Technician III

The Opportunity

This position involves supporting ongoing projects in the McMillan lab while gaining hands-on research experience. There is also an opportunity to design and pursue a small independent research project.

Research in the McMillan Lab explores three-way interactions between plants, microbiome communities, and the environment with the overall goal of improving plant health in a variety of abiotic conditions. Compared to individual interactions between plants and microbes or plants and elevated temperature, for example, our findings show that higher order interactions can produce emergent phenotypes that are impossible to predict from our understanding of less complex interactions. In our lab, we use a wide range of biochemical, molecular biology, microbiology, genomics, and modeling approaches to determine which mechanisms govern these emergent properties and how we might apply this new set of three-way interaction “rules” to benefit plant health. Learn more here about our research!

About The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Cornell University is a leading institution focused on purpose-driven, interdisciplinary science. It addresses global challenges through research, education, and outreach, emphasizing the interconnected nature of scientific systems. CALS prioritizes access to nutritious food, a healthy environment, and the wellbeing of communities worldwide. Its work spans local to global scales, aiming to create sustainable and impactful solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date laboratory records.
• Develop and document standard laboratory procedures and protocols.
• Conduct experiments involving plant growth and inoculation in soil-based gnotobiotic systems, standard soil conditions, and agar plate assays.
• Train and support lab members in plant growth systems, including gnotobiotic methods.
• Perform DNA and RNA extractions from environmental and microbial samples.
• Prepare samples for omics analyses.
• Prepare laboratory media, buffers, and reagents.
• Conduct standard microbiological assays and culture preparation.
• Analyze experimental data using basic statistical methods and software tools.
• Maintain laboratory cleanliness, equipment, and overall organization.
• Ensure compliance with laboratory protocols, disease containment procedures, and federal regulations.
• Follow chemical and environmental health and safety guidelines.
• Complete required safety training (e.g., lab safety, chemical handling).
• Manage and dispose of laboratory waste according to protocols.
• Assist in developing lab documentation, including handbooks and operating procedures.
• Support training, mentoring, and supervision of undergraduate researchers.

What We Need

Please submit either a CV or a resume, along with a cover letter, for further consideration.

• Associate’s degree with up to 2 years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination.
• Prior experience working in a laboratory setting.
• Knowledge of lab safety protocols and proper waste handling procedures.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and familiarity with Outlook.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing.

If you have all those things, great! We have a few more things that we would prefer you to have, but it’s ok if you don’t.

• Educational background in plant pathology, plant biology, microbiology, environmental biology, or a related field.
• Experience with microbial techniques, including culturing, nucleic acid isolation using commercial kits, and dilution plating.
• Familiarity with molecular biology methods such as PCR, electrophoresis, and bacterial gene cloning.
• Experience with plant growth systems and plant handling/manipulation.
• Ability to work in and maintain sterile laboratory environments.

This is a full-time (39 hours/week) Contract College position that is based in Ithaca, NY and fully on-site. Core hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with flexibility as needed. This is a one-year term appointment that is contingent upon available work, funding, and performance.

With a founding principle of “... any person ... any study,” Cornell is an equal opportunity employer.