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Research Support Specialist II - Plant Breeding and Genetics

Cornell University
72,209.00 - $77,625.00
tuition assistance, relocation assistance
United States, New York, Ithaca
Sep 30, 2025

Position Summary

The position is located within the department of Plant Breeding & Genetics. Design, execute and plan activities or experiments in the lab combining several experimental programs and/or research projects according to plan. Assist in preparing research reports and papers, to contribute to publishable research reports, papers, and articles. Provide technical support in writing specific areas of grant proposal and prepare grant budgets. Supervise work of staff working in laboratory or work unit, while observing research methods and suggesting options for improving quality and recommending solutions. Demonstrate and train staff/students on the use of moderately complex equipment and laboratory techniques; explain and demonstrate technology and equipment capabilities, operations limitations and outcomes. Develop quality control measurements of manufacturer materials used in successive and comparative experiments. Maintain and/or supervise a sophisticated maintenance program involving critical equipment, plants, animals, microorganisms, or other materials involved in the experiment or laboratory. Provide specifications for inventory and equipment needs, while also recommending new laboratory or program materials and vendors. Develop quality control measurements of manufacturer materials used in successive and comparative experiments.

Adhere to all disease control and laboratory safety protocols. Complete training on lab safety and proper handling of chemicals as required by CALS EHS. Implement appropriate laboratory safety and waste disposal protocols for compliance.

This is a full-time position at 100% FTE.

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Relocation assistance will not be provided for this position.

College/Department Background

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.

About SIPS: 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.

Program Statement/Description: The primary focus of the small grains research program in the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics is the breeding and genetics of small grains including wheat, oats, barley, rye, and triticale.

What We Need

  • Bachelor's degree and 3 to 5 years of relevant experience or equivalent combination.

  • Must complete Cornell University Supervisory Development Training within one year of hire into the position. Compliant with all Cornell University and job-related training requirements.

  • Prior experience in a laboratory setting.

  • Prior knowledge of safety protocols in a lab setting and proper waste handling.

  • Practical skills in operating advanced equipment. Able to operate forklift, drive tractors.

  • 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.

  • Demonstrated skill in understanding cultural differences.

  • Proven experience connecting inclusion, belonging and wellbeing practices to business goals.

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.

  • Additional experience beyond the minimum strongly desirable. Experience with maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing complex equipment is highly desirable. Experience working with a diverse audience of stakeholders and collaborators.

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.

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

University Job Title:

Research Support Spec II

Job Family:

Academic Support

Level:

F

Pay Rate Type:

Salary

Pay Range:

$72,209.00 - $77,625.00

Remote Option Availability:

Onsite

Company:

Contract College

Contact Name:

Joan Olson

Contact Email:

jmo237@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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Employment Assistance:

For general questions about the position or the application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting or email mycareer@cornell.edu.

If you require an accommodation for a disability in order to complete an employment application or to participate in the recruiting process, you are encouraged to contact Cornell Office of Civil Rights at voice (607) 255-2242, or email at accommodations@cornell.edu.

Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor. You may also request an appointment to use a dedicated workstation in the Office of Talent Attraction and Recruitment, at the Ithaca campus, by emailing mycareer@cornell.edu.

Notice to Applicants:

Please read the required Notice to Applicants statement by clicking here. This notice contains important information about applying for a position at Cornell as well as some of your rights and responsibilities as an applicant.

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, 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 (VEVRRA) 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.

2025-09-30
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