Cornell University, Baker Institute for Animal Health
Position Description
The Baker Institute for Animal Health at Cornell University seeks a distinguished scientist to join our faculty as the Judy Wilpon Endowed Chair in Cancer Biology at the rank of Associate or Full Professor. This prestigious appointment will advance our leadership in comparative cancer biology research.
For 75 years, the Baker Institute has defined excellence in animal health research, establishing the scientific foundations that drive breakthrough discoveries in comparative medicine. Our distinguished faculty lead multidisciplinary investigations that have advanced understanding of host biology, pathogen mechanisms, and critical host-pathogen interactions. Grounded in cutting-edge molecular and cellular biosciences, genomics and computational biology, our research programs command significant support from premier federal health and agriculture agencies alongside specialized foundations. Faculty maintain influential collaborative networks spanning The College of Veterinary Medicine and other Ithaca-based units including the Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, the Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, and the Department of Computational Biology, as well as Weill Cornell Medicine and the Meyer Cancer Center in New York City. Through our One Health approach, Baker researchers generate discoveries that establish new paradigms relevant to both animal and human medicine. This legacy of scientific impact, built through decades of close engagement with veterinarians and clinicians nationwide, positions the Institute to drive transformative advances across the full translational spectrum—from computational innovation to clinical breakthrough.
This position will expand our expertise in cancer biology through research. We welcome candidates with expertise across the full spectrum of fundamental and translational cancer biology subspecialties, including tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis; tumor microenvironment and immuno-oncology; and novel models and technologies for the discovery and development of cancer diagnostics and therapies. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in fostering interdisciplinary research collaborations within the Baker Institute and throughout the College of Veterinary Medicine. Teaching responsibilities and allocation of effort will be determined based on the candidate's interests and qualifications, while academic service will focus on mentorship and supporting service commitments within the Institute and broader College of Veterinary Medicine and University Initiatives.
Cornell University provides an exceptional research environment with outstanding resources that will support cutting-edge cancer biology research, including state-of-the-art facilities for computational biology, genomics, epigenomics, proteomics, metabolomics, single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, advanced microscopy and imaging, histology and flow cytometry. The university hosts several campus-wide initiatives directly relevant to cancer research, including the Genomics Innovation Hub (GIH), established by the Provost's Genome Biology Task Force, the Center for Vertebrate Genomics (CVG), the Cancer Metabolism Focus Group (CMFG), and the DNA replication, recombination and repair (R3) group.
Qualifications
·
DVM/Ph.D., MD/Ph.D., or Ph.D. in biomedical
sciences
·
Established, internationally recognized research
program in cancer biology with an emphasis on companion animals or potential
for significant impact in human and veterinary medicine
·
Demonstrated ability to foster
interdisciplinary collaborations
·
Strong record of scholarly achievement
appropriate for tenured Associate or Full Professor rank
·
Vision for impactful cancer research that
attracts extramural grant support
Interested candidates should submit the following materials: (i) Cover letter, (ii) Curriculum Vitae, (iii) Statement of research goals (3 pages maximum), (iv) Statement of teaching experience and philosophy (1 page maximum) and (v) Contact information for three professional references.
Application Process
Applications will be reviewed starting on
July 22, 2026 and will continue to be reviewed until the position is filled.
For further information about this position, please email the search
committee chair, Dr. Robert Weiss at rsw26@cornell.edu.
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 Office of Civil Rights at voice (607) 255-2242, or email at accommodations@cornell.edu.
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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:
- Cover letter
- Curriculum Vitae
- Research statement
- Teaching statement
- Three references (no actual letters, just names and email addresses
)
Further Info: