"Macaulay Library Faculty Director, Robert Engel Professor"

Position: Macaulay Library Faculty Director, Robert Engel Professor, Associate/Full 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 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.

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; Collaborate with Program Director on external partnerships; Collaborate with Program Director on outreach; Collaborate with Program Director on proposal-writing, reports, donor relations, and fundraising.

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. 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.

Research/Outreach (40%): Candidates must have demonstrated excellence in research and outreach that aligns with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's mission. The Engel Professor is expected to develop an externally funded research program that complements the strengths and activities of the Macaulay Library.

Teaching and Graduate Training (30%): The Engel Professor will have an academic home in one of the relevant CALS departments. 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.

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.