Technician II - IVF Embryologist Lab Technician

Cornell University; Town of Ithaca (NY); On-site; USD 47,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care options

Retirement contributions

Vacation and holidays

Educational benefits

Job summary

Cornell University’s CALS Duan Lab in Ithaca, NY is seeking a Technician II to support the IVF embryology laboratory. You will perform embryo production, microinjection, cryopreservation, and help develop and optimize experimental protocols and SOPs.

The role includes training and mentoring students, coordinating weekly lab activities, maintaining records, and collecting data for figures, reports, and presentations across multiple embryo research projects. Core hours are Monday–Friday, onsite.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with up to 2 years of relevant experience or equivalent.
• Prior experience in an IVF laboratory setting.
• Knowledge of IVF laboratory safety protocols and waste handling.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and Outlook.
• Must have a valid NYS driver's license and be cleared to drive for university business.
• Ability to communicate effectively with faculty, staff, and students.
• Experience overseeing embryology-related training for undergraduates.
• Experience working with people from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.

Responsibilities

• Provide routine to moderately complex IVF lab support for a research program.
• Manage and coordinate weekly IVF lab operations.
• Provide hands-on training and mentorship to students in the IVF lab.
• Support day-to-day lab functions to ensure efficient workflow and continuity of research.
• Assist with developing databases and maintaining lab records.
• Assist with inventory management and ordering of supplies.
• Establish and update laboratory SOPs.
• Ensure consistent application of procedures across projects.
• Prepare stains, media, buffers, and reagents for IVF experiments.
• Prepare and maintain tissue and cell cultures for experimentation.
• Perform standard cell/tissue assays and analyses.
• Ensure compliance with safety protocols.

Skills

IVF lab experience

Lab safety protocols

Microsoft Office

Embryology training oversight

Communication skills

Diversity awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree in molecular biology/animal genomics

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Excel

Outlook

Job description

Technician II - IVF Embryologist Lab Technician

About the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS)

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is Cornell University's second-largest college and a leader in purpose-driven science. Through research, education, and outreach, CALS works across disciplines to address complex challenges related to scientific discovery, food and environmental health, and the prosperity of communities. Its work addresses issues of importance in New York, across the nation, and around the world.

About the Duan Lab

The Duan Lab integrates genomics and computational approaches to study molecular mechanisms and regulatory factors that influence animal health, fertility, and production. The lab focuses on functional elements that regulate gene expression during development and in response to environmental stressors. Its long-term goal is to advance understanding of epigenetic regulation in animal health and disease while using functional genomics tools to improve fertility and overall animal well-being.

The Opportunity

This position supports the day-to-day operation of an IVF laboratory and weekly laboratory activities related to research on early embryonic development. Responsibilities include producing IVF embryos, conducting embryo microinjection and cryopreservation procedures, and developing and optimizing experimental protocols and laboratory SOPs. The technician will also provide hands‑on training and technical support to students, ensuring consistent procedures and efficient laboratory operations. Additionally, the role involves collecting and organizing experimental data for figures, reports, and scientific presentations across multiple embryo-related research projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide routine to moderately complex IVF technical laboratory support for a research program and/or facility.
• Manage and coordinate weekly IVF laboratory operations and activities.
• Provide hands‑on technical training and mentorship to students working in the IVF laboratory.
• Support day‑to‑day laboratory functions to ensure efficient workflow and continuity of research projects.
• Assist with developing databases and maintaining standard laboratory records.
• Assist with inventory management and ordering of laboratory supplies as directed.
• Establish, maintain, and update laboratory standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Ensure consistent application of experimental procedures across multiple users and research projects.
• Prepare standard stains, media, buffers, and reagents for IVF laboratory experiments.
• Prepare and maintain standard tissue and cell cultures for experimentation.
• Perform a variety of standard cell/tissue assays, culture preparation, and analyses.
• Ensure laboratory procedures comply with established safety protocols and standards.
• Ensure other laboratory personnel adhere to laboratory safety protocols.

What We Need

• Bachelor's degree and up to 2 years of relevant experience, or equivalent combination.
• Prior experience in an IVF laboratory setting.
• Prior knowledge of IVF laboratory safety protocols and proper waste handling.
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, and familiarity with Outlook.
• Must have and maintain a valid and unrestricted NYS driver's license and be cleared to drive for university business.
• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing with faculty, staff, and students.
• Demonstrated experience in an embryology IVF laboratory and a molecular laboratory.
• Purpose-driven, highly motivated, and dedicated to producing excellent results while collaborating across interdisciplinary projects.
• Experience providing oversight of embryology-related training to undergraduate students.
• Experience working directly with people from various socioeconomic backgrounds.

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.

• Master's degree in molecular biology, animal genomics, or another relevant discipline with relevant experience.
• Experience in micromanipulation and microinjection in embryos.

Employment Details

This is a full-time (39 hours/week) position based in Ithaca, NY, and is fully on-site. Core hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The final work schedule will be established in collaboration with the supervisor. This is an 11-month term appointment 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.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

University Job Title: Technician II

Job Family: Technical

Level: B

Pay Rate Type: Hourly

Pay Range: $23.40 - $24.28

Remote Option Availability: Onsite

Company: Endowed

Contact Name: Keionda Lewis

Contact Email: [e-mail]

EEO Statement

Cornellwelcomes 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 seeksjob candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. Wehire based on merit, andencourage 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.