CALS- Technician III- School of Integrative Plant Science- Plant Pathology Section

Technician III

The opportunity is with Cornell University's School of Integrative Plant Science (SIPS) in Ithaca, NY. SIPS encompasses five fields:
Horticulture, Plant Biology, Plant Breeding & Genetics, Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, and Soil and Crop Sciences. The lab is in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, known for its natural beauty and vibrant community.

The Casteel lab is seeking a highly qualified Technician. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in supporting daily laboratory activities and contribute to ongoing and new research projects focused on characterizing the function of microbes in plant-insect interactions using the tools of molecular ecology and chemical ecology. This position offers an exciting opportunity for individuals with a background in plant biology, plant-microbe interactions, or plant-insect interactions or plant, who are interested in ecology, molecular biology, and chemistry.

Demonstrated leadership skills will be highly valued.

This is a part-time position at 62.5% FTE (25 hours/week). This is a one-year term appointment that is contingent upon available work, funding, and performance. Candidates should be based in or have the capacity to commute to Ithaca, NY daily.

Position responsibilities include planning and executing research experiments related to plant-microbe-insect interactions, using molecular, chemical, and genetic tools to process samples, conducting analysis of data generated from laboratory experiments using machine learning/bioinformatics tools, generating figures and reports from experiments, leading day-to-day activities for the lab, and intellectually contributing to the development of research articles and proposals.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to: DNA and RNA extraction, working with insects and pathogens in bioassays, plant care, operation of complex laboratory equipment, supporting field, greenhouse, and/or lab experiments, data collection and analysis, use of R for data analysis, maintaining detailed records, biological collections, and lab inventories, writing and revising standard operating procedures (SOPs) and protocols, and ordering supplies for the research project and lab.

What we need includes a high school diploma and up to 1 year of relevant experience or equivalent combination, prior experience in a laboratory setting, prior knowledge of safety protocols in a lab setting and proper waste handling, experience with Microsoft office suite – including Word, PowerPoint and Excel and familiarity with outlook, ability to communicate verbally and written with faculty, staff and students, must have and maintain a valid and unrestricted NYS driver's license and be cleared to drive for university business, and experience modeling values that support inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing.

Preferred qualifications include a bachelor's degree or other formal research program of four years or equivalent in microbiology, molecular biology, or chemistry, experience growing and working with plants, experience with molecular biology tools, interest in plant-insect and plant-microbiome interactions, molecular ecology, or chemical ecology, and experience in leadership.

Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, and sustainability. Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays:
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1. To offer greater flexibility for observing faiths and traditions we also offer two additional floating holidays. Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program.

Cornell is an equal opportunity employer. For more information, visit hr.cornell.edu/eeo.