Academic Job Description

Cornell CALS Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center

Senior Extension Associate Vegetable Pathology

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Cornell University seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds as described in Cornell’s founding principles. We strongly encourage individuals of underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.

CALS is a pioneer of purpose-driven science and home to students, faculty and staff who work across disciplines to tackle today’s challenges through our world-renowned research, education and outreach programs. The questions we address and the answers we seek focus on three overlapping concerns: natural and human systems; food, energy and environmental resources; and social, physical and economic well-being.  CALS is fundamentally invested in improving the lives of people, their environments and communities both in New York (NY) state and around the world.

Located near the tip of Long Island in Riverhead NY, at the heart of Suffolk County’s agriculture, the 68-acre Long Island Horticultural Research and Education Center (LIHREC) is dedicated to serving the research and extension needs of the horticulture industries on Long Island. Cornell University established the LIHREC 100 years ago, not only because of the importance of agriculture in the region, but also because the region is climatically different from upstate NY, where the Cornell Ithaca campus is situated. Suffolk County has a unique maritime environment, with an earlier and longer growing season than the rest of the state, and so often experiences pests and diseases prior to other regions in NY. In addition, Long Island’s sandy soils and shallow aquifer limit crop and pest management options. With climate change expected to have a major impact on coastal regions, the LIHREC is ideally located to address the effects of climate on crop production and disease management. Vegetable production is critical to the economies of Suffolk County and NY, with over 3,500 vegetable farms across nearly 125,000 acres statewide. Staff at the LIHREC work together to address transdisciplinary questions and translate discoveries into practical solutions that help growers and businesses thrive.

Position Function

The LIHREC, CALS, and Cornell University are committed to ensuring that agriculture remains vibrant on Long Island. We therefore seek a candidate interested in applied research and extension, working directly with producers to solve emergent challenges in vegetable pathology. The successful candidate will be expected to focus on activities that support vegetable production on Long Island and their work should complement research and extension activities conducted by other investigators at the LIHREC and broadly across CALS. The successful candidate is expected to develop and implement an externally funded research program that includes work with stakeholders and other partners including the farming community, foundations, CALS and Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE). This research should directly support local vegetable farmers. This position will report to the Plant Pathology and Plant Microbe Biology Section of the School of Integrative Plant Science, with a secondary reporting relationship with the Director of the LIHREC.

Anticipated Division of Time

Extension 60% - Provide extension resources and support to growers and extension partners in Suffolk County, disseminate research findings and communicate practices and recommendations; participate in extension activities such as meetings, field days, publications, and Program Work Teams (PWTs). Provide support to regional CCE teams and county offices as appropriate.

Research 40% - Lead, develop and implement externally funded research related to vegetable pathology; work closely with the LIHREC Director and faculty and CCE partners to plan and publish research. Engage with CALS research and extension faculty to enable collaborations.

Requirements

We are looking for talented individuals with excellent applied research and extension credentials and a strong desire to work directly with producers to address challenges faced by Long Island vegetable growers. Additional qualifications and attributes include:

• Ph.D. in Plant Pathology or related field and six or more years of related work experience
• Track record in obtaining grant funding to support research.

·    Demonstrated ability to develop, and engage in, a multi-faceted approach to extension activities and to build relationships with a range of stakeholders.

• Desire to apply research skills to meet the needs of local farmers and to publish results of research in peer-reviewed publications, extension publications, and trade magazines.
• Strong interpersonal skills, demonstrated leadership and effective team engagement.
• Background and interest in conducting research across disciplines and from a systems perspective.
• A commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion: foundational principles of Cornell University ("I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study." - Ezra Cornell, 1868)

Supervision Exercised

The candidate may supervise Research and or Extension Support Specialists, Lab Technicians or Field Assistants and serve as a member of graduate student mentoring committees.

Term:

The initial appointment will be for five years and is renewable.

Benefits:

This is a 12-month position, full benefits eligible.

Application:

Applicants should send a cover letter that addresses the requirements above; Curriculum Vitae; a concise statement of research interest (including a description of previous research experience as well as potential research to be conducted at LIHREC), a statement of extension experience, a statement of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the names and contact information (e-mail, phone, and mailing address) for three individuals who could provide letters of reference. To apply please visit https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/25453 Further questions can be directed to Dr. Christine Smart cds14@cornell.edu ). Review of applications will begin September 27 and continue until the position is filled.

Qualified candidates should submit:

1. Cover letter

2. CV

3. Statement of research experience

4. Statement of extension philosophy and experience

5. A statement of contribution to diversity, equity and inclusion

6. Contact information for three references that include a name, phone number, and email address.

Questions about the position or the application process should be addressed to the search committee chair at cds14@cornell.edu.