• Full time, fixed term or secondment opportunity until July 2027. Located on the Camperdown Campus at the Faculty of Science

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY:

The School of Life and Environmental Sciences is currently seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Research Technician, Microbiology to provide technical support to researchers and students. Successful applicants will assist with button mushroom cultivation experiments in the Marsh Lawson Mushroom Research Unit, including management of crop growth, and harvesting and grading of mushrooms. They will also undertake routine analysis of compost and mushroom samples in accordance with established procedures, including compost DNA isolation and compost biochemical analysis.
The Research Technician will be working closely with Associate Professor in Soil Microbiology- Michael Kertesz and his research group and will c onduct detailed molecular studies into the microbial processes needed to produce mushroom compost and how bacteria and fungi in the compost interact to create optimal growth conditions for the button mushroom.
This research explores the role of specific micro-organisms in the composting process, how they interact with the growing button mushroom mycelium, and how their metabolic activity can be used to increase the nutrient content of the mushrooms that we eat. It aims to develop novel methods for mushroom production that will use sustainable materials to replace the use of peat.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• provide research support and assistance to researchers, students and other technical staff in the laboratory and in the Marsh Lawson Mushroom Research Unit
• maintain the laboratory workplace ensuring that the research, learning and teaching requirements of the work area are suitably met
• ensure the laboratory and Mushroom Research Unit is compliant with Workplace Health and Safety requirements
• prepare reporting and documentation
• perform work activities relevant to the role’s key accountabilities as approved by the Manager and commensurate to the role’s classification level.

ABOUT YOU:

The University values courage and creativity; openness and engagement; inclusion and diversity; and respect and integrity. As such, we see the importance of recruiting talent aligned to these values and are looking for Research Technician, Microbiology who has:

• demonstrated experience in research methodology skills, with the ability to prepare scientific papers for publication
• previous laboratory experience in microbial ecology or biochemical research techniques, including microbial community analysis
• previous experience in the cultivation of mushrooms on mushroom compost
• a valid NSW drivers’ licence, and willingness to travel to rural areas on an occasional basis to collect compost samples
• the ability to work both independently and as part of a team, taking initiative and exercising sound judgement in resolving matters
• sound working knowledge and acute awareness of safety regulations and operating procedures within the laboratory and workshop environments.

• provide research support and assistance to researchers, students and other technical staff in the laboratory and in the Marsh Lawson Mushroom Research Unit
• maintain the laboratory workplace ensuring that the research, learning and teaching requirements of the work area are suitably met
• ensure the laboratory and Mushroom Research Unit is compliant with Workplace Health and Safety requirements
• prepare reporting and documentation
• perform work activities relevant to the role’s key accountabilities as approved by the Manager and commensurate to the role’s classification level