Assistant Professor-Tenure-Track Cohort Hire: Empowering Biodiversity for People and Planet

Assistant Professor-Tenure-Track Cohort Hire: Empowering Biodiversity for People and Planet

Faculty Position Available

Cohort Hire: Empowering Biodiversity for People and Planet

Focus: Insect Biodiversity and Conservation

Department of Entomology, Cornell University

Position: Assistant Professor, Tenure-track.

Location:  Ithaca, NY, USA. The academic home for this position is the Department of Entomology in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, housed on the Ithaca campus of Cornell University.  

The Department of Entomology in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Cornell University is seeking a highly collaborative scientist to address fundamental questions at the intersection of insect biodiversity, phylogeny, informatics, and conservation biology as a means to address the growing biodiversity crisis. Our new colleague will join a Cohort Faculty Hire in Empowering Biodiversity for People and Planet.

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Roadmap to 2050 is

 Centering Environmental Justice to Achieve Climate and Sustainability Goals through the Pursuit of Just Technological Futures

 via a cohort of hires within 

five Transdisciplinary Moonshots

 – opportunities for the College to collaborate on future-focused, cross-disciplinary scientific breakthroughs and to align research, education, and extension programs for greater impact and stronger connectivity. The Moonshot areas build upon core strengths in CALS, spanning the agricultural, environmental, life, and social sciences, with the goal of recruiting 27 faculty into the College over the next three years.

With loss of habitat, many species of plants and animals are seeing severe reductions in population size, while others are losing diversity in form and function as they adapt to more severe and marginal conditions. We are only beginning to understand the underlying mechanisms that determine how population restriction impacts extinction risk. Research in the Empowering Biodiversity cohort will be guided by ecological and evolutionary relationships and the documentation of patterns and processes that drive organismal success and decline. The ideal candidate will engage in Insect Biodiversity research that builds on historic and living collections and field research to directly address the biodiversity crisis at global and/or local scales. In addition to this advertised hire, the Empowering Biodiversity cohort includes new faculty positions in Plant Biodiversity and Adaptation  (School of Integrative Plant Science), Population Biology and the Genomic Architecture of Species Success  (Computational Biology), Biodiversity Informatics  (Department of Natural Resources and the Environment), and the Economics of Biodiversity  (Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management) within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

The Department of Entomology at Cornell University is seeking applications for a 9-month, full-time, tenure-track position in the area of Insect Biodiversity and Conservation. The successful candidate will conduct research at the intersection of arthropod biodiversity and global change ecology, including the causes and consequences of changes in patterns of abundance, distribution, and species richness. We are seeking a colleague who will work with collections-based data, contribute to the growth and development of the Cornell University Insect Collection, and play an active role in teaching and curriculum development in insect biology and biodiversity. Preference will be given to candidates who use phylogenetic methods, biodiversity informatics, spatial modeling, biogeography, or trait-based organismal biology. 

Outstanding research scholarship is expected, as is excellence in and commitment to teaching, translation of knowledge, and advising and inclusive mentoring of students. We seek colleagues with a record demonstrating success and promise across all these areas, and who will be supported by and contribute to a vibrant culture of inclusive excellence at Cornell. As such, candidates are expected to engage in service and leadership activities within the department, the college and university, and relevant professional societies. We welcome candidates who understand the barriers facing women and other marginalized identities who are underrepresented in the classroom and in higher education careers (as evidenced by life experiences and educational background), and who have experience in equity and inclusion with respect to teaching, mentoring, research, outreach, life experiences, or service towards building an equitable and diverse scholarly environment.

Responsibilities: 

This position has an effort split of 60% research and 40% teaching.

Research (60%) – Outstanding research scholarship is expected, as the successful candidate will lead an internationally recognized research program utilizing insect biodiversity data to address fundamental questions at the intersection of insect diversity, phylogeny, informatics, and conservation biology as a means to address the growing biodiversity crisis. 

The successful candidate is expected to maintain a well-funded research program. Excellence in and commitment to development of multidisciplinary team-based research and training programs is essential.

Teaching (40%) – The successful candidate will contribute to teaching Insect Biology (Entom 2120) and/or Alien Empire: Bizarre Biology of Bugs (Entom 2010/2011) and will develop a course on Insect Conservation. 

Department Affiliation: The successful candidate will be a tenure-line faculty member of the Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and will be based in the Department of Entomology in Ithaca. The new faculty member will also be part of the Biodiversity Initiative at Cornell University (BioICU) as a member of the cohort of faculty hires focusing on Empowering Biodiversity for People and Planet. 

Qualifications: The successful candidate will have a Ph.D. in Evolutionary or Organismal Biology, including but not restricted to Entomology, with an understanding of and appreciation for insect biodiversity. Demonstrated capability in developing research and teaching programs is preferred. 

Applications and Starting Date: 

The anticipated starting date July 1, 2024 or as negotiated.  Qualified applicants should submit 1) a cover letter briefly summarizing background, qualifications, and interest in the position, 2) a Curriculum Vitae, 3) a research statement outlining experience, interests, and goals, 4) a teaching statement outlining experience, interests, and goals, 5) 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, extension, mentoring, and/or service, the candidate has and will contribute to support Cornell’s mission of “any person … any study,” 6) copies of four relevant publications, 7) names and contact information for three references, and 8) unofficial transcripts. Materials should be submitted online to: 

https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/26806

. Applications received by January 26, 2024 will be given full consideration. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Inquiries may be directed to:

Dr. Bryan N. Danforth, Search Chair

Department of Entomology

Cornell University

3124 Comstock Hall, Ithaca, NY, 14853-2601

Email: [email protected]

CALS hiring range for this position:

Assistant Professor: $79,400-$135,000

Cornell University offers a competitive salary and benefits package. Support for start-up costs will be available. Salary is commensurate with experience.

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.

Cornell University seeks to meet the needs of dual career couples, has a Dual Career program, and is a member of the  Upstate New York Higher Education Recruitment Consortium  to assist with dual career searches including positions available in higher education in the upstate New York area.

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. 

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 strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.

Pay Range:

Refer to Posting Language

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 (faculty pay ranges reflects 9-month annual salary)
• Unique applicable skills.

Familiarize yourself with Cornell's COVID-19 workplace guidance as well as the university's COVID-19 services and information .

Employment Assistance:

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

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 at [email protected] .

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 [email protected] .

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.

2023-12-18