Temporary Technician III

Cornell University; Town of Ithaca (NY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences seeks a lab support technician for the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology lab. You will collect and analyze water, soil, and plant tissue samples from field trials and help maintain experimental plots.

You will follow established protocols, record data with care, operate standard lab instruments, and uphold safety and PPE requirements while collaborating with faculty and technical staff across projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in chemistry, agronomy, soil science, plant science, ecology, or closely related field.
• Ability to interpret and follow laboratory protocols while maintaining detailed experimental records.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to perform general laboratory procedures including sample preparation, instrument calibration, serial dilution, pipetting, and pH measurement.
• Ability to perform physical tasks in the field, including collecting water, soil, and plant tissue samples, weighing up to 25 lbs.
• Detail-oriented with the ability to manage responsibilities, work independently, and take initiative.
• Proficiency with computer software including MS Office, Google Drive, and Box.
• Commitment to diversity, equity in the workplace.

Responsibilities

• Support the collection, measurement, and analysis of water, soil, and plant tissue specimens from field trials evaluating enhanced rock weathering as a potential carbon-negative agricultural practice.
• Perform frequent field sampling, measurement, and data collection per established research protocols and procedures.
• Assist with the analytical measurement of aqueous samples using specialized laboratory instruments, including a total carbon analyzer and pH meter.
• Support the establishment and maintenance of experimental field plots, including applying amendments, planting, installing field instruments, and harvesting crops.
• Monitor and collect soil-pore water, soil, and plant tissue specimens in diverse field environments and weather conditions.
• Record, organize, and prepare data summaries, including conducting preliminary quality checks and performing general summary statistics.
• Assist with laboratory inventory, material preparation, cleaning, maintenance, and organization of field and laboratory equipment.
• Follow laboratory safety protocols, waste disposal procedures, and PPE requirements.

Skills

Lab techniques

Field sampling

Data recording

Communication

Pipetting

Safety procedures

Teamwork

MS Office

Google Drive

Box

Education

Bachelor's degree in relevant science

Job description

About the College

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.

The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (E&EB)

The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (E&EB) has a distinguished faculty of 25 whose interests range from population and community ecology to biogeochemistry and ecosystems to evolutionary biology and genetics. The Department has a broad but unified mission in teaching and research: broad in that the interests of the faculty span many levels of organization encompassing genes, genotypes, phenotypes, populations, communities, and ecosystems; and unified in that each of these levels interacts with all of the others.

What We Need

As a member of the team, you will provide technical support for the lab. Duties include:

• Support the collection, measurement, and analysis of water, soil, and plant tissue specimens from field trials evaluating enhanced rock weathering as a potential carbon-negative agricultural practice.
• Perform frequent field sampling, measurement, and data collection in accordance with established research protocols and procedures.
• Assist with the analytical measurement of aqueous samples using specialized laboratory instruments, including a total carbon analyzer, pH meter, and laboratory reagents.
• Support the establishment and maintenance of experimental field plots, including applying amendments, planting, installing field instruments, and harvesting crops.
• Monitor and collect soil-pore water, soil, and plant tissue specimens in a range of field environments and weather conditions.
• Record, organize, and prepare data summaries, including conducting preliminary quality checks and performing general summary statistics.
• Assist with laboratory inventory, material preparation, cleaning, maintenance, and general organization of field and laboratory equipment.
• Follow laboratory safety protocols, waste disposal procedures, and PPE requirements.

If you possess these experiences and skills, this may be the role for you! There are a few other qualifications that we would view as incredibly helpful in this role, including:

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in chemistry, agronomy, soil science, plant science, ecology, or a closely related scientific field.
• Ability to interpret and accurately follow laboratory protocols while maintaining detailed experimental records.

• Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills required.
• Ability to perform general laboratory procedures, including sample preparation, instrument calibration, serial dilution, pipetting, and pH measurement.
• Ability to perform physical tasks in the field, including collecting water, soil, and plant tissue samples, and handling materials weighing up to 25 lbs.
• Detail-oriented, with the ability to manage responsibilities effectively, work independently, and take initiative.
• Proficiency with computer software, including Microsoft Suite, Google Drive, and Box.
• Ability to adhere to laboratory safety procedures and University requirements for handling chemicals and biological materials.
• Ability to cultivate and maintain collaborative working relationships with faculty, staff, and technical personnel.
• Demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity, equity