Research Associate

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 successful candidate is the primary lead on biospecimen science and laboratory operations at the Cornell Veterinary Biobank, an ISO 20387 accredited resource, providing biological material and associated data to the research community worldwide, and a member of the Dog Aging Project Biobank team, at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. The Dog Aging Project is an innovative initiative that brings together a collaborative, interdisciplinary, nationwide team of researchers to carry out the most ambitious canine science health study in the world to improve our understanding of the aging process in both dogs and humans.

The Biobank team is guided by our Core Values:

• We conduct rigorous scientific research using an interdisciplinary approach that encourages innovation.
• We build opportunities for collaboration, partnership, and growth that allow us to solve complex problems together.
• We value ethical behavior over expediency, which means we prioritize and ensure animal safety and welfare, maintain participant privacy and security, and practice participant and canine advocacy.
• We commit to transparency in all that we do, which includes sharing our scientific methods, making the data we collect openly available, declaring our funding sources, and communicating clearly with our team, our partners, and the public. 
• We engage the public as citizen scientists, present evidence-based information in an accurate and accessible way and provide educational opportunities for our participants. 
• We foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive working environment that is a growth opportunity for all and encourages a healthy work-life balance.
• We act with kindness, compassion, and respect toward all, including our team, our participants, our partners, and the public.

Responsibilities include:

• Collaborating with principal investigators or faculty sponsors in the design and implementation of research projects or programs in the field of biobanking/biospecimen science or related fields, including the writing of funding proposals for research projects and contracts; Preparing research reports and papers for publication;
• Designing, executing, and planning biobank activities or experiments with principal investigators or faculty sponsors in the field of biospecimen science, biobanking, or quality management;
• Supervising research and laboratory operations of biobank team members;
• Training personnel on biobanking activities including specimen processing, database entry, and operation of complex equipment;
• Participating in formulation of biobanking methods, creating documented procedures (SOPs), to include specimen processing and equipment use/maintenance SOPs; Developing and implementing quality control protocols for biobanking processes in compliance with ISO 20387:2018;
• Providing biobank-related consultations to a wide variety of technical and professional personnel, internal or external to Cornell University; Conducting biospecimen withdrawal consultations;
• Supervising or assisting with blood and tissue specimen processing, storage, quality testing, and distribution; Coordinating and receiving biospecimens from external sources;
• Supervising the collection, analysis, and retrieval of complex data, including patient demographic, medical/phenotypic information, biospecimen pre-analytical variables, and storage location;
• Participating in the development and maintenance of a biobank information management system (database); troubleshooting database entry errors; suggesting future improvements in data measurement;
• Collaborating in developing new techniques and instruments;
• Testing and incorporating complex equipment, supplies, and technology into the biobank program; Diagnosing, troubleshooting, and coordinating repair of biobank equipment;
• Maintaining correspondence and records of research procedures; assisting in preparation of IACUC and/or IRB protocols;
• Serving as a biospecimen science subject matter expert; representing DAP and CVB at conferences, trainings, and meetings;
• Performing other duties as requested

Employees of the Biobank must adhere to the CVB’s Quality Assurance system, confidentiality statement, standard operating procedures, and organizational policies. Employees are expected to meet all of the Cornell University Staff Skills for Success, which are essential for individual and organizational success.  Employees may be required to work outside of normal business hours.

Required Qualifications:

• Candidates are required to hold a Ph.D or D.V.M./Ph.D. degrees and to have at least two years of equivalent postdoc associate experience. The candidate will have a track record of publications in leading journals
• Ability and desire to acquire new technical skills in the wet lab and biobanking space
• Ability to set goals and achieve them in a timely fashion, and a commitment to excellence
• Strong desire to contribute to a project with direct application to human health
• Proficient with a variety of commercial software applications with the ability to learn new software quickly; technologically savvy with the ability to effectively troubleshoot equipment/software issues
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills, strong leadership skills
• Ability to interact with a variety of clientele; positively influence and guide stakeholders
• Demonstrated initiative (self-starter), ability to multi-task, work under pressure/constraints and meet deadlines
• Skilled at employee relations including team building, facilitating teams and problem solving
• Demonstrated skills to develop, implement, and maintain biobank quality standards, performance metrics and benchmarks, collect and analyze data, and report to management
• Ability to teach, technically train, and provide biobank-related consultations to a wide variety of technical and professional personnel

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in implementing quality management systems and process compliance with an ISO standard
• Working knowledge of ISO 20387:2018 and ISO/IEC 17025:2017
• Experience in the field of biobanking and biospecimen science
• Technically skilled and creative researcher that can effectively communicate with our clinical collaborators. The ideal candidate will have exceptional communication and organizational skills, timely data generation, and excellent multitasking abilities

To apply, please click on the following link: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/24922

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.

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 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 University's Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX at voice (607) 255-2242, or email at equity@cornell.edu.

Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor. You may also visit the office of Workforce Recruitment and Retention Monday - Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. to use a dedicated workstation to complete an online application.

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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.

About Us

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.

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.