Technician V- Lab Manager- Animal Science Department- CALS

The Opportunity

As a university founded to be a place where “…any person can find instruction in any study,” diversity and inclusion 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 diversity, equity, inclusion, 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 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 Animal Science offers undergraduate and graduate programs on the biology and management of food, laboratory and companion animal species. Our research programs advance our understanding of animal biology and address local and global issues facing animal industries today. Our goals are to discover and develop new techniques and information to benefit animals, agriculture and human health. Our internationally recognized faculty have diverse interests in animal management, breeding, genetics, physiology, nutrition, growth biology and microbiology.

We are seeking an individual to work with the Principal investigator (PI) and students to help manage a research program in dairy cattle nutrition and feed chemistry that supports efforts in nutritional modeling and research into productive efficiency of lactating dairy cattle.

The primary purpose of this position will be to manage and coordinate the day to day activities of an active nutrition oriented research laboratory. Additionally, the incumbent will conduct sample analysis utilizing multiple complex analytical procedures to serve the needs of many research labs in Animal Science.

Position Summary

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a psychologically 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.

Success Factors

• Detail orientation
• Organizational skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Takes initiative

Position objectives are to perform a broad range of laboratory and research-related tasks for a program active in delineating nutrient requirements and efficiency of use in dairy cattle. This includes maintaining sample and chemical databases; ensuring lab safety- protocols are adhered to. Conducting feed chemistry procedures. Assisting with large animal research as needed with live animals (primarily dairy cattle and calves) for on-farm record collection, sampling, and data organization for analysis. Assisting with publications, literature reviews, and data interpretation. Conducting independent research and pilot projects related to feed chemistry as needed to support the PI’s objectives.

For many years, the lab has been focused on feed chemistry from forage chemistry (neutral detergent fiber analysis and related) to amino acid analysis (HPLC and LCMS) and other assays pertaining to intestinal digestibility and nutritional biochemistry. Assay development has also been an essential part of the lab functions. Experience with feed chemistry is a prerequisite for this position or the ability to learn quickly.

Implement and oversee basic training of laboratory safety and procedures for new trainees. Work with   PI in meeting laboratory safety guidelines and processes mandated by the University. Provide general laboratory and equipment maintenance, schedule graduate students and staff.  Maintain complete, detailed laboratory records and protocols. 

Opportunities within the lab include the potential to work collaboratively with other research groups and companies focused on dairy cattle nutrition and product development. These activities will be dependent upon the projects being conducted, laboratory needs, and the candidate’s interests and abilities.

This is a full-time position at 100% FTE. This is a one-year term appointment that is contingent upon available work, funding, and performance.

What We Need

• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members. 
• Bachelor’s degree in animal science or related field, and 4+ years of research and/or lab management experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Excellent computer skills, including word processing, excel, and data entry.
• Ability to pay attention to detail and maintain high data quality standards.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to work quickly and effectively while prioritizing workload.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to efficiently manage laboratory procedures and facilitate research protocols.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to interact with research team and supervisor.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative.
• Knowledge of laboratory safety protocols and guidelines.
• Ability to solve problems and improve research protocols.
• Ability to stay up to date with new research techniques and evolving projects.
• Experience in collection of data and preparation of summaries and final reports.
• Ability to keep the equipment, materials, and lab organized.
• Ability to contribute to an inclusive, high-quality, and respectful work environment.
• Exercise sound and ethical judgment.
• Demonstrated ability to develop effective working relationships with students, faculty, and staff.
• Ability to organize research data.
• Demonstrated ability to work with and care for large animals (i.e., livestock).
• Willingness to work irregular hours occasionally.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds

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 Animal Science, Biochemistry, Nutritional Science, or related field
• Experience handling live animals, preferably dairy cattle.
• Knowledgeable with basic concepts of feed chemistry, LCMS operation and bioassays.
• Experience with collecting and handling feed, blood, tissue, and/or gastrointestinal samples.
• Ability to perform basic feed chemistry techniques in the lab.

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 V

   

Job Family:

Technical

   

Level:

E

   

Pay Rate Type:

Hourly

   

Pay Range:

$30.03 - $34.90

   

Remote Option Availability:

Onsite

   

Company:

Contract College

   

Contact Name:

J'Frances White

   

Contact Email:

jmw572@cornell.edu

   

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• Unique applicable skills

• Academic Discipline

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2025-11-19