Technician IV

The Opportunity

The Research Technician position in the Cornell University Department of Entomology supports the Poveda Lab’s collaborative research efforts. This role will coordinate research activities with partners across New York State and help manage project operations. The lab is seeking a motivated individual who can effectively oversee partnerships and advance statewide research initiatives.

About The Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

The Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is a leader in purpose-driven science, advancing research, education, and outreach to address complex global challenges. Its work focuses on interconnected systems, equitable access to nutritious food and a healthy environment, and supporting thriving communities locally and worldwide. By collaborating across scientific disciplines, CALS develops innovative solutions with impact in New York, across the U.S., and around the globe.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate research activities in partnership with statewide collaborators across multiple field sites.
• Schedule and maintain sample and data collection activities across 50+ research sites and 10+ collaborators.
• Arrange meetings with collaborators to collect samples, access farms, and support project logistics.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for collaborators, providing regular updates and responding to questions.
• Travel to field sites throughout New York State to collect soil, plant tissue, insect, and other research samples.
• Provide field support for research activities, including sample collection, planting, digging, and related tasks.
• Process and prepare biological and environmental samples, including insects, soil, seeds, and plant materials.
• Record, organize, and enter research data accurately into laboratory databases and project records.
• Manipulate, compute, and assist in the analysis and interpretation of research data.
• Contribute data, summaries, and supporting information for research reports, presentations, and publications.
• Assist in the design, coordination, and implementation of experiments and research projects.
• Evaluate and recommend improvements to laboratory and field methods, procedures, and techniques.
• Provide care, organization, and management of research specimens and samples.
• Support day-to-day laboratory operations and assist with additional research projects as needed.

What We Need

For further consideration, please submit a CV or resume, along with a cover letter outlining your interest in working with soil, plant tissue, insects, and other research samples.

• Bachelor’s degree and 2-4 years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook.
• Willingness to communicate effectively by phone.
• Willingness to work with plant materials that have been treated with insecticides.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage with diverse stakeholders, including researchers, extension specialists, technicians, and growers.
• Experience handling and working with living organisms; experience with plants and insects is preferred.
• Valid and unrestricted New York State driver’s license, with the ability to meet university driving requirements.
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively, including driving up to 8 hours in a single day.
• Ability to perform detailed laboratory work, including extended periods of microscope use and fine motor manipulation of seed samples with forceps.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds and work outdoors for extended periods in varying weather conditions.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, including time management, scheduling, delegation, and regular communication.
• Ability to advocate for individuals from a broad range of backgrounds.
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

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.

• Willingness to work with live insects and decomposing organic material.
• Strong attention to detail, with the ability to accurately process samples and record data.
• Experience with insect identification, or a demonstrated willingness and ability to learn; prior research experience is not required.

This is a full-time (39 hours/week) Contract College position that is based in Ithaca, NY and fully on-site. Core hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, with flexibility as needed. This is a one-year term appointment that is contingent upon available work, funding, and performance.

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.