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 Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a global leader in ornithological research & biodiversity conservation and hosts a vibrant community of more than thirty postdoctoral associates working across a range of topics and scales. We strive to provide a supportive and engaging postdoctoral research environment that fosters scientific discovery, collaborative working experiences, and professional mentorship and support. The postdoctoral associate will be affiliated with the Center for Avian Population Studies (CAPS, https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/center-for-avian-population-studies/), one of six programmatic units at the Cornell Lab. CAPS is the home of the eBird project, one of the largest sources of avian biodiversity information in the world. The eBird team is a collaborative and innovative group that includes staff with deep expertise in bioinformatics, statistics, and ornithology. The candidate will also have the opportunity to work closely with colleagues from other programs, including the Cornell K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics, a global leader in passive acoustic monitoring technology, research, and capacity sharing, with expertise spanning bioacoustics, engineering, and scientific engagement, and the Macaulay Library of Natural Sound, the world’s largest collection of animal media, including bird recordings from around the world and a suite of associated machine learning tools.
The incumbent will be advised by Dr. Laurel Symes (CAPS, symes@cornell.edu). Depending on the research direction, collaboration and additional mentorship will be provided by Dr. Connor Wood (Yang Center, cmw289@cornell.edu), Dr. Courtney Davis (Dept. Natural Resources, cld74@cornell.edu), Dr. Daniel Fink (CAPS, daniel.fink@cornell.edu), Dr. Alison Johnston (University of St. Andrews), and/or others from the Cornell Lab and associated research community.
eBird and acoustic monitoring represent two of the fastest growing sources of avian biodiversity information worldwide. Jointly, these approaches can provide complementary geographic and temporal coverage, and integrating them can improve estimates of species occurrence, phenology, abundance, and provide unique opportunities for benchmarking and calibration. The successful candidate will be a key contributor to building the statistical foundations for the next generation of biodiversity monitoring, and will help define the Lab's long-term research agenda at the intersection of community science, passive acoustic monitoring, and statistical ecology. This position is part of a broader effort at the Cornell Lab to build the next generation of biodiversity monitoring systems. By combining the complementary strengths of community science observations and acoustic data, we aim to develop scalable statistical approaches that improve inference across space, time, and taxa.
The selected postdoctoral associate will be an integral part of advancing the integration of acoustic and eBird datastreams, improving monitoring of avian populations, and strengthening conservation decision-making. The specific methodological direction is intentionally flexible and will be developed jointly based on the interests and expertise of the successful candidate. Potential focal areas could include:
The incumbent will have access to multiple datasets, including passive acoustic recordings from four National Parks in the northeastern United States and several million hours of audio recorded across California’s Sierra Nevada. In addition to these core resources, the postdoctoral associate will have access to raw eBird data (> 2 billion observations) and the ability to engage with the eBird Status and Trends modeling team. We will also provide access to high-performance computing resources and opportunities to collaborate with researchers from other programs at Cornell University.
This position is funded for 2 years (and follows Cornell’s standard approach of two consecutive one-year appointments), with possible extensions contingent upon funding and performance. Funding will be provided for conference participation and other professional development activities.
As part of the training, the Postdoctoral Associate will gain experience working with researchers from different disciplines and will receive training in proposal writing, collaborative science, and translating research to application.
The incumbent will directly contribute to increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of avian biodiversity monitoring using eBird and acoustic data. Working effectively at this intersection will involve active collaboration and exchange with multiple research teams. We will work with the incumbent to ensure that outcomes include practical strategies for advancing data integration, and peer-reviewed publication of approaches and/or modeling results.
The incumbent will have opportunities to engage in undergraduate mentorship. There are no supervisory responsibilities with this position.
Salary is commensurate with experience, $65,500 and includes benefits.
The position is based in Ithaca, NY, where personnel will have the flexibility to work on a hybrid schedule with opportunities to work on-site and from home.
Benefits provided by Cornell include a broad range of comprehensive health care options, generous paid leave provisions: 3 weeks of vacation, 13 holidays (including end of year winter break), paid family leave, and superior retirement contributions. Additionally, Cornell provides access to professional development initiatives, wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands.
Please apply via Academic Jobs Online https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/32523.
Qualified candidates should submit a short cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references via the website.
Applications will be reviewed as received, beginning on October 5, 2026, continuing until a suitable applicant is identified.
Start date is flexible between September 21, 2026 and early 2027.
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.
With a founding principle of “any person, any study,” Cornell is an equal opportunity employer.
Employment Assistance:
For specific questions about the position or application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting or for general questions 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 Office of Civil Rights at voice (607) 255-2242, or email at accommodations@cornell.edu.
Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor.
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:
Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of “... any person ... any study.” No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, 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.
Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRRA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.
Pay Ranges:
The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:
Pay Range:
$62,232.00 - $88,745.00
Pay Ranges:
The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:
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 Office of Civil Rights at voice (607) 255-2242, or email at accommodations@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:
Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of “... any person ... any study.” No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, 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.
Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.
2026-09-11Cornell 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. With our main campus located in Ithaca, NY, Cornell's far-flung global presence includes the medical college's campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, as well as the Cornell Tech campus located on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.
We offer a rich array of services, programs and benefits to help employees advance in their career and enhance the quality of personal life, including: employee wellness, workshops, childcare and adoption assistance, parental leave, flexible work options.