CALS- Research Aide I- Entomology Department

Research Aide I

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 Successare foundational to what is expected ofevery employee and leader working at Cornell. These skills are essential for individual and organizational success. Staff Skills for Success; Leadership Skills for Success

About the College

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is a pioneer of purpose-driven science and Cornell University's second largest college. We work across disciplines to tackle the challenges of our time through world-renowned research, education, and outreach. The questions we probe and the answers we seek focus on three overlapping concerns: We believe that achieving next-generation scientific breakthroughs requires an understanding of the world's complex, interlocking systems. We believe that access to nutritious food and a healthy environment is a fundamental human right. We believe that ensuring a prosperous global future depends on the ability to support local people and communities everywhere. By working in and across multiple scientific areas, CALS can address challenges and opportunities of the greatest relevance, here in New York, across the nation, and around the world.

For more than 125 years, the faculty members, staff and students in the Department of Entomology have been working to advance the field of insect biology and apply that knowledge to solve real-world problems and improve lives. We are committed to training the next generation of entomologists and disseminating our work through extension and outreach, and we are consistently ranked among the top programs for insect science in the world.

Our cutting-edge research is leading to a better understanding of insect biology and diversity, to improve human and animal health and increase the sustainability of our food production and ecosystems.

The position is located within the department of Entomology. The primary purpose for this position is to bioassays with seed corn maggot in the lab and on Cornell research farms. Seed corn maggot is a seed and seedling pest of corn in New York that is currently controlled using neonicotinoid pesticides. With the upcoming NY ban on these products in field corn, we are investigating alternative control techniques. One approach is manipulating the seed's own defenses using application of the hormone methyl jasmonate. We are currently working on different projects to understand different methods for applying methyl jasmonate, how methyl jasmonate treatment affects adult and larval behavior and performance in different soil types, and how fly density affects plant resistance. We are recruiting a technician to join our team to assist in the studies of methyl jasmonate resistance to seed corn maggot.

The technician will assist the PI, Jennifer Thaler, postdocs and graduate students performing lab and field research with an emphasis on bioassays with seed corn maggot flies and larvae in the lab and at Cornell research sites, data entry, extracting data from literature articles and colony care.

Primary duties for this project will include performing bioassays with adult and larval seed corn maggots and preparation of corn seeds treated with methyl jasmonate. Driving to Cornell field sites to assist with on-farm experiments with corn plants, soil treatments and flies. Colony care which includes manipulation of adult and larval flies and maintaining clean protocols, growing corn plants, composting, and cage clean up. Attention to detail, data entering and organization. The candidate may also assist in extracting data from articles and ordering supplies. The candidate will attend weekly Thaler lab meetings. The ideal candidate is very careful and detailed with following an experimental protocols, data entry, can organize their time to accomplish a series of tasks on a given day, and has experience working with and taking care of insects and plants.

This is a full-time position at 97.5% FTE. This is a one-year term appointment that is contingent upon available work, funding, and performance.

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

Relocation assistance will not be provided for this position.

What We Need

• High school diploma and up to 1-year relevant experience or equivalent combination.

• Minimum of one year experience in the conduct of laboratory, greenhouse and field experimentation in agricultural science or a related field.

• Able to correctly identification insects collected from the field experiments.

• Basic knowledge of computer applications including Microsoft Word & Excel.

• Must have and maintain a valid and unrestricted NYS driver's license and be cleared to drive for university business.

• Assist with general lab operations including inventory general inventory which may include a variety of chemicals.

• Ability to create an inclusive high quality and respectful work environment both in a team setting and independently to achieve lab, departmental and university goals.

• Must be personable, flexible, proactive, and possess excellent organizational and communication skills, and take pride in work.

• Demonstrated ability to develop effective working relationships with students, faculty, staff and grower cooperators.

• Demonstrated ability to prioritize multiple tasks and work independently or as part of a team.

• Visual concentration, attention to detail and manual dexterity.

• Demonstrated effective listening skills, sound judgment, reasoning and decision-making skills, high standard of record keeping.

• Experience working directly with people from various socioeconomic backgrounds.

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.

• B.S in Biology or similar field

• Experience manipulating and rearing insects

Rewards and Benefits

Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, and sustainability.

• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell.

• Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1. To offer greater flexibility for observing faiths and traditions we also offer two additional floating holidays. Learn more about our generous leave provisions: Holiday and Accrued Time Off | Working at Cornell

• Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program. Learn more about our extensive educational benefits: Education Benefits | Working at Cornell

• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell:

Total Rewards | Working at Cornell.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Cornell is an equal opportunity employer. For more information, visit hr.cornell.edu/eeo.

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