Extension Associate - Lab of Ornithology

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 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.

Who We Are

Located in the beautiful Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (the Lab) is dedicated to advancing the understanding and protection of the natural world and joins with people from all walks of life to make new scientific discoveries, share insights, and galvanize conservation action. The Lab is a vibrant unit within Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), and our management and staff are committed to the highest standards of ethics and excellence in all areas of our work.

The Capacity Building and Participatory Science Specialist will join the Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics (Yang Center; https://bioacoustics.cornell.edu), one of six programmatic centers within the Lab. The Yang Center's mission is to collect and interpret sounds in nature by developing and applying innovative technologies across multiple ecologically relevant scales to inspire and inform the conservation of wildlife and habitats. Our highly interdisciplinary team of scientists, educators, engineers, students, and research support personnel are working with many national and international collaborators on a wide variety of terrestrial, aquatic, and marine bioacoustic research projects tackling conservation issues worldwide.

What We Need

This position will play a key role in supporting and mentoring external collaborators and in developing training programs and regional networks to support the uptake and effective implementation of passive acoustic monitoring for conservation. In addition, this position will support external partners and organizations who are providing training in conservation bioacoustics, with a particular focus on partners and audiences in Southeast Asia. In this role, the extension associate may develop regional networking events and programs, provide technical training, support external users, and review fellowship applications, among other responsibilities. This position will also play a key role in developing participatory research, with responsibilities including leading the implementation of conservation-oriented participatory research with local communities, scientists, and practitioners to monitor primates and other terrestrial biodiversity in Indonesia. The work will include sustaining and expanding long-term passive acoustic monitoring programs in Central and East Kalimantan in Indonesia in collaboration with government, academic, NGO, and community partners. This position will collaborate with engineers and scientists in the development of acoustic tools for long-term monitoring of sound-producing species in tropical Indonesian forests, including primates and other mammalian, avian, amphibian, and insect taxa. Participatory science is at the heart of this position and local collaborators and community members in Kalimantan will be key partners in the development, implementation, and dissemination of all research programs. A strong record of and passion for training and mentoring students, scientists, and practitioners from diverse backgrounds and levels of experience is essential.

Applicants will be expected to:

• Provide mentorship and support to external partners
• Help coordinate regional networks of practitioners
• Provide training in passive acoustic monitoring and related approaches
• Develop and implement participatory research methods with local collaborators, partners, and community members in East and Central Kalimantan
• Secure external funding to sustain new and ongoing projects
• Publish high-quality original research in major peer-reviewed journals
• Mentor undergraduates and supervise postdoctoral associates

The Capacity Building and Participatory Science Specialist must be able to foster and maintain excellent working relationships with coworkers, collaborators and students from very diverse cultural and educational backgrounds. This requires approaching all matters with an open mind, sense of curiosity, service-minded attitude, and diplomacy. The Yang Center is an inclusive community (https://www.birds.cornell.edu/ccb/our-values/), and we welcome anyone who has an interest in bioacoustics without consideration of age, sex, gender/gender identity, ethnicity, race, skin color, religion, physical or mental ability, sexual orientation, nationality, or background, among others. We recognize that diverse, inclusive communities create more innovative and impactful work to address global challenges and benefit humanity and nature; We will work purposefully to amplify underrepresented and marginalized voices within the Yang Center and the communities we aspire to serve. Applicants are invited to include a statement on how their experiences, perspectives, and aspirations can contribute to diversity and inclusion in support of the Yang Center's values.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Provide training, mentorship, and networking support. Collaborate with members of the capacity building team and relevant research programs to develop, maintain, and support conservation bioacoustics training and mentoring initiatives for scientists and practitioners in Southeast Asia. Support practitioners who are teaching and using passive acoustic monitoring and collaborate with regional networks to promote the broad sharing of skills. Work with partners in Southeast Asia and the Yang Center team to organize regional virtual and in-person events, collect and elevate stories from teams, and share information (40%).

Training and mentorship. Mentor and train undergraduate students at Cornell and graduate students from external universities who are interested in bioacoustic research and conservation. Supervise postdoctoral associates hired with internal or external funds to advance related projects. Establish and maintain a safe, productive, and respectful working environment that fosters a culture of inclusivity and teamwork (10%).

Develop and lead participatory research in Indonesia. Direct and participate in field work that will entail 2-4 months annually (typically 4-6 weeks per trip) at research sites in Central and East Kalimantan. Train local research teams to conduct field research, analyze data, and review results from these field sites. Secure funds to help sustain the acoustic monitoring programs in Central and East Kalimantan in collaboration with external collaborators. Work collaboratively with local universities, NGOs, governments, and communities to design, implement, analyze, and share research. Apply for external grants to sustain or expand current projects and to initiate new projects that are consistent with the Yang Center's mission (20%).

Conduct research on primates and other endangered wildlife in Indonesia and disseminate results. Direct and collaborate on original research on the use of acoustics to address questions on the ecology, diversity, and conservation of populations and species. Direct and oversee the creation of scientific research outputs including data analysis protocols, analysis results, and scientific interpretation. Publish research findings in major peer-reviewed journals. Work with Indonesian collaborators and partners to ensure that results can be used to implement on-the-ground conservation actions that engage and respect local communities' interests, needs, and values. Attend and present at conferences related to bioacoustics and conservation. Discuss results with journalists and media outlets. Build collaborations with faculty and researchers within Cornell, other universities, and governmental and non-governmental organizations. Supervise analysts, field technicians, and other staff hired to support related projects (20%).

Other duties as assigned. Maintain and build upon relevant technical skills such as data management, participatory methods, and machine learning. Establish and maintain a safe, productive, and respectful working environment that fosters a culture of inclusiveness, teamwork and high-quality research and development results. Serve on administrative committees and conduct professional service, such as reviewing papers and grants (10%).

Term of position

This is a full-time (100% FTE) position and will be located in Ithaca, New York. This is a term position through June 30th, 2026 one-year appointment with possible extension depending on available work, funding and performance.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree and 2 or more years of experience in ecology, acoustics, behavior, conservation, or related field.
• At least 2 years of field experience in Southeast Asia.
• Willing to collaborate with others to advance goals of the Yang Center and Lab of Ornithology.
• A strong record of building, maintaining, and growing research partnerships with a variety of partners and collaborators.
• Experience conducting original independent research and publishing peer-reviewed publications.
• Ability to work effectively with programmers, scientists, and engineers in a dynamic, creative, multi-disciplinary environment.
• Valid passport for travel.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in ecology, acoustics, behavior, conservation, or related field.
• At least 3 years of postdoctoral experience.
• Experience teaching acoustic monitoring techniques to a wide range of audiences.
• Demonstrated record of work with communities and indigenous groups.
• Familiarity with the ecology and conservation issues in Kalimantan.
• Experience collecting and analyzing ecological and bioacoustic data for wildlife conservation.
• Experience applying deep learning algorithms to passively recorded audio data.
• Ability to plan and conduct fieldwork in a range of habitats and sites.
• Experience securing extramural funding.
• Ability to communicate fluently in written and spoken Indonesian.
• A strong record of mentoring and publishing with undergraduate and graduate students.

What We Offer You

We hope you appreciate great benefits! Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, sustainability, and diversity initiatives.

• Our benefits program includes comprehensive health care options, access to wellness programs, employee discounts, and generous retirement contributions.
• Our leave provisions include three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays including an end-of-year paid winter break from December 25th through January 1st.
• Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Part-Time Study and Employee Degree Program, Tuition Aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance program.
• We invite you to follow this link for more information about current benefit options: https://hr.cornell.edu/summaries-benefits.

Application Instructions:

Interested applicants should submit a CV, letter of interest, research statement, teaching statement, contact information for 3 references and a statement supporting diverse communities (this can be a stand-alone document (preferred) or the information can be embedded in other parts of the application materials) outlining how, through research, teaching, service, mentoring, extension, and/or outreach, the candidate has and will contribute to support Cornell's historical mission of "any person ... any study," via Academic Jobs Online at the following link: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/29632

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until a candidate is selected. If you have questions about this position, please email Laurel Symes (symes@cornell.edu).

CALS Hiring range for this position is $44,800 - $76,000.

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Life. Changing.

Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League and Land-grant 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.

Cornell's regional and global presence includes state-wide Cornell Cooperative Extension programs and offices in all counties and boroughs, global partnerships with institutions and communities engaged in life-changing research and education, the medical college's campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, and the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, 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.We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

Pay Range:

Pay Ranges:

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.
• Academic Discipline
• Unique applicable skills.

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 University's Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX at voice (607) 255-2242, or email atequity@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:

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, 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. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff to all identities and backgrounds. We encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.