Job Description

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

• Shape global understanding of jewel beetle diversity through innovative taxonomy and systematics
• Turn beetle expertise into impact - deliver species revisions, new taxa and practical identification tools
• Use world-class collections (ANIC) to drive discovery in Australia’s insect biodiversity

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

Join CSIRO’s National Collections & Marine Infrastructure (NCMI) Research Unit and contribute to world-leading research in beetle systematics and taxonomy. As a Research Scientist, you will undertake innovative research on Australian jewel beetles (Buprestidae), using the Australian National Insect Collection (ANIC), one of the world’s most significant insect collections.

Working within a collaborative, multidisciplinary team, you will apply morphological and molecular approaches to advance taxonomic knowledge, contribute to major scientific publications, and support Australia’s biodiversity research and biosecurity capability. You will also play a key role in a high-profile collaboration with the Buprestid Foundation, working closely with leading experts including Dr Adam Ślipiński and Mark Hanlon.

This role offers the opportunity to build national and international research networks, contribute to impactful scientific outputs, and help shape the future of insect biodiversity research in Australia.

Your high-level duties will include:

• Conducting integrative research on the taxonomy and evolution of Australian jewel beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) using morphological and molecular approaches.
• Leading and contributing to research projects, including several large-scale species-level taxonomic revisions and a comprehensive genus-level review of Australian jewel beetles for publication as a book.
• Preparing and producing high-quality scientific manuscripts suitable for publication.
• Supporting the curation and growth of CSIRO’s research collections in insect diversity.
• Maintaining, curating and developing the ANIC Buprestidae collection, including sorting, mounting, dissecting, and curating newly obtained material.
• Assisting in planning and preparing research proposals and undertake research investigations requiring originality, creativity, and innovation.

Role particulars

Location and office arrangements: Canberra (Black Mountain), ACT

Salary: AU$118k – AU$127k per annum (pro rata for part-time), plus 15.4% superannuation

Tenure & work schedule: Specified term of 5 years; full time

Reference: 103355

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

• A PhD in systematic entomology and relevant postdoctoral research experience in the field.
• The ability to design and implement systematic research projects on beetles (Coleoptera) at a significant scale with appropriate methods, including taxonomic revisions with the implementation of molecular markers, description of novel taxa and creating identification keys.
• The ability to generate, analyse and apply DNA results in taxonomic research.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to publish research results, prepare reports and present the results of scientific investigations at national and international conferences and stakeholder meetings.
• Knowledge of, and practical experience in, beetle collection curation and management.
• The ability to solve complex and ill-defined problems through innovative investigation, creativity and a willingness to apply novel research approaches.

For full details about this role, and other criteria, please review the

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 at 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 or you must either hold, or be able to obtain, 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 a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) and CV that demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the essential requirements of this role.

Applications close

Sunday 5th July 2026, 11:00pm AEST