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

Technician III

The opportunity is with the Cornell University community, where inclusion and belonging are at the core of our values and mission. As a member of the Cornell University community, it is important to recognize our shared responsibility to each other to cultivate a culture of inclusion for all. Cornell Core values

As an individual contributor you will model and support a culture of inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing and continually seek to understand how your role, behaviors, and actions impact the success of this culture.

While position responsibilities vary greatly, the Skills for Success and Leadership Skills for Success are foundational to what is expected of every employee and leader working se skills are essential for individual and organizational success. Staff Skills for Success;
Leadership Skills for Success

The CALS School of Integrative of Plant Science (SIPS) encompasses five fields:
Horticulture, Plant Biology, Plant Breeding & Genetics, Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, and Soil and Crop Sciences. Combined there are 100+ faculty, ~200 undergraduate majors, 200+ graduate students in six fields, and 600+ other employees located in Ithaca, Geneva, and other satellite locations across New York State. The School offers the multidisciplinary undergraduate major in the Plant Sciences and is also home to the Agricultural Sciences major.

School faculty also contribute to the Biology, Global Development, and Viticulture & Enology majors.

We are making new scientific discoveries about the interactions between plants and microbes and developing innovative solutions to address the challenges of 21st century agriculture across the globe. We offer students and postgraduate scholars unparalleled opportunities to study the origins and consequences of plant diseases. At the same time, we provide essential information to decision-makers, including agriculture producers, educators, policymakers, home gardeners, and local communities.

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.

Occasional travel to field sites to assist with research and to extend knowledge to scientists or farmers is required. Visa sponsorship and relocation costs are not available for this position.

Position responsibilities include
1) plan and execute research experiments related to plant-microbe-insect interactions,
2) use molecular, chemical, and genetic tools to process samples from your own experiments and others, and
3) conduct analysis of data generated from laboratory experiments using machine learning/bioinformatics tools,
4) generate figures and reports from experiments,
5) lead day-to-day activities for the lab, and
6) intellectually contribute 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
• Maintain detailed records, biological collections, and lab inventories
• Writing and revising standard operating procedures (SOPs) and protocols
• Ordering supplies for the research project and lab

What We Need

• 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.
• Experience modeling values that support inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing.

If you have all those things, great! We have a few more things that we would prefer you to have, but it's ok if you don't.

• 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…