Part Time - Cornell Ecology Lab - Field Technician

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JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Recent graduates or upper-level undergraduate students with significant research experience are are invited to apply for a research position in the Cornell lab’s summer field crew. Research will focus on ecology and behavior of wild, nest-box breeding songbirds (Eastern bluebirds, house wrens, and tree swallows) and arthropods (insects and spiders) in their natural habitat. This opportunity is ideal for individuals dedicated to contributing meaningfully to ecological research with an interest in pursuing graduate studies or taking on a leadership role in field research. The technician will receive direct training and supervision from Dr. Cornell but will be expected to take on a leadership role after training is complete.

The field technician will be expected to lead a team of 4 undergraduate field assistants who are new to research and have no existing experience in working on birds, therefore the candidate should have significant research experience of their own and ideally experience handling wild birds. In the field, the team will perform nest checks, collect morphological measurements on wild birds, band (tag) wild birds, collect of avian blood and fecal samples, and collect arthropod prey samples from chicks. This will involve working outdoors in all weather conditions including cold, heat and rain, walking up/down steep hills, carrying equipment, and at times working in dense/tall vegetation. The field technician will lead and organize the team in conducting this work and will need to have excellent organization skills to make sure protocols are carried out the exact date needed for data collection. The field technician will also lead the team in completing non-field tasks such as data entry, analysis of nest camera videos on the computer, outreach to the general public, inventory collected samples, etc. A field vehicle will be provided for conducting research duties and the field technician will need to have a valid driver’s license and clean driving record.

Field season runs May 1 through July 31 and will require some work on weekends depending on hatch dates of nestlings. Exact start and end dates are flexible, please explicitly state what dates you are available in your cover letter. All field work takes place in State College, Pennsylvania and although housing is not included, housing options are available as college students frequently need summer subletters. Please submit a resume or CV that highlights your research experience and a cover letter that explicitly addresses the following:

• Dates of your availability May-July.
• Your experience (if any) handling wild birds.
• Your experience conducting research and ability to lead and organize a research team.
• Contact information for 2 professional references, at least one of whom is familiar with your performance in a research context. 

​If you have questions, please email [email protected]

Job Duties
May include additional duties specific to the research objectives:  

• Leading and supervising a team of undergraduate field assistants.
• Organizing and conducting regular nest checks and monitoring bird breeding behavior.
• Capturing and banding wild birds, collecting morphological measurements, and obtaining avian blood and fecal samples.
• Collecting arthropod prey samples.
• Managing field work and non-field tasks describe above, which will require coordinating with the team to perform tasks efficiently and on schedule.
• Contributing to lab outreach activities with children and the general public.
• Driving the field vehicle to and from research locations, requiring a valid driver’s license and clean driving record.
• Adapting to flexible work hours depending on the needs of the research study, including some weekend work aligned with the hatch dates of nestlings.
• Meeting with the faculty supervisor (Dr. Cornell) on a regular basis to maintain ongoing communication regarding the research progress.  

Requirements and Qualifications

• Significant research experience, which should include data collection and management, ideally including field work, is required.
• Prior experience handling wild birds and conducting avian research is highly desirable.
• Proven ability or strong potential to lead and manage a team, preferably in a research or fieldwork setting.
• Ability to commit to the full term of the project, from May through the end of July, with flexibility for weekend work.
• Must be physically capable of working in various outdoor environments and weather conditions, including walking on uneven terrain.
• Must be legally eligible to work in the United States and able to reside near the State College, Pennsylvania area for the duration of the project.

• Employment with the University for this opening will require the operation of a motor vehicle as a part of the job duties. A valid US driver’s license and successful completion of a motor vehicle records check will be required in addition to standard background checks.

Education/Experience  

• Looking for an upper-level undergraduate student or recent graduate with a B.S. or B.A. in a relevant major (such as biology, ecology, environmental science, wildlife management, etc.).

Skills/Abilities  

• Strong organizational skills to manage fieldwork schedules, manage data collection and entry, ensure protocol adherence.
• Excellent communication skills for team leadership and public outreach activities.
• Capable of either utilizing existing skills or learning to band wild birds, take morphological measurements, and collect biological samples with precision.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with a team.
• Good problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt to changing field conditions.
• Enthusiastic about mentoring and training less experienced team members.
• Curiosity and confidence to ask questions when they arise.

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