Research Associate - Plowright Lab

Research Associate
Dr. Raina Plowright's Laboratory
Public and Ecosystem Health
College of Veterinary Medicine
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY

The Plowright Lab in the Department of Public and Ecosystem Health at Cornell University seeks applications for a Research Associate. This position is supported through the NIH-funded Center for Spillover Prevention, One Health Research, and Outbreak Readiness in Asia, part of the Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases (CREID) Network. We study how animals respond to global change and how these responses change the risk of pathogen spillover.

The Research Associate will lead, organize, and conduct bat experiments at Cornell University to understand bat immune responses to stress. The Associate will also co‑lead field research examining how bats respond to global change and how these responses influence pathogen spillover. This role will include coordinating the ecological components of the fieldwork conducted by local research teams in Indonesia and Bangladesh.

The Center’s multidisciplinary team will include colleagues at Johns Hopkins University, the Wildlife Conservation Society, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University College of Human Ecology, and Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

• Co-design, plan, and execute bat experiments at Cornell University.
• Co‑lead the ecological components of the field research focused on understanding how bats respond to global change and how these responses influence pathogen spillover.
• Co-design spatial and temporal sampling strategies in collaboration with geospatial scientists, ecologists, and epidemiologists.
• Lead analyses and interpretation and the preparation of manuscripts and presentations arising from the experimental and ecological field components, in collaboration with the Center’s team.
• Help coordinate biomarker development, validation, and field deployment.
• Represent the research area in cross‑team coordination and contribute to the broader research program’s scientific direction.
• Help mentor and support trainees on the team.
• Contribute to the preparation of donor reports and other project deliverables.

• This position requires a PhD in disease ecology, ecological immunology, epidemiology, veterinary medicine, ecology, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience conducting animal or wildlife research; designing experiments; handling and sampling wildlife; and working with infectious‑disease or physiological/ecological data.
• Ability to develop, adapt, and apply quantitative methods to answer ecological questions.
• A strong record of conducting independent research and scholarly activities, including publication in peer‑reviewed journals.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multi‑disciplinary research team.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a collaborative, fast‑paced research environment.
• Experience in the management of research, scientific, or academic projects.
• Creative and critical‑thinking skills with a demonstrated ability to develop innovative research approaches.
• Willingness to be based in Ithaca, NY.
• Ability to travel internationally for fieldwork in Indonesia and Bangladesh (up to one month per year in the field).

• Excellent quantitative skills
• Experience working with bats

Salary Range: $65,000 - $90,000. This position is eligible for endowed benefits.

• Prior relevant work or industry experience.
• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position.
• Academic Discipline (faculty pay ranges reflects 9‑month annual salary)
• Unique applicable skills.

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