Cornell University, Lab of Ornithology

Position ID:Cornell-Lab-RABIRDNETECOLOGIEST [#19250, WDR-00027580]
Position Title: Research Associate, BirdNET Ecology Lead
Position Type:Non tenure-track faculty
Position Location:Ithaca, New York 14850, United States [map] sort by distance
Subject Areas: Conservation
Ecology / Conservation Biology
Appl Deadline: finished (2021/08/23, finished 2022/08/27)
Position Description:    

*** this position has been closed and new applications are no longer accepted. ***

Research Associate, BirdNET Ecology Lead
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Johnson Center for Birds & Biodiversity
Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at 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.

Who We Are

Located in the beautiful Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (the Lab) is dedicated to advancing the understanding and protection of the natural world and joins with people from all walks of life to make new scientific discoveries, share insights, and galvanize conservation action. The Lab is a vibrant unit within Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), and our management and staff are committed to the highest standards of ethics and excellence in all areas of our work.

The BirdNET Ecology Lead will join the Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics (KLY-CCB; https://bioacoustics.cornell.edu), one of six programmatic centers within the Lab. KLY-CCB’s mission is to collect and interpret sounds in nature by developing and applying innovative technologies across multiple ecologically relevant scales to inspire and inform the conservation of wildlife and habitats. Our highly interdisciplinary team of scientists, educators, engineers, students, and research support personnel is working with many national and international collaborators on a wide variety of terrestrial, aquatic, and marine bioacoustic research projects tackling conservation issues worldwide.

What We Need 

This position will lead the implementation of conservation-oriented research with an emphasis on using BirdNET to estimate avian biodiversity. This position will collaborate with computer scientists and mathematicians to use BirdNET app data to conduct conservation research. A major component of this work will be sustaining and expanding a landscape-scale passive acoustic avian biodiversity monitoring program in California’s Sierra Nevada in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service and other partners and stakeholders. 

Applicants will be expected to:

  • Publish high-impact conservation research in major peer-reviewed journals

  • Secure external funding to sustain ongoing projects (e.g., the Sierra Nevada monitoring program) and to develop new research projects 
  • Apply cutting edge quantitative tools (e.g., Bayesian population modeling) to estimate avian diversity and abundance/density at landscape scales
  • Develop new techniques to improve acoustic monitoring of wildlife populations and communities
  • Mentor undergraduates and supervise postdoctoral researchers

The BirdNET Ecology Lead must be able to foster and maintain excellent working relationships with coworkers, collaborators and students from very diverse cultural and educational backgrounds. This requires approaching all matters with an open mind, sense of curiosity, service-minded attitude, and diplomacy. KLY-CCB is an inclusive community (https://www.birds.cornell.edu/ccb/our-values/), and we welcome anyone who has an interest in bioacoustics without consideration of age, sex, gender/gender identity, ethnicity, race, skin color, religion, physical or mental ability, sexual orientation, nationality, or background, among others. We recognize that diverse, inclusive communities create more innovative and impactful work to address global challenges and benefit humanity and nature; We will work purposefully to amplify underrepresented and marginalized voices within KLY-CCB and the communities we aspire to serve. Applicants are invited to include a statement on how their experiences, perspectives, and aspirations can contribute to diversity and inclusion in support of KLY-CCB’s values.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Lead landscape-scale acoustic monitoring research. Use BirdNET to derive bird community data from the ongoing UW-Madison-led Sierra Nevada acoustic monitoring program. Apply existing quantitative tools (e.g., Bayesian multi-species occupancy models and generalized linear mixed models) to raw bird community results to estimate species richness and the abundance/density of focal species. Independently and collaboratively develop novel methodological tools for the analysis of passive acoustic survey data (e.g., simulation-based power analyses). Advance efforts to expand BirdNET’s capabilities to include non-avian taxa as well as density estimates. Develop new broad-scale acoustic monitoring programs with significant conservation implications. Maintain and build upon relevant technical skills such as data management, web publishing, machine learning. (30%)

Conduct research and support that is integrated with the BirdNET app. Work with the BirdNET app team to develop new features to enhance user experience, foster user communities, and improve data quality and quantity. Use BirdNET app data to conduct research that advances CCB’s conservation-oriented mission. Develop a rigorous quantitative framework for using BirdNET app data to estimate species distributions in space and time. Engage with collaborators interested in using BirdNET app data with the potential for high-impact research products and/or significant conservation applications (20%).

Supervision. Mentor undergraduate students interested in bioacoustic research and conservation. Supervise postdoctoral researchers hired with internal or external funds to advance related projects. Supervise analysts, field technicians, and other staff hired to support related projects. Establish and maintain a safe, productive, and respectful working environment that fosters a culture of inclusivity and teamwork (15%).

Acquisition of research funding. Secure funds to help sustain the Sierra Nevada acoustic monitoring program in collaboration with external PIs. Apply for external grants to sustain or expand current projects and to initiate new projects that are consistent with CCB’s mission (15%).

Dissemination of Results. Publish research findings in high-impact peer-reviewed journals. Work with stakeholders to ensure that results can be used to implement on-the-ground conservation actions that are respect local communities. Discuss results with journalists and media outlets. Attend and present at conferences related to bioacoustics and conservation (10%).

Other duties as assigned. Maintain and build upon relevant technical skills such as data management, interface design, web publishing, and machine learning. Deploy recording hardware and conduct other related fieldwork as needed. Establish and maintain a safe, productive, and respectful working environment that fosters a culture of inclusiveness, teamwork and high-quality research and development results. Serve on administrative committees (e.g., hiring committees, space committee) (10%).

Term of position

This is a full-time (100% FTE) position and will be located in Ithaca, New York. This is a one-year appointment with possible extension depending on available work, funding and performance.

Required Qualifications

  • PhD in ecology with experience using bioacoustic and quantitative tools for wildlife conservation. 

  • A strong publication record with an emphasis on the development of acoustic monitoring techniques and the application of those methods to conservation challenges. 
  • Experience applying BirdNET (or similar deep learning algorithms) to passively recorded audio data collected at landscape scales. 
  • Good interpersonal skills required to engage with a variety of stakeholders and collaborators, including maintaining and expanding ongoing research partnerships. 
  • Experience mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, as well as experience teaching acoustic monitoring techniques to a wide range of audiences. 
  • Ability to work effectively with programmers, scientists, and engineers in a dynamic, creative, multi-disciplinary environment. 
  • Willing to collaborate with other Project Leaders to advance KLY-CCB and Lab goals. Experience securing extramural funding.

Preferred Qualifications

Familiarity with the ecology and conservation issues of California’s Sierra Nevada. Ability to plan and conduct fieldwork in a range of different ecosystems, and to manage the unique challenges of audio data collection and management.

What We Offer You

We hope you appreciate great benefits! Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, sustainability, and diversity initiatives.

  • Our benefits program includes comprehensive health care options, access to wellness programs, employee discounts, and generous retirement contributions.
  • Our leave provisions include three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays including an end-of-year paid winter break from December 25th through January 1st.
  • Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Part-Time Study and Employee Degree Program, Tuition Aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance program.
  • We invite you to follow this link for more information about current benefit options: https://hr.cornell.edu/summaries-benefits.

Application Instructions: 

Interested applicants should submit a CV, letter of interest, research statement, teaching statement, contact information for 3 references and a statement of contribution to diversity, equity, and inclusion via Academic Jobs Online at the following link: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/19250

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until a candidate is selected.  If you have questions about this position, please email Holger Klinck at HK829@cornell.edu. 




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

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 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 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.

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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, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, 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. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law. 

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff to all identities and backgrounds. We encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.

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.


Application Materials Required:
Submit the following items online at this website to complete your application:
And anything else requested in the position description.

Further Info:
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email address
607-254-6250
 
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