The Position:

CSIRO offers a career opportunity to a motivated organic geochemist to join the Organic and Isotope Geochemistry (OIG) Team within CSIRO’s Earth Science and Resource Engineering (CESRE) Division. CESRE is a significant R&D provider to the Australian petroleum industry for both exploration and production.

Within CESRE the Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Team carries out molecular and isotopic characterisation of petroleum applied to exploration/production programs for coal seam gas, tracer gas analyses for gas storage and carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration projects, the evaluation of petroleum source rocks, characterisation of crude oils including biomarkers for oil-oil and oil-source correlations and enhancement of oil and gas recovery by microbial methods. The studies make use of state–of-the-art, in-house equipment, including a Thermo DFS (high resolution GC-MS), Delta V Plus GC-IRMS, laser micropyrolysis GC-MS, natural gas GC’s and standard GC’s. The team also has access to a Leco Pegasus GCxGC-ToF at Macquarie University and excellent wet chemistry facilities.

Specifically you will:

• Carry out cutting edge R&D in the area of organic geochemistry with an aim to publish in peer-reviewed journals;
• Engage with industry and other organisations to develop commercial and collaborative R&D projects aligned with CSIRO’s strategic direction;
• Collaborate with scientists across CSIRO to achieve optimal deployment of organic geochemistry capabilities;
• Proactively ensuring all activities are carried out in strict accordance with HSE standards and practices.

Location:   North Ryde, NSW
Salary:      $92K-$100K plus up to 15.4% superannuation
Tenure:      Indefinite/Ongoing
Ref No.:     NSW13/02609

To be considered you will hold a PhD in Organic Chemistry, including stable isotopes and biomarkers, or be in the final year of your PhD, nearing completion.

You will also have:

• a record of publishing in high impact journals, plus the ability and willingness to present at international conferences;
• organic geochemistry experience, including wet laboratory procedures, GC-MS, stable isotopes- compound specific isotopes, identification of biomarkers;
• the ability to work effectively in teams and across different organisational structures;
• geological field work experience.

To be successful in this position you will need:

• PhD in organic geochemistry or geosciences or clear evidence of equivalent experience.
• Extensive knowledge of petroleum exploration industry problems and practice in the field of organic geochemistry.
• Demonstrated experience and track record of applied organic geochemistry in oil/gas exploration and production.
• A record of efficient performance in scientific endeavors as demonstrated by successfully completed and reported research findings and publication record.
• Proven capacity to initiate, plan, promote and conduct innovative research projects in organic geochemistry.
• Publication of research in scientific journals.

Who we are: The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is one of the largest and most diverse scientific organisations in the world. By igniting the creative spirit of our people, we deliver great science and innovative solutions that benefit industry, society and the environment.

About CSIRO Earth Science and Resource Engineering: Australia’s growth and way of life is underpinned by access to affordable and sustainable energy sources for electricity and transport. CSIRO is developing new technologies for oil and gas exploration and production to support a clean and secure energy future. CSIRO's petroleum exploration research spans research from source rock characterisation through petroleum systems modelling, traps and reservoir characterisation, through to faults and marine geology. This range of expertise and capabilities can be used to augment current industrial techniques and approaches to reduce exploration, development and production risks. CSIRO researchers are investigating several techniques that may substantially increase the amount of oil that can be recovered from a reservoir.