Temporary Research Aide

Temporary Research Aide

The College of Architecture, Art, and Planning at Cornell University (Cornell AAP) includes the departments of Architecture, Art, City and Regional Planning, the Paul Rubacha Department of Real Estate (jointly led by AAP and the SC Johnson College of Business), the multicollege Department of Design Tech, and the Cornell Mui Ho Center for Cities. The college spans three locations—in Ithaca, New York City, and Rome, Italy—each with world-class facilities and cutting-edge technologies.

Cornell AAP is about acts of transformation. We are committed to reimagining and reshaping the world in new ways, every day. A vital college at one of the nation's foremost research universities, Cornell AAP brings faculty, staff, and students together from around the world to address urgent global challenges and advance collaborative, research-driven approaches that support a more just and resilient future.

Purpose of the Position:

This Temporary Research Aide position supports faculty-led research under the supervision of Jenny Sabin as part of the URoL:

EN NSF-funded project. The role is mission critical to advancing the next phase of material and fabrication testing, with a focus on bioinspired knit material development.

The position requires specialized knowledge and prior hands-on experience within the lab, particularly in developing and testing innovative textile-based materials. This short-term, in-person appointment ensures continuity and progress during a key research phase.

Duties and Responsibilities may include:

• Support the development and refinement of bioinspired knit materials, building on prior lab research and fabrication methods.
• Assist in material testing and prototyping, ensuring alignment with established research processes and project goals.
• Contribute to the next phase of material and fabrication testing, applying knowledge from previous work to maintain consistency and quality.
• Collaborate with faculty and research team members to integrate material experimentation with fabrication workflows.
• Document research processes, material tests, and outcomes for analysis and reporting.
• Assist in preparing research outputs, including visual documentation, diagrams, and written summaries.
• Maintain organized records of materials, samples, and fabrication iterations.

Knowledge, Skills, and

Experience:

• Demonstrated experience in textile development, knit fabrication, or material-based research.
• Familiarity with bioinspired design approaches and experimental material systems.
• Experience working with fabrication tools or textile machinery is preferred.
• Ability to work independently on assigned research tasks with minimal supervision.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and documentation skills.
• Experience contributing to interdisciplinary research in a lab or academic setting.

Requirements:

• Prior experience in the Sabin Lab or similar research environment involving material and textile development.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to fabrication and testing of experimental materials.
• Familiarity with URoL:
  
  EN NSF project workflows or related research strongly preferred.
• Ability to support hands-on research and material experimentation in a collaborative environment.
• Strong organizational skills to track and document iterative material processes.

Location:

Ithaca Main Campus, 129 Sibley Hall, 921 University Ave, Ithaca, NY 14853

Supervisor:
Jenny Sabin