Postdoctoral Research Associate | Horticulture Section | School of Integrative Plant Science, CALS at the Cornell University

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Post-Doctoral Associate Position

Cornell University

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

School of Integrative Plant Science – Horticulture Section

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences 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: natural and human systems; food, energy and environmental resources; and social, physical and economic well-being.

The School of Integrative Plant Science (SIPS) is the largest academic unit in Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, providing a unifying framework for five sections with interrelated activities: Horticulture, Plant Biology, Plant Breeding & Genetics, Plant Pathology & Plant-Microbe Biology, and Soil & Crop Sciences. The sections are associated with distinct disciplines and graduate fields, but are increasingly connected by urgent local and global challenges and the revolutionary scientific tools now available.

Location: Ithaca, NY

Position Function

We are recruiting an experienced horticulturalist or plant biologist with a strong computational science background to develop apple pollen tube growth rate models using advanced data analyses, such as machine/deep learning. The position is based in the Peck Lab within the Horticulture Section, School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. Dr. Yu Jiang will provide additional project guidance and supervision. The hired post-doc will study how pollen tube growth rates can aid in managing crop load for apple trees. This position is funded through a multi-million dollar USDA-Specialty Crop Research Initiative project entitled, “Precision Crop Load Management for Apples”. There will be many opportunities for collaboration with team members from Cornell University, five other land-grant universities, and their respective apple industries. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a multi-state research project for the US apple industry.

Anticipated Division of Time

30% Experimental design and execution
40% Data collection and analysis
25% Manuscript preparation and submission
5% Professional development

Requirements

A Ph.D. in Horticulture, Plant Biology, or a closely related field is required. The applicant should have at least 5 years of experience, gained through their Ph.D. and/or a postdoc, in a range of computational techniques. Specifically, 1) advanced modelling tools, such as machine/deep learning and 2) background knowledge in plant sciences, particularly horticulture. Research experience working with perennial fruit crops is strongly preferred. Applicants should have excellent written and verbal communication skills and a strong publication record. This position also requires strong interpersonal skills to facilitate the interaction of a larger collaborative team of researchers at Cornell and other institutions in the U.S.

Supervision Exercised

This position may supervise students.

Opportunity:

Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university’s mission of teaching, discovery and engagement. With our main campus located in Ithaca, NY, Cornell’s global presence includes the medical college’s campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, as well as the new Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.

SIPS and CALS at Cornell embrace diversity and seek candidates who will create a climate that attracts students of all races, nationalities, and genders. Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations.

Cornell understands the needs of dual career couples, which it attempts to meet through a Dual Career program and membership in the Upstate New York Higher Education Recruitment Consortium, which assists dual career searches. Visit http://www.hercjobs.org/ to see positions available in higher education in the upstate New York area. Cornell and Ithaca are family-friendly communities: Cornell offers a rich array of services, programs and benefits to help employees advance in their career and enhance the quality of personal life, including employee wellness, workshops, childcare and adoption assistance, parental leave and flexible work options. For more details, see: https://hr.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/documents/family_resources_faculty.pdf.

Application Procedure:

Applicants should submit a cover letter that addresses the requirements above, a statement summarizing your research background and qualifications, a statement of diversity, equity, and inclusion; a detailed curriculum vitae; and the names and contact information of four references via Academic Jobs Online https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/19814. The search committee is particularly interested in candidates who through their work will contribute to the diversity and excellence of the community.  

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University’s heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities.

Employment Assistance: 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 University's Department of Inclusion and Workforce Diversity at voice (607) 255-3976, fax (607) 255-7481, or email at [email protected]. For general questions about the position or the application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting. Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor. You may also visit the office of Workforce Recruitment and Retention Monday - Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. to use a dedicated workstation to complete an online application. 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: Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University’s heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations. Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose, and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement.

Contact:

Greg Peck [email protected]

https://cals.cornell.edu/gregory-michael-peck

Yu Jiang [email protected]

https://cals.cornell.edu/yu-jiang

Project website: https://pacman.extension.org

Employment Assistance:

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 University's Department of Inclusion and Workforce Diversity at voice (607) 255-3976, fax (607) 255-7481, or email at [email protected].

For general questions about the position or the application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting.

Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor. You may also visit the office of Workforce Recruitment and Retention Monday - Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. to use a dedicated workstation to complete an online application.

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:

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University’s heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations. Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose, and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement.