Technician I: Vegetable Field Research Technician
Cornell University
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Cornell University is seeking a Technician I for the Vegetable Field Research program in Albion, NY. You will assist with field trials, data collection, pest scouting, and outreach to vegetable growers on working farms across Western New York.
Responsibilities include crop planting, plot maintenance, harvest support, data entry, and collaboration with Extension Specialists, with a 39-hour work week, on-site five days a week. Overtime during peak season is common.
Qualifications
- High school diploma or equivalent with at least one year of agricultural experience.
- Strong attention to detail and manual dexterity.
- Organizational skills and ability to work outdoors.
- Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings/weekends.
- Experience using Windows, Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
- Ability to work independently and collect, organize, summarize data.
- Proven communication skills, written and oral.
- Ability to meet travel requirements with a NY driver’s license and clean record.
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
- Ability to interact inclusively with diverse groups.
Responsibilities
- Support field research projects on working farms in Western New York.
- Prepare materials, set up trials, plant crops and maintain plots.
- Scout fields for pests, diseases, weeds, and abiotic injury; collect samples and observations.
- Evaluate crop safety, quality, treatment efficacy, and crop damage.
- Assist with harvesting, measuring yields, and transporting samples.
- Set up pest-monitoring traps and report findings.
- Enter and manage data in Excel and other basic software; create tables and charts.
- Support outreach programs and educational activities in the region.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
We are looking for someone who has an excellent work ethic, appreciates agriculture, and can work in commercial vegetable fields that have been sprayed with pesticides. As a Vegetable Field Research Technician (Technician I) with the Cornell Vegetable Program, you will assist Cornell’s top Extension Specialists in all aspects of field research projects conducted on working farms in the great outdoors throughout Western New York. Pesticides, varieties, and other crop management practices are vigorously tested to determine the best strategies for optimum weed, disease and insect pest control, crop quality and yield, which are also environmentally sound and cost-effective. In addition, you will assist with educating New York vegetable growers on the latest research results and consequent crop management recommendations through diverse Extension and Outreach activities. Finally, you will keep your finger on the pulse of vegetable crop production through weekly crop scouting. Work may take place in pesticide-treated fields and requires adherence to Worker Protection Standards and other safety protocols. This position will feature muck-onion production, one of the state’s most exciting highest value and most intensive vegetable production systems.
Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) provides educational outreach as part of Cornell University’s role as New York State’s Land-Grant University. CCE connects Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and College of Human Ecology with 55 off-campus associations and various statewide programs and specialists. Through these partnerships, CCE delivers research-based education and resources to communities across New York State.
The Cornell Vegetable Program (CVP) is a leading agricultural extension program serving a large multi-county region across Central and Western New York. Its Vegetable Specialists collaborate with Cornell faculty and extension educators to address challenges facing the vegetable industry. CVP provides research, education, and technical information to growers, processors, and agri-business professionals to support the profitable production and marketing of safe, healthy vegetable crops. Its work contributes to the sustainability of farms and the economic well-being of New York State.
- Provide technical support to Extension Associates in conducting research projects that support the profitability and sustainability of the vegetable industry.
- Prepare materials for field research and assist with trial setup, crop planting, and plot maintenance.
- Scout commercial vegetable fields for pests, diseases, weeds, and abiotic injury; collect samples and relevant field information and document observations.
- Evaluate crop safety, quality, treatment efficacy, varieties, and crop damage in research plots and grower fields.
- Assist with crop harvesting, measuring, and recording yields, and transport samples to research or storage facilities for further analysis.
- Set up and maintain pest-monitoring traps in grower fields and report findings to the trap network coordinator.
- Enter and manage research data using Excel and other basic statistical software; prepare data tables, charts, and presentation materials.
- Support Cornell Vegetable Program outreach activities and educational programs throughout the region.
- High school diploma and at least one year of experience in an agricultural setting, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Strong attention to detail, visual concentration, and manual dexterity.
- Posess excellent organizational experience.
- Ability to work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions.
- Willingness and ability to work flexible hours, including occasional evenings and weekends, as job responsibilities require.
- Experience using current computer technology, including Windows, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
- Ability to work independently to collect, organize, and summarize data.
- Proven experience in communicating effectively, both written and oral.
- Ability to meet the travel requirements of the position, with reliable transportation and a valid, unrestricted New York State driver’s license, as well as clearance to drive for University business.
- Knowledge of prioritizing multiple activities and tasks while meeting established time frames.
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
- Ability to cultivate and maintain inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.
- Associate’s degree with coursework in vegetable production, entomology, plant pathology, weed science, horticulture, and/or agronomy.
- Experience assisting with research projects, including data collection, summarization, and statistical analysis.
- Experience working in agriculture and/or vegetable production.
This is a full-time position (39 hours per week) located in Albion, New York, and will be fully on-site five days per week. Core hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with the final schedule established in collaboration with the supervisor. This is a one-year appointment, with the possibility of extension based on available work, funding, and satisfactory performance. Overtime (more than 40 hours per week), including occasional evenings, is common from June through September.
- 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.
Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
Technician I
Technical
A
Hourly
$22.70 - $23.56
Onsite
Contract College
Keionda Lewis
kll98@cornell.edu
Noted Pay Ranges Reflect The Potential Pay Opportunity For Each Job Profile. The Hiring Rate Of Pay For The Successful Candidate Will Be Determined Considering The Following Criteria
- Prior relevant work or industry experience
- Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position
- Unique applicable skills
- Academic Discipline
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The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined in accordance with the rates in the respective collective bargaining agreement. To learn more about Cornell’s union wages, see Union Pay Rates.
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Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of “... any person ... any study.” No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, staff and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.
2026-08-28
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