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

Technician III

The Opportunity

As a university founded to be a place where "…any person can find instruction in any study," inclusion and belonging are at the core of our values and mission. We strive to be a welcoming, caring, healthy, and equitable community where students, faculty, and staff with different backgrounds, perspectives, abilities, and experiences can learn, innovate, and work in an environment of respect, and feel empowered to engage in any community conversation.

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

About the College

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 primary research goal of the Casteel lab is to identify the functions of microbes in plant-insect interactions and elucidate the key molecular mechanisms responsible for these relationships. We also study beneficial and pathogenic microbes that are associated with plants, climate change, and the effects of organic farming on soil microbiome biodiversity and ecosystem function. The Casteel laboratory consists of approximately 2500sqft of lab space in a collaborative research laboratory in the Plant Sciences Building.

All standard molecular biology and chemical ecology equipment for working with plants and microbes is available in the lab. The Casteel Lab has exclusive use of an additional growth facility in the basement of Bradfield Hall for work with pathogens, rearing insects, and conducting insect-microbe experiments. These rooms were designed with input from APHIS and BRS specifically for virus, insects and vectored pathogen work.

The facility is divided into 4 spaces with over 1000sqft of growth space.

Our lab is in gorgeous Ithaca, NY. Situated in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, Ithaca has an ample waterfront fed by over local 150 waterfalls, excellent fall color, hiking, and water trails. The downtown area of Ithaca boasts a pedestrian mall featuring locally owned businesses, world renowned vegan and vegetarian dining, and a year-round farmers market. The Cornell campus is serviced, free of charge to students and staff, via public transportation.

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…