Research Associate

Research Associate

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.

Position Function

The Dillon Lab explores the role of animal-source foods in sustainable food systems. We work to elucidate how system structure mediates sustainability outcomes from management change or policy implementation. Our applied work consists of collaborations with transdisciplinary teams to quantify synergies and tradeoffs between environmental impacts, ecosystem services, and the social and economic dimensions of food systems.

The research associate will assemble, harmonize, and analyze longitudinal datasets of livestock population, milk and meat production and consumption, and methane emissions. They will evaluate historical trends in absolute and intensity-based emissions, including rebound effects, and identify their likely drivers. The successful candidate will work with both domestic and international datasets. They will develop and maintain reproducible analytical workflows, including shared codebases for data processing, integration, and statistical analysis. In addition to data analysis, the research associate will prepare technical reports and documentation to support transparent and reproducible research. They will also work closely with the project team to contribute to peer-reviewed publications and policy-relevant outputs. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience in statistical analysis of agricultural data, experience working with large and heterogeneous datasets, and a record of peer-reviewed publication.

Anticipated Division of Time

Research - 90%

Mentoring - 10%

Requirements

Driving is not a requirement.

Required

• PhD in Animal Science, Environmental Science, Statistics, or other field with relevant experience
• Demonstrated experience conducting longitudinal analysis of large agricultural datasets
• Familiarity with livestock methane emissions data
• A record of peer-reviewed publications

Preferred

• Experience analyzing measured methane emissions data
• Experience with empirical models for predicting livestock methane emissions
• Prior postdoctoral work history
• Proficiency in Hindi is a plus

Supervision Exercised

The research associate will be expected to occasionally support undergraduate and graduate student mentorship.

To apply:

Qualified candidates should submit a short cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references via the website.

Applications will be reviewed as received, continuing until a suitable applicant is identified.

CALS hiring range for this title is $75,000 - $80,000.