The Role

The Researcher CBRN will provide scientific, technical, and operational support to the Australian Defence Force Malaria and Infectious Disease Institute's (ADFMIDI) mission to achieve Force Health Protection and minimise non-battle casualties.

This role will involve activities that underpin research into vector surveillance and control methodologies to ensure vector borne disease protection in the ADF. Vector surveillance projects involve collecting and screening mosquitoes for pathogens of public health significance and supporting diagnostic capabilities for a range of vector borne diseases.

Additionally, this position will involve insectary management and mosquito rearing, the conduct of efficacy assays to ensure that vector control methods are suitable for the military environment and providing capacity building and educational support to technicians within the ADF.

The Researcher CBRN will be required to apply laboratory techniques to support field surveillance work, including mosquito identification using morphology and molecular based techniques. The position will work within the Vector Surveillance and Control department within ADFMIDI and will be based at Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera.

About our Team

The Vector Surveillance and Control team at Australian Defence Force Malaria and Infectious Disease Institute (ADFMIDI) is dedicated to ensuring ADF personnel are protected against vector-borne diseases through training, advice and the research of vector control and surveillance techniques in order to minimise non-battle casualties within the Australian Defence Force.

The team achieves its mission through various techniques such as vector borne disease surveillance to assess transmission potential and provide risk assessment in ADF areas of interest as well as conducting surveillance on arbovirus vectors to observe density, seasonality and infection rates in military training areas.

In order to ensure that the ADF is utilising the best possible techniques and measures to protect its people, our team works to evaluate personal protection measures used by the ADF under field conditions, especially topical mosquito repellents, impregnated military clothing, tentage and bednets for patrolling soldiers as well as evaluating the use of pyrethroid insecticides in military fabrics in protecting against nuisance and vector mosquitoes.

Our Ideal Candidate

The Researcher CBRN will require strong theoretical technical knowledge in vector biology. Our ideal candidate will have strong experience in high-throughput mosquito identification using both morphological and molecular techniques.

The successful candidate will apply this knowledge and experience be responsible for conducting routine morphological mosquito identification. In addition, this position will contribute to scientific projects and laboratory test development, while participating in general operational activities to support our governance, safety and organisational requirements. Many of the duties will be repetitive and will require independent work.

The position requires a candidate who has the ability to maintain accurate records, and has the ability to manage chemical stocks, manage scientific equipment, and communicate with internal and external stakeholders.

Our ideal candidate will fulfil the physical requirements of the role which involve a combination of outdoor and office-based work and has the ability to perform occasional out-of-hours and weekend work. We seek candidates who will take pride in implementing effective vector-borne disease control programs that protect the ADF community.

Please note that you will be required, from time to time, to work in difficult, remote and harsh environments (possibly for extended periods) under limited supervision or in teams.

Application Closing Date: Sunday 8 June 2025.

For further information please review the job information pack, reference DPG/03926/25 on https://defencecareers.nga.net.au/?jati=E542E2AF-E21A-EEED-1934-E3D57EB56450