Position Details
Postdoctoral Fellowship – CSOF4
Role summary for potential applicants
Advertised Job Title:
Postdoctoral Fellowship in Micronutrient-dense wheat through modified
aleurone development
Reference Number:
9201
Classification:
CSOF4
Salary Range:
AU $81K to AU $88K plus up to 15.4% superannuation
Location:
Black Mountain (Canberra) Australian Capital Territory
Tenure:
Specified Term of 3 years
Relocation assistance:
Will be provided to the successful candidate if required.
Australian Citizens Only
Australian Citizens and Permanent Residents Only
All Candidates
Applications are open to:

Functional Area:
Research Scientist / Engineer - Postdoc
% Client Focus - Internal:
80%
% Client Focus - External:
20%
Reports to the:
Research Group Leader
Number of Direct Reports:
0
Role Overview:
Postdoctoral Fellowships 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.
Postdoctoral Fellows are appointed for up to three years and will work closely with a leading Research Scientist
or Engineer in their respective field. They carry out innovative, impactful research of strategic importance to
CSIRO with the possibility of novel and important scientific outcomes. They present the findings in appropriate
publications and at conferences.
In Australia and many parts of the world wheat comprises about one quarter of daily food intake. However,
most of the wheat we consume is refined grains rich in calories, but poor in micronutrients. There is expanding
consumption of wholegrain wheat through growing recognition of health benefits associated with outer layers
of the grain, especially the aleurone. In wheat, the aleurone is the outermost layer, comprising less than 10% of
grain mass but being particularly rich in micronutrients including dietary fibre, minerals, antioxidants, and
vitamins, which are important in prevention of chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and
diabetes.
Our recent studies in rice confirm that increasing the size of the aleurone enriches nutritional value. By
modulating aleurone development in wheat, the proposed research would pioneer new wheats with
coordinated improvement in a spectrum of micronutrients.
The aleurone is also an important model for cell fate determination in plants. In early seed development the
aleurone and starchy endosperm differentiate from the same progenitor cells. Some aleurone cell fate
regulators (DEK1, CR4, SAL1) have been identified in maize, but their regulatory mechanism is not understood,
nor have they yet been used to achieve practical outcomes to optimize grain development.
A series of rice mutants with increased aleurone size have been isolated by our collaborators at Institute of
Botany, Chinese Academy of Science (IB-CAS), Beijing. A collaborative PhD project in CSIRO studied one of the
rice mutations ta2 (thick aleurone 2) which increased aleurone thickness from one cell to about ten cells.
Wholegrain flour prepared from field grown ta2 and its wild type cultivar showed substantial increases in ta2
flours: 65% increase in total dietary fibre; 40% total phenolic compounds; 80% antioxidant capacity; 50% lipids;
20% Vitamin B3; 30% Vitamins B6 and B9; 9-23% increase in Fe, Zn, Mg, K, P, S and phytate.
The responsible mutation was mapped and its identity confirmed by genetic complementation. Various results
imply that the thick aleurone trait is achieved through a reduction but not elimination of activity of the gene.
The proposed research aims to extend the insights from rice to hexaploid wheat for producing micronutrient
dense wheat, and study the genetics and functions of the new regulator and enhance our understanding of how
cells divide and specialise in seeds to become the starchy endosperm cells and the nutrient rich aleurone
endosperm cells.
We believe there is good prospect of success to produce a thick aleurone, micronutrient dense wheat for a
number of reasons:
1. There is a high similarity between rice and the three wheat genes in sequence and expression profile.
2. Many of the mutations in this rice gene conferring thick aleurone have good grain yield, seed size and seed
weight, suggesting that modifying the wheat homologues could lead to commercially acceptable thick
aleurone wheat.
3. We have already generated a suite of transgenic wheat lines that will be available for analysis in the
proposed research. The transgenics will give proof-of-concept, which can be followed by a targeted non-GM
route of delivery.
Duties and Key Result Areas:
Under the direction of senior research scientists, the postdoctoral fellow will carry out innovative, impactful
research of strategic importance to CSIRO that will, where possible, lead to novel and important scientific
outcomes.
Through coordinated research in plant developmental biology, plant biology, computational biology, food and
nutrition, and through coordinated inputs from two CSIRO business units, ANU and IB-CAS, specific duties will
include:
 Analysis of various wheat transgenic lines, including: Knock-outs of one or two of the three wheat genes;
combined knock-outs and overexpression lines; targeted mutations recovered by TILLING or gene editing.
 Identifying transgenic or mutant wheat (or barley) with thick aleurone, and study the nutrition profiles of
carbohydrates, protein, lipid, minerals, carotenoids, vitamins, dietary fibres and antioxidants.
 Developing genome-wide transcriptomics data using RNASeq and collaborate with IB-CAS to identify the key
regulators.
 If thick aleurone is achieved with transgenics, attempts will be made to reproduce the phenotype by
targeted mutagenesis, either by gene editing or targeted TILLING screens.
 Undertaking regular reviews of relevant literature and patents.
 Producing high quality scientific papers suitable for publication in quality journals, for client reports,
granting of patents and for presentation at conferences as as agreed with your supervisor.
 Making a contribution to the effective functioning of the research team and help deliver CSIRO’s
organisational objectives and plans.
 Working collaboratively with colleagues within your team, the business unit and across CSIRO.
 Communicating effectively and respectfully with all staff, clients and suppliers in the interests of good
business practice, collaboration and enhancement of CSIRO’s reputation.
 Adherence to the spirit and practice of CSIRO’s Values, Health, Safety and Environment plans and policies,
Diversity initiatives and Zero Harm goals.
 Undertaking an appropriate training and development program developed by CSIRO.
 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/en/Careers/Student-and-graduate-programs/Postdoctoral-fellowships
Selection Criteria:
Under CSIRO policy only those who meet all essential criteria can be appointed
Pre-Requisites:
1. Education/Qualifications: A doctorate (or will shortly satisfy the requirements of a PhD) in a relevant
discipline area, such as plant biochemistry or plant molecular genetics.
Please note: To be eligible for this role you must have no more than 3 years of relevant postdoctoral
experience.
2. Communication: High level written and oral communication skills with the ability to represent the research
team effectively internally and externally, including at national and international conferences.
3. Publications: A record of publications in quality, peer reviewed journals and/or protected intellectual
property confirming a major scientific contribution.
4. Behaviours: A history of professional and respectful behaviours and attitudes in a collaborative
environment, and the motivation and discipline to carry out autonomous research.
Essential Criteria:
1. Demonstrated experience in grain compositional and nutritional quality.
2. Demonstrated experience in plant transgenics, molecular biology and analysis of gene expression.
3. The ability to work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary, regionally dispersed research team, plus the
motivation and discipline to carry out autonomous research.
4. A record of science innovation, applying creativity and originality to problem solving, plus the ability &
willingness to incorporate novel ideas and approaches into scientific investigations.
Desirable Criteria:
1. Experience with the screening of plant mutant or TILLING populations.
2. Experience in plant gene editing.
3. Experience with regulatory control of developmental pathways.
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 https://jobs.csiro.au/ and ‘Search by Keyword’ 9201. Your application
should comprise one document which incorporates the latest version of your CV plus a covering letter outlining
your motivations for applying and your suitability for the role (uploaded under “Resume”).
At any stage during the recruitment process, 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.
Applications close: Monday 29 February, 2016 (11:59 AEDT)
If you experience difficulties applying online call 1300 984 220 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 Phil Larkin via email: Phil.Larkin@csiro.au or phone: +62 2 6246 5060
Please do not email your application directly to Dr Larkin. 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 is helping Australian farmers and industry improve productivity and sustainability across the
agriculture sector. CSIRO Agriculture will focus on the following challenges:
a.
Crop improvement;
b.
Livestock and aquaculture genetic improvement;
c.
Farming systems for productivity and sustainability;
d.
Interactions between agriculture and the environment; climate change, adaptation and
mitigation; science for healthy soils;
e.
Global food security and development.
http://my.csiro.au/Business-Units/Agriculture-Flagship.aspx
What CSIRO offers you
The proposed research is a multidisciplinary collaboration involving national and multinational inter-institutional
capabilities. The postdoctoral fellow will have opportunity to partner across disciplines and organizational
boundaries. CSIRO will provide leadership training in the following areas:
1. The fellow will be exposed to three top-class plant molecular biology laboratories in three institutions
with emphases on developmental biology, genomics, metagenomics and health-promoting
improvements to cereal grain.
2. The fellow will be required to report research progress at laboratory, university, institute and crossinstitute levels. This will enhance the fellow’s presentation skills and confidence.
3. The fellow may participate in protection of project IP.
4. The fellow will be given opportunity to attend and report at international scientific conferences.
5. The fellow will learn to generate, organise and analyse massive genome-wide transcriptomics data, and
appropriate statistical and bioinformatics training will be provided.
6. The fellow will be a member of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology “mentoring to
independence” program at ANU (Professor Pogson is Deputy Director of the Centre). This program
focuses on developing leadership skills in all areas required for scientific and managerial success.
The USA NSF has determined that next generation scientists need to be multidisciplinary. The proposed
Fellowship will equip the appointee with a broad range of versatile skills in plant cell biology, molecular genetics,
grain compositional analysis, transgenics, gene editing, mutant screening, bioinformatics, and intellectual
property protection. These skills combined with international exposure and cross-institution collaboration will
underpin the development of a successful research career. Detailed consultation with the postdoctoral fellow
will be carried out prior to commencement so as to develop the best- suited training and development plan for
the candidate.