CALS- Technician III- School of Integrative Plant Science- Plant Pathology Section

About the role

The Casteel laboratory seeks a highly qualified Technician to support daily laboratory activities and contribute to ongoing and new research projects focused on characterizing the function of microbes in plant-insect interactions using the tools of molecular ecology and chemical ecology.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute research experiments related to plant-microbe-insect interactions
• Use molecular, chemical, and genetic tools to process samples from your own experiments and others
• Conduct analysis of data generated from laboratory experiments using machine learning/bioinformatics tools
• Generate figures and reports from experiments
• Lead day-to-day activities for the lab
• Intellectually contribute to the development of research articles and proposals

Requirements

• High school diploma and up to 1 year of relevant experience or equivalent combination
• Prior experience in a laboratory setting
• Prior knowledge of safety protocols in a lab setting and proper waste handling
• Experience with Microsoft office suite – including Word, PowerPoint and Excel and familiarity with outlook
• Ability to communicate verbally and written with faculty, staff and students
• Must have and maintain a valid and unrestricted NYS driver’s license and be cleared to drive for university business
• Experience modeling values that support inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or other formal research program of four years or equivalent in microbiology, molecular biology, or chemistry
• Experience growing and working with plants
• Experience with molecular biology tools
• Interest in plant-insect and plant-microbiome interactions, molecular ecology, or chemical ecology
• Experience in leadership

Skills

• Demonstrated leadership skills
• Experience with DNA and RNA extraction
• Experience with working with insects and pathogens in bioassays
• Experience with plant care
• Experience operating complex laboratory equipment
• Experience supporting field, greenhouse, and/or lab experiments
• Experience collecting and analyzing data
• Experience using R for data analysis
• Experience maintaining detailed records, biological collections, and lab inventories
• Experience writing and revising standard operating procedures (SOPs) and protocols
• Experience ordering supplies for the research project and lab

Benefits

Cornell provides comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. Cornell also offers a variety of leave provisions, including health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation, and 13 holidays. Cornell is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and offers various educational benefits and a supportive work environment.