Research Support Specialist I - Lab of Ornithology

Join Our Team as a Research Support Specialist for the Laboratory of Ornithology at Cornell University!

If you're eager to make an impact and be part of a dynamic team, then we invite you to explore this exciting opportunity with us!

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.

About The Department

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is the world's leading resource for conservation, research, education, and participatory science focused on birds. The Center for Engagement in Science and Nature activates and supports people worldwide to connect with birds and nature, participate in science, and promote the wellbeing of humans and natural systems. Recognizing that one of our significant strengths is the collective power of the people we engage, the Lab formed a multidisciplinary unit aimed at being a world leader in inspiring people to contribute to science and become advocates for life on earth. Our model for change is to bring curiosity to scale through education and participatory science so that together we can gain insight into how natural systems work and address global conservation challenges. To achieve these outcomes, this center seeks to expand our capacity to study the process of participation in science and offer best practices for promoting and supporting conservation action to a worldwide community. We seek to combine the Lab's unprecedented data resources on bird populations with a growing expertise in social science to effect change.

About The Opportunity

The Research Support Specialist will play a central role in the daily operations of research and scholarly activities in both the ecological and social science realms within this center and across the Lab. In collaboration with other center staff and Principal Investigators, the incumbent will participate in all aspects of research, with an emphasis on ecological datasets and research.

• In the social science realm, this includes collaborating with the Engagement Center's social science team on data and code management.
• In the ecological science realm, this includes extracting data from the Lab's large-scale citizen science datasets, managing datasets, building statistical models, and interpreting and summarizing results.
• In the project management realm, the incumbent will design and maintain a system for tracking progress in achieving project-specific strategic goals across all center projects (as defined by project staff and Center leadership) using Google Analytics or similar software.
• In collaboration with center researchers, the incumbent will engage in the publication process in both lead and supporting roles. This involves collaboration in the management of data, Cornell's Institutional Review Board applications, Cornell's Institutional Animal Use and Care approvals, data analysis, synthesizing results, scientific writing, report preparation, and publication of results.
• The incumbent must have the ability to mentor Cornell undergraduates in the research process.
• Occasionally, the work may involve participation in field research, which may include local research working with students to collect data from the natural world, project participants, and stakeholders.

This position is fully on-site at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, NY, but occasionally remote work may be possible.

What We Need

The successful candidate will have a Bachelors' degree in a science discipline with a specialty in ecological research (e.g., degree in biology, ecology, or natural resources) and an eagerness to work across traditional disciplinary boundaries. Must have at least two years of experience in a research setting conducting and managing research projects, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Must demonstrate ability for scientific writing.
• Must be fully proficient with databases (e.g., Access), code repositories (e.g. GitHub), and spreadsheets. Skill with the R statistical language (or willingness to learn).
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail. Must be flexible and possess excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to travel to scientific conferences.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a valid driver's license and passport for occasional international travel to conferences, less than once a year.
• Willingness to regularly meet with and mentor undergraduate students conducting scientific research.
• Must have demonstrated ability for working collaboratively and inclusively.
• Proven ability to work in a team environment where cooperation between colleagues and flexibility to different styles and approaches is required.
• Must be able to establish realistic goals, prioritize and deliver work on schedule.
• Capable of working both independently and as a team member. Able to develop effective working relationships with a wide variety of people.

Preferably the successful candidate will also have the following;

• Master's degree or equivalent training/experience in ecological or social science or a related field.
• Training in qualitative research methods.
• Prior experience using Google Data Studio and Qualtrics, and with mixed modeling approaches.
• Prior experience in writing scientific publications (i.e., proven record of peer-reviewed publications as lead author).
• Prior experience assisting with grant proposals and reports is helpful, as is experience with social science research methods, both quantitative and qualitative.
• Experience creating informative data visualizations and graphics.
• Proven ability to inspire and mentor undergraduate students.
• Experience in avian ecology and/or participatory science.

Rewards and Benefits

No Visa Sponsorship is available for this position.

How to Apply:

You must submit both a Resume and Cover letter.

Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement.

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations.

University Job Title:

Job Family:

Level:

Pay Rate Type:

Pay Range:

Remote Option Availability:

Company:

Contact Name:

Job Titles and Pay Ranges:

Non-Union Positions

Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience

• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position

• Unique applicable skills

• Academic Discipline (faculty pay ranges reflects 9-month annual salary)

Union Positions

Current Employees:

Online Submission Guidelines:

Employment Assistance:

Notice to Applicants:

EEO Statement:

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual's genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff to all identities and backgrounds. We encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.