Postdoctoral Associate: bird diversity & forest management - Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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.

Postdoctoral Associate: bird diversity & forest management

K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York

College Description:  

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. The Lab of Ornithology's K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics, where this position is based, is an inclusive community and welcomes anyone who has an interest in bioacoustics.

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is a pioneer of purpose-driven science and home to Cornell University's second-largest population of students, faculty, and staff. 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. CALS is fundamentally invested in improving the lives of people, their environments, and their communities both in New York state and around the world.

About Us:

The Cornell Lab is a global leader in ornithological research & conservation and is currently home to a vibrant community of several dozen postdoctoral associates working across all programs. We strive to provide a supportive and collaborative environment for this community that fosters personal growth and career advancement. Within the Lab, the Yang Center (https://bioacoustics.cornell.edu ) is defined by its application of bioacoustic techniques to biodiversity conservation. Ecological research, hardware and software engineering, and global capacity building are the Yang Center's pillars of bioacoustic innovation.

The incumbent will join a lab group in the Yang Center run by Dr. Connor Wood (connormwood.com ) to study the effects of forest management legacies on bird diversity in California's Sierra Nevada. This is one of two postdoctoral associate openings in this lab; applicants interested in both positions will need to apply separately to each.

Position Function

The project draws on an ongoing ecosystem-scale passive acoustic monitoring program that generates ~1 million hours of audio annually, the machine learning algorithm BirdNET (https://birdnet.cornell.edu ), which generates avian diversity data from the audio, and remotely sensed forest structure datasets that describe both forest management history and current conditions. Core objectives include using Bayesian multispecies occupancy models to: (1) explore the influence of forest management history on contemporary avian biodiversity (80-100 species) and (2) inform the development of a bird diversity index to facilitate quantitative assessments of the effects of forest restoration on biodiversity.

The project scope provides an opportunity to make direct contributions to conservation and basic ecology. It is also particularly collaborative: the incumbent will work closely with Dr. Zach Peery (University of Wisconsin-Madison), federal agency biologists and managers (U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service), and academic researchers specializing in ecology, statistics, and computer science.

In addition to working with external partners, the postdoctoral associate will be working closely with scientists in the Yang Center and other programs at the Lab. We encourage postdoctoral associates to explore related research questions and collaborate on projects conducted in the Lab and with partners.

Anticipated Division of Time

Expected outcomes of this work are the submission of two manuscripts to high-impact peer-reviewed journals and coordination with agency partners to directly apply results to conservation in the Sierra Nevada ecosystem. It is understood that incumbents may have outstanding work remaining from previous positions and will need to apply to subsequent positions; time spent on these activities should be appropriate to the stage of the position. There is no required fieldwork, but the incumbent would be encouraged to spend some time (e.g., two weeks) in the Sierra Nevada.

• Develop and conduct avian biodiversity research to meet project goals. Analyze research findings. Apply results to conservation in the Sierra Nevada ecosystem. (60%)
• Present results at professional meetings, conferences, and popular seminars. Prepare two manuscripts for high impact peer reviewed journals and other research products, including reports and relevant information to partners. (25%)
• Engaging with partners and possible funders. Participate in career and professional development opportunities. (10%)
• Engage in ongoing academic and intellectual life at the Lab of Ornithology and Cornell University. (5%)

Supervision Exercised

The incumbent will be expected to meet regularly with project collaborators (within the Yang Center, at other universities, and in government agencies). In addition, there are opportunities for the incumbent to mentor undergraduate students and possibly contribute to mentoring graduate students, but neither activity is expected or required.

Term of position:

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

Required Qualifications:

• A Ph.D. in biological or ecological sciences or statistics is required.
• Strong record of success conducting research and scholarly activities, including regular publication in peer-reviewed journals.
• Experience with terrestrial population modeling is a strong positive, particularly in an occupancy framework.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Other beneficial qualifications include: familiarity with Bayesian statistics, experience working with large acoustic datasets, GIS skills, experience analyzing remotely sensed data, familiarity with machine learning tools, and field experience with birds and/or the Sierra Nevada ecosystem.

• Writing skills and a strong publication record for the professional stage of the applicant are also valuable.

Salary or Rewards/Benefits:

Salary is commensurate with experience, $56,000 to $64,000 per year and includes benefits. Relocation funds are available.

This position is located at the Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, NY. Local personnel will have the flexibility to work on a hybrid schedule with opportunities to work on-site and from home. Fully remote work will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Cornell provides great benefits that include professional development, access to wellness programs, employee discounts with local and national retail brands, broad range of comprehensive health care options, and generous paid leave provisions:  3 weeks of vacation, 13 holidays (including end of year winter break), paid family leave, and superior retirement contributions.

Application Instructions:

Please apply via Academic Jobs Online  https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/25051 . 

Qualified candidates should submit a short cover letter, curriculum vitae, contact information for three references, and a statement of contribution to diversity, equity, and inclusion via the website. 

Applications will be reviewed as received, continuing until a suitable applicant is identified.

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.

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.

Pay Range:

$54,840.00 - $75,000.00

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] .

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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.

2023-06-27