Job Description

Technician III

The Opportunity

As a university founded to be a place where “…any person can find instruction in any study,” inclusion and belonging are at the core of our values and mission. We strive to be a welcoming, caring, healthy, and equitable community where students, faculty, and staff with different backgrounds, perspectives, abilities, and experiences can learn, innovate, and work in an environment of respect, and feel empowered to engage in any community conversation. As a member of the Cornell University community, it is important to recognize our shared responsibility to each other to cultivate a culture of inclusion for all. Cornell Core values

As an individual contributor you will model and support a culture of inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing and continually seek to understand how your role, behaviors, and actions impact the success of this culture.

While position responsibilities vary greatly, the Skills for Success and Leadership Skills for Success are foundational to what is expected of every employee and leader working at Cornell. These skills are essential for individual and organizational success. Staff Skills for Success; Leadership Skills for Success

About the College

The CALS School of Integrative of Plant Science (SIPS) encompasses five fields: Horticulture, Plant Biology, Plant Breeding & Genetics, Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, and Soil and Crop Sciences. Combined there are 100+ faculty, ~200 undergraduate majors, 200+ graduate students in six fields, and 600+ other employees located in Ithaca, Geneva, and other satellite locations across New York State. The School offers the multidisciplinary undergraduate major in the Plant Sciences and is also home to the Agricultural Sciences major. School faculty also contribute to the Biology, Global Development, and Viticulture & Enology majors.

We are making new scientific discoveries about the interactions between plants and microbes and developing innovative solutions to address the challenges of 21st century agriculture across the globe. We offer students and postgraduate scholars unparalleled opportunities to study the origins and consequences of plant diseases. At the same time, we provide essential information to decision-makers, including agriculture producers, educators, policymakers, home gardeners, and local communities.

The primary research goal of the Casteel lab is to identify the functions of microbes in plant-insect interactions and elucidate the key molecular mechanisms responsible for these relationships. We also study beneficial and pathogenic microbes that are associated with plants, climate change, and the effects of organic farming on soil microbiome biodiversity and ecosystem function. The Casteel laboratory consists of approximately 2500sqft of lab space in a collaborative research laboratory in the Plant Sciences Building. All standard molecular biology and chemical ecology equipment for working with plants and microbes is available in the lab. The Casteel Lab has exclusive use of an additional growth facility in the basement of Bradfield Hall for work with pathogens, rearing insects, and conducting insect-microbe experiments. These rooms were designed with input from APHIS and BRS specifically for virus, insects and vectored pathogen work. The facility is divided into 4 spaces with over 1000sqft of growth space.

Our lab is in gorgeous Ithaca, NY. Situated in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, Ithaca has an ample waterfront fed by over local 150 waterfalls, excellent fall color, hiking, and water trails. The downtown area of Ithaca boasts a pedestrian mall featuring locally owned businesses, world renowned vegan and vegetarian dining, and a year-round farmers market. The Cornell campus is serviced, free of charge to students and staff, via public transportation.

The Casteel lab is seeking a highly qualified Technician. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in supporting 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. This position offers an exciting opportunity for individuals with a background in plant biology, plant-microbe interactions, or plant-insect interactions or plant, who are interested in ecology, molecular biology, and chemistry. Demonstrated leadership skills will be highly valued.

This is a part-time position at 62.5% FTE (25 hours/week) This is a one-year term appointment that is contingent upon available work, funding, and performance. Candidates should be based in or have the capacity to commute to Ithaca, NY daily.

Occasional travel to field sites to assist with research and to extend knowledge to scientists or farmers is required. Visa sponsorship and relocation costs are not available for this position.

Position responsibilities include 1) plan and execute research experiments related to plant-microbe-insect interactions, 2) use molecular, chemical, and genetic tools to process samples from your own experiments and others, and 3) conduct analysis of data generated from laboratory experiments using machine learning/bioinformatics tools, 4) generate figures and reports from experiments, 5) lead day-to-day activities for the lab, and 6) intellectually contribute to the development of research articles and proposals.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• DNA and RNA extraction

• Working with insects and pathogens in bioassays

• Plant care

• Operation of complex laboratory equipment

• Supporting field, greenhouse, and/or lab experiments

• Data collection and analysis

• Use of R for data analysis

• Maintain detailed records, biological collections, and lab inventories

• Writing and revising standard operating procedures (SOPs) and protocols

• Ordering supplies for the research project and lab

To learn more about the Casteel lab and project visit: http://www.casteellab.com/

Relocation assistance will not be provided for this position.

What We Need

• 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.

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.

• 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

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.

Cornell is an equal opportunity employer. For more information, visit hr.cornell.edu/eeo.

University Job Title:

Technician III

Job Family:

Technical

Level:

C

Pay Rate Type:

Hourly

Pay Range:

$24.31 - $26.87

Remote Option Availability:

Onsite

Company:

Contract College

Contact Name:

J'Frances White

Contact Email:

jmw572@cornell.edu

Job Titles and Pay Ranges:

Non-Union Positions

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

To learn more about Cornell’s non-union staff job titles and pay ranges, see Career Navigator

Union Positions

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.

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2026-06-25