Assistant Professor - Neural Mechanisms of Natural Behavior

Life Sciences (CALS) at Cornell University welcomes applications for a full-time tenure-track position in The Neural Mechanisms of Natural Behaviors at the assistant professor level. We seek an outstanding scientist whose research connects animal behavior to its underlying neural mechanisms. We are interested in candidates who study how the brain generates, controls, or is shaped by innate or learned behaviors that have evolved in natural contexts, for example communication, navigation, mating, foraging, or social interaction, and who integrate neural measurements with rigorous, quantitative analysis of animal behavior. Laboratory and/or field-based research programs that utilize experimental, physiological, genomic, developmental, computational, or comparative approaches to uncover the neural mechanisms of animal behavior are welcome. Candidates working across species (both model and non-model; vertebrate or invertebrate) are encouraged to apply. NBB was founded on the premise that neurobiology and behavior must be studied together, and this position is central to that mission. Faculty have access to the Liddell Field Laboratory, a unique resource for studying behavior in naturalistic settings, as well as to resources of Cornell Neurotech, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Center for Vertebrate Genomics, Imaging and Biotechnology Cores, and to a rich community of neuroscientists and behavioral biologists across campus. Cornell also has an active community of physicists, engineers, and computational scientists developing tools for the analysis and quantification of animal physiology and behavior. We are committed to building a community in which behavior and its neural basis are understood as a single integrated phenomenon. The successful candidate will be expected to develop a vigorous, externally funded research program, to contribute to undergraduate and graduate teaching, and to participate in the intellectual life of the department. Responsibilities: This position has an effort split of 50% research and 50% teaching. Applications and Starting Date: The anticipated starting date is July 1, 2027, or as negotiated. Qualified applicants should submit (1) a cover letter briefly summarizing background, qualifications, and interest in the position, (2) a Curriculum Vitae, (3) a research statement outlining experience, interests, and goals, (4) a teaching statement outlining experience, interests, and goals, (5) copies of four relevant publications, and (6) names and contact information for three references . This is an in-person position. The successful candidate will be expected to relocate within commuting distance of Ithaca, NY. Relocation assistance may be provided. Consistent with Cornell's practice, appointment to academic positions require candidates to disclose relevant information about their prior employment including whether they have been found to have violated institutional or employer policies related to or governing unlawful discrimination and harassment, academic and research misconduct, or financial misconduct. Inquiries may be directed to: Search Chair: Micheal Sheehan Dept. Neurobiology and Behavior Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 Email: j kh222@cornell.edu In compliance with New York's Pay Transparency Law, the annual base salary range for this assistant professor position is $90,000 - $135,000. This pay range represents base pay (for 9 months). Cornell University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. Cornell's regional and global presence includes state-wide Cornell Cooperative Extension programs and offices in all counties and boroughs, global partnerships with institutions and communities engaged in life-changing research and education, the medical college's campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, and the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City. Pay Range: Refer to Posting Language Pay Ranges: 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. Academic Discipline Unique applicable skills. Employment Assistance: Notice to Applicants: EEO Statement: Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of "... any person ... any study." No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, 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. Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law. 2026-09-16