Macaulay Library Faculty Director, Associate/Full Professor - Animal Communication and Behavior

Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology

Cornell University

Macaulay Library Faculty Director, Robert Engel Professor

Tenure-track

Location: Macaulay Library, Cornell Lab of Ornithology (CLO), Johnson Center for Birds & Biodiversity, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850. The academic home for this position will be in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), housed on the Ithaca campus of Cornell University.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is the world’s leading public-facing science institute dedicated to the study and conservation of birds, based in one of the world’s great research universities, and combining research, technology, capacity building, and engagement.

We seek an exceptional researcher to join the leadership team of one of the CLO’s major programmatic centers, the Macaulay Library, and pursue an interdisciplinary research program using the analysis of large datasets of digital media. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, animal behavior, ecology, conservation biology, global change ecology, computational biology, or evolution, particularly, but not exclusively, in avian systems. The Macaulay Library is the world’s largest repository of digital media (audio, photo, and video) of birds, other wildlife, and their habitats. The archive organizes and safeguards more than 77 million images, 3 million sound recordings, and 350k videos, from more than 80k contributors, and is integrated with eBird, the world’s largest biodiversity dataset. The extraordinary and rapid growth of the Macaulay Library archive supports and inspires a global community of researchers, participatory scientists, and birdwatchers. Amongst the library’s high-profile outputs is the Merlin Bird ID app, which combines expertly curated high-quality datasets with machine learning to help the public better identify birds. Public engagement and participatory science are key aspects of the library’s activities, with close collaboration with other lab centers. The work of the Macaulay Library is supported by a series of generous dedicated endowments, core funds from CLO, and external grants and contracts.

The successful candidate will have their academic home, and be a member of the faculty, in one of the relevant departments in Cornell’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) which will be determined based on the candidate’s research field. The successful candidate will be expected to participate in their home academic department, including research, teaching, advising, service, and administration, at a scale commensurate with their leadership roles for the Macaulay Library and the CLO. Maintaining and developing links with colleagues across the Cornell academic community is an important element of this role.

Position Responsibilities:

This position has an effort split as shown below on a 9-month academic year basis. The Macaulay Library Faculty Director reports to the Louis Agassiz Fuertes Director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and to the chair of the home department in CALS.

Macaulay Library Faculty Director (30%): The Engel Professor will act as the Faculty Director for the Macaulay Library, working closely with and supervising a staff Program Director to lead, manage, and develop the Macaulay Library. The Director will provide vision, mentorship, guidance, and supervision to the Macaulay Library researchers and staff. As Faculty Director, the Engel Professor will be expected to:

• Lead an externally funded, world-class research program
• Co-lead development of strategic vision with Program Director
• Collaborate with Program Director on implementation of strategic vision
• Lead undergraduate teaching, graduate advising, and postdoctoral mentoring
• Lead academic collaborations
• Supervise research/teaching (academic) staff. The Macaulay Library is currently comprised of approximately 30 total staff, plus students and visitors.
• Collaborate with Program Director on external partnerships, typically leading on academic and research-oriented relationships
• Collaborate with Program Director on outreach, typically leading on promoting academic and research activities
• Collaborate with Program Director on proposal-writing, reports, donor relations, and fundraising. The Engel Professor must also be adept at communicating with the Lab’s Administrative Board and donors about research at the Lab and the importance of the Macaulay Library.
• Provide responsible oversight of library finances and budgeting

The Macaulay Library is responsible for a series of major public-facing digital products including the Merlin Bird ID app and the library’s website and databases. These products are some of the most widely used outputs from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and their development is at the core of the CLO’s engagement and fundraising strategies. In addition to the development of Merlin and other dedicated tools, the Macaulay Library delivers video, sounds, training, and sound analysis tools to the public, to educational institutions, community groups, and to commercial entities. The Engel Professor will collaborate with other CLO groups to present the collections to the general public in a way that promotes learning about birds and other animals, conservation, and science, and disseminate Macaulay Library resources to a broad range of audiences world-wide.

The anticipated vision for the Macaulay Library includes the continued growth and evolution of the archive, and the use of new information technologies to foster the use of the Macaulay Library’s resources by parties inside and outside of Cornell. Additionally, the Faculty Director of the Macaulay Library will collaborate with other CLO directors on cross-programmatic initiatives in pursuit of the CLO’s mission.

Research/Outreach (40%): Candidates must have demonstrated excellence in research and outreach that aligns with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s mission to better understand animal biodiversity and to engage the public in their appreciation and protection at a global scale. The Engel Professor is expected to develop an externally funded research program that complements the strengths and activities of the Macaulay Library. Potential areas of research include, but are not limited to, animal behavior, ecology, conservation biology, global change ecology, evolution, machine learning, or other integrative modern approaches to the analysis of large datasets. The ideal candidate will build a research program that directly uses the Macaulay Library media archive and its derivative datasets and contributes to their quality and growth. As Faculty Director of the Macaulay Library, the successful candidate will have opportunities to forge synergistic collaborations with other research and education centers (https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/about/our-work/) at the CLO as well as with relevant academic departments and research centers on the main campus (e.g., Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability, Baker Institute for Animal Health, etc.).

To augment annual and endowment support provided by the CLO, the Engel Professor will be expected to generate extramural funding for a research program and for special projects and outreach within the Macaulay Library.

Teaching and Graduate Training (30%): The Engel Professor will have an academic home in one of the relevant CALS departments, with the specific department determined at the time of recruitment. We seek a scientist with strong teaching and mentoring skills who is enthusiastic about engaging undergraduate science majors, non-majors, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and the general public in the wonders of nature and the process and results of scientific inquiry. The Engel Professor will be expected to contribute to teaching undergraduate and graduate courses. The successful candidate will be involved in working with graduate students, including direct supervision, service on dissertation committees, and participation in graduate-level colloquia and seminar courses.

Department Affiliation: The successful candidate will be a faculty member of the Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and will be based in an academic department appropriate to their research interests. Reflecting the broad scope of relevant academic specialties, these possibilities include Neurobiology & Behavior, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Computational Biology, and Natural Resources & the Environment. They will participate in faculty meetings, tenure decisions, and departmental committees, and interact with other Cornell departments or units that share similar archival or curatorial goals to those of the Macaulay Library. A faculty mentoring program to support personal and professional development will be established to provide advocacy, guidance, and assistance during the first few years as the candidate establishes their program at Cornell.

Qualifications: Required qualifications include a Ph.D. in behavioral, biodiversity, ecological, or information sciences or a related field and an active, independent research program with accomplishments commensurate with a level of Associate Professor or above, such as demonstrated ability to publish in peer-reviewed journals, to secure substantial external funding, and evidence of intellectual leadership. Required teaching qualifications include excellence in teaching lectures or lab courses and a strong commitment to graduate education and postdoctoral training. Prior program leadership or administrative experience is desired but not required.

Applications and Starting Date: The anticipated starting date is July 1, 2026, 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. Materials should be submitted online to: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30293. Applications received by September 30, 2025 will be given full consideration. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

This is an in-person position. The successful candidate will be expected to relocate to within commuting distance of Ithaca, NY. Relocation assistance may be provided. Finalists for this position will be asked to sign an affidavit that they have not been found to have violated employer policies at their previous institution(s).

Inquiries may be directed to: Search chair: Robert A. Raguso, Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, Email: rar229@cornell.edu.

In compliance with New York’s Pay Transparency Act Law, the annual base salary range is $110,000 - $170,000 if hired at associate professor rank; $160,000 – 250,000 if hired at full professor rank. This pay range represents base pay (for a 9-month appointment). 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.