Animal Breeding Coordinator

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Animal Breeding Coordinator - Research Associate

Breeding Insight - https://breedinginsight.org/about-bi/

Cornell Institute of Biotechnology

Research Division

The Breeding Insight Animal Breeding Coordinator will lead the integration of statistical analyses from genotypic and phenotypic data to provide breeding-decision support efforts for USDA-ARS specialty animal breeders. The Coordinator, in concert with the science and software engineering teams, will work as part of a national initiative to extend the application of genotypic information to routine development of specialty crops and animals. Breeding of specialty crops and animals has lagged behind major crops and livestock, though these specialty species together have equal economic value to the major crops and provide valuable nutrition and flavor to diets. One of Breeding Insight’s aims is to accelerate breeding efforts by integrating the use of phenomics (trait analysis) with genomics and natural variation to increase the rate of genetic gain to create healthy, nutritious, and sustainable specialty crops and animals.  Breeding Insight currently supports 19 ARS breeding programs with more expected before the end of 2023.

The Animal Breeding Coordinator will have proven expertise in applying genetic principles to enable the interpretation of biological phenomena and provide information that guides strategies and optimize resources in specialty animal breeding programs.  The Animal Breeding Coordinator is responsible for working directly with the breeders to assist them in implementing low-cost rapid genotyping, high-throughput phenotyping, data curation and databasing, and contributing to breeding-decision support tool creation at BI. The Animal Breeding Coordinator will also participate in weekly meetings, annual site visits, and provide breeding decision support. Through the process of supporting these programs, the Animal Breeding Coordinator will gain the experience necessary to set use-case and development priorities.

The Animal Breeding Coordinator will be a highly visible person central to the success of Breeding Insight and will report to the Breeding Coordinator. The Breeding Insight project integrates a team of USDA-ARS breeders  (based at research locations across the US), with a scientific team and a software development team.

Key responsibilities:

• Coordinates with breeders at multiple breeding locations across the US to understand their breeding objectives, data analytic needs, and to manage project deliverables.
• Works with PIs and breeders at USDA centers and universities to develop workflows for genomic-phenomic data analyses, specify use cases that clearly spell out the computational and interface requirements of the breeders, and form project plans to develop key capabilities and integrate Breeding Insight into each breeding program.
• Overall, combines these communications into a regular process in conjunction with the development cycle implemented by the software team to ensure a well-defined roadmap of new methods and features.
• In communication with breeders, designs and helps execute evaluation experiments and analyses of features introduced by Breeding Insight on which follow-up requirement documents are based.

What we need:

• A PhD in the field of animal breeding, quantitative genetics, molecular breeding, plant or animal genetics, biological informatics, molecular biology, or related field, plus three years’ postdoctoral or equivalent post PhD experience is required.
• The coordinator will be recruited based on core competency in several different areas, including GWAS, linkage mapping, QTL studies, genomic selection, bioinformatics, and project management. 
• The ability to conduct statistical analyses on large data sets and interpret results for decision-making is desired. 
• Experience with multiple animals or crops, and experience working with diverse teams are preferred.
• Knowledge of information technologies, analytics, and methods appropriate for polyploid genomic data and/or image analysis are beneficial.
• Above all, the coordinator must have demonstrated exceptional verbal and written communication skills.  

This position is a two-year term appointment with the possibility of extension contingent upon continued funding.

The position can be fully remote within the continental United States, hybrid, or in-person in Ithaca, NY.

Why Cornell?

Benefits and rewards include:

• Comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, employee discounts with local and national retail brands, and more.
• 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.
• Impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Part-Time Study and Employee Degree Program, heavily discounted eCornell courses and certificate programs, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program.

TO APPLY: please submit CV and cover letter here: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/program/24737

Pay Range:

$45,700.00 - $91,000.00

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.

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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. 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.

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