Research Support Specialist II - Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (Gazel Lab)

   

Who We Are  

Cornell Engineering has a long and storied history of distinction, creativity and impact. The departments of mechanic arts (now mechanical engineering) and civil engineering date to the University’s founding. The College established the nation’s first electrical engineering department in 1889 and awarded the nation’s first doctorates in both electrical and industrial engineering. Its legacy continues to this day, as Cornell Engineering brings together the best minds from across disciplines to invent disruptive technologies and discover novel solutions to complex and challenging problems. The college is a global leader in research, teaching, and advancing diversity in the field. Cornell Engineering is also a key collaborator across the rich interdisciplinary landscape at Cornell University, playing a role in all of the university’s Radical Collaborations to address society’s most challenging problems. The college enrolls a diverse and talented student body that includes 3,200+ undergraduate students and 2100+ graduate students, and it has over 46,600 living alumni around the globe. Cornell Engineering is also home to a diverse, collaborative, talented and dedicated 200+ tenured and tenure-track faculty, plus research faculty and professors of practice who work each day to change the world. Faculty span 10 departments, schools and programs with a footprint in both Ithaca and New York City.   

Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, we are advancing fundamental research to understand human impacts on our planet and provide technologies and solutions for the future. We foster leaders in science that will go on to solve some of the biggest challenges of the 21st century.

What You Will Do  

The revolution triggered by the clean energy transition and the US government's initiatives to expand the domestic supply chain for clean energy technologies created unprecedented demand for critical elements such as rare earths, Ni, Co, and the platinum group elements. However, current methods of metal extraction leave considerable amounts of toxic waste and have a high carbon footprint. Even if we succeed in electrifying all the energy infrastructure, there remains an unavoidable need to remove CO2 from the atmosphere. Synthetic biology, in combination with mineralogy and geochemistry, provides a new frontier for sustainable energy innovation. To solve the supply challenges of energy-critical elements and large-scale carbon removal, we have spearheaded an interdisciplinary project to develop engineered microbes capable of dissolving rocks with low energy and carbon input that will provide critical elements for energy technologies while at the same time providing cations needed for CO2 mineralization. This project builds upon a long-term collaboration between the Barstow and Gazel research groups, which has successfully developed engineered microorganisms for extracting and separating rare earth elements for energy technologies. The two groups meet formally every two weeks, but members of the groups communicate daily and move seamlessly between the two labs.

For this project we need to recruit a Research Support Specialist that will be work under the PI Esteban Gazel and support the different team members of this project as well as other lab operations with the tasks below:

Explain summary of position responsibilities:

• Sample preparation and characterization of mineral feedstocks that will be used before and after bioleaching experiments (via microscopy, XRF, XRD, SEM/EMPA, Raman/IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry-LA-ICP-MS and/or ICP-MS).

• Managing analytical instruments (microscopy, heating-cooling stages, Raman, FTIR), including contacting and communicating with vendors for instrument service.

• Design and execute experiments and analytical measurements to evaluate the record physiochemical processes of mineral-microbe interactions.

• Assist in preparing research reports and papers for publication; contribute to publishable research

• reports, papers, and articles

• Provide technical support in writing specific areas of grant proposal and prepare grant budgets.

• Support day-to-day operations of this project and support needed by the lab (e.g., maintain laboratory inventory and purchase materials, software updates, instruments general maintenance, keep laboratory logs, etc.).

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a psychologically healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

What We Need  

• Proficiency in science communication (written and oral)

• Proven research, or support of research in mineral characterization on at least some of these techniques (XRF, XRD, mass spectrometry, Raman/IR spectroscopy). 

• Experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and wellbeing.

• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

• Bachelor’s degree and 3 to 5 years of relevant experience or equivalent combination.

What We Prefer  

• Background on mineral resources/economic geology

• Experience working with the mineral or energy industry

• Master’s degree• 

Rewards and Benefits  

• This position is located in Ithaca, New York. The position will typically allow for the flexibility to work remotely __ days per week at a location of employee’s choosing within the United States. The New York Convenience of employer guidelines require New York State individual tax reporting and withholdings for this position. Additional individual state income tax filings may also be required if working temporarily outside New York State.   

• Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, sustainability, and diversity initiatives.  

• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: https://hr.cornell.edu/benefits-pay .  

• Our leave provisions include three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1.  

• Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program. 

• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell: https://hr.cornell.edu/jobs/your-total-rewards .  

Important Notes about Applying  

• Please submit both a cover letter and a résumé to be considered for this position. 

• Applications will be reviewed, and interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. 

• There is no relocation assistance available for this position. 

• There is no visa sponsorship available for this position. 

   

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

  

University Job Title:

Research Support Spec II

Job Family:

Academic Support

Level:

F

Pay Rate Type:

Salary

Pay Range:

$64,265.00 - $71,535.00

Remote Option Availability:

Fully Onsite

Company:

Endowed

Contact Name:

Sue Shipman

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Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. 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

• Unique applicable skills

• Academic Discipline (faculty pay ranges reflects 9-month annual salary)

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2024-01-16