work collaboratively with colleagues within your team, the business unit and across CSIRO.

Help deliver upon CSIRO’s organisational objectives and adhere to the spirit and practice of CSIRO’s
Values, Health, Safety and Environment plans and policies, Diversity initiatives and Zero Harm
goals.

Communicate effectively and respectfully with all staff, clients and suppliers in the interests of
good business practice, collaboration and enhancement of CSIRO’s reputation.

Participate in CSIRO’s Postdoctoral training and development program.
Other duties as directed.

CSIRO’s postdoctoral training program is developed between the Postdoctoral Fellow and a CSIRO
scientist. The program will focus on enhancing the Fellows’ capabilities to the level expected of an
independent researcher and will include on-the-job and course-based development encompassing:
 Discipline-specific techniques and protocols
 Professional growth
 Project management
 Communication and influencing skills
 Working and collaborating with others
http://www.csiro.au/Portals/Careers/Postdoctoral-Fellowships/Postdoctoral-Fellowships.aspx
Selection Criteria:
Under CSIRO policy only those who meet all essential criteria can be appointed.
Pre-Requisites:
1. Education/Qualifications: A PhD (or will shortly satisfy the requirements of a PhD) in a relevant
discipline area, such as plant sciences.
Please note: To be eligible for this role you must have no more than 3 years of relevant postdoctoral
experience.
2. Flexibility: A current driver’s license and the ability and willingness to conduct field work which will
include overnight stays away from Canberra.
Essential Criteria:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
A well-developed understanding of plant physiology, especially photosynthesis, and demonstrated
experience in the design, implementation and statistical analysis of innovative experiments using
plant physiological tools and procedures.
Demonstrated research experience in the application of gas-exchange and/or fluorescence or other
techniques to characterise variation in photosynthetic traits as affected by genotype and/or
environment.
Demonstrated ability to use initiative, to apply novel approaches in solving problems, to maintain a
high standard of personal performance and produce quality outcomes within agreed deadlines to
achieve project milestones.
Excellent verbal, interpersonal and written communication skills, including a demonstrated ability
and commitment to publish results of scientific research in various media and to present work to a
range of audiences.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team, and to liaise with several supervisors, as well as
the ability to collaborate with a range of people who are working on different but related projects.
Desirable Criteria:
1. Demonstrated ability to scale knowledge derived at the leaf or cellular level to higher levels of
complexity.
2. An understanding of the role of genetic variation and the application of trait phenotyping in
plant breeding.
CSIRO is a values based organisation. You will need to demonstrate behaviours aligned to our values
of:
 Integrity of Excellent Science
 Trust & Respect
 Creative Spirit
 Delivering on Commitments
 Health, Safety & Sustainability
To be appointed as a Postdoctoral Fellow within CSIRO, candidates are required to have submitted their
PhD at the time of commencement, as a minimum requirement, if PhD conferment has not been
obtained. If a candidate has submitted, but their PhD has not yet been formally attained, the starting
salary will be CSOF4-1 ($78,479). Upon CSIRO receiving written confirmation that the PhD has been
awarded (within a six month period from commencement date), the salary will be increased to the
negotiated level and the difference will be back-paid to the Officer’s start date.
Other special requirements:
Appointment to this role may be subject to conditions including security/medical/character clearance
requirements. Applicants who are not Australian Citizens or Permanent Residents may be required to
undergo additional security clearance processes; which may include medical examinations and an
international standardised test of English language proficiency (i.e. IELTS test).http://www.ielts.org/default.aspx
Other Information:
How to Apply
Please apply for this position online at www.csiro.au/careers. You may be asked to provide additional
information (online) relevant to the selection criteria. If so, then responding will enhance your
application so please take the time to provide relevant succinct answers. Applicants who do not provide
the information when requested may not be considered.
If you experience difficulties applying online call 1300 301 509 and someone will be able to assist you.
Outside business hours please email: csiro-careers@csiro.au.
Referees: If you do not already have the names and contact details of two previous supervisors or
academic/ professional referees included in your resume/CV please add these before uploading your CV.
Contact: If after reading the selection documentation you require further information please contact:
Dr Tony Condon via email: Tony.Condon@csiro.au or phone: +61 2 6246 5034.
Please do not email your application directly to Dr Condon. Applications received via this method will
not be considered.
About CSIRO
Australia is founding its future on science and innovation. Its national science agency, the
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is a powerhouse of ideas,
technologies and skills for building prosperity, growth, health and sustainability. It serves governments,
industries, business and communities across the nation.
Find out more! www.csiro.au.
CSIRO Agriculture Flagship
Our Agriculture Flagship is helping Australian farmers and industry improve productivity and
sustainability across the agriculture sector. The Agriculture Flagship will focus on the following
challenges: crop improvement; livestock and aquaculture genetic improvement; farming systems for
productivity and sustainability; interactions between agriculture and the environment; climate change,
adaptation and mitigation; science for health soils; and global food security and development.
For more information on CSIRO Agriculture Flagship please visit our website:
http://www.csiro.au/Organisation-Structure/Flagships/Agriculture-Flagship.aspx
What CSIRO offers you
CSIRO is a world leader in phenomics research and in trait-based cereal breeding. This fellowship offers
an outstanding opportunity to work with an internationally-recognised, multi-disciplinary team. The
appointee will work with staff and state-of-the-art facilities at the High-Resolution Plant Phenomics
Centre in Canberra and will be recognised as an affiliate researcher of the ARC Centre of Excellence for
Translational Photosynthesis at The Australian National University, Canberra.
The position is based in Canberra, Australia’s capital. Canberra is a small city characterised by a pleasant
temperate climate, outdoor lifestyle, family-friendly nature and cosmopolitan culture. It is frequently
listed as one of the top cities in the world to live in.