The O’Brien lab in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University has an opening for a Research Associate. The successful candidate will play a leadership role in conducting novel research, serving as the primary lead on laboratory operations, and overseeing on-going human clinical studies in the O’Brien laboratory. The laboratory is currently undertaking several human clinical trials and nutrigenomic studies that require collection of biological material and associated data. Findings from these studies will improve our understanding of mineral utilization during key life stages such as pregnancy and infancy and will further knowledge on genetic determinants of mineral balance with the goal of identifying those at greater risk for nutritional deficiencies or excesses.

Responsibilities include:

• Collaborating with principal investigators and co-investigators in the design and implementation of research projects or programs in the field of nutritional physiology, nutrigenomics, microbiome science and related fields, including assisting with the writing of funding proposals; preparing research reports; analyzing data, and assisting with manuscript writing and publication; and writing conference abstracts and presenting research findings at scientific meetings.
• Designing and planning experiments with principal investigators or collaborators with the goal of streamlining sample analyses and improving data throughput. 
• Conduct and oversee research projects.
• Assisting with the design of clinical studies; preparing IRB protocols; overseeing recruitment, enrollment, and management of study participants. 
• Being responsible for running the thermal ionization mass spectrometer, tracking sample analyses, and assisting with billing for external contract work.
• Supervising research and laboratory operations of laboratory team members.
• Training personnel on complex instrumentation, specimen processing, and data entry. 
• Helping organize and maintain our human biospecimen archives, creating documented procedures (SOPs), to include specimen processing and equipment use/maintenance SOPs.
• Maintaining laboratory safety protocols and reporting.
• Supervising and assisting with human blood and tissue processing, storage, and testing; Coordinating and receiving biospecimens from external sources.
• Supervising the collection, analysis, and retrieval of complex data, including patient demographic, medical/phenotypic information, biospecimen variables, and storage location.
• Collaborating in developing new techniques.
• Maintaining correspondence and records of research procedures.
• Performing other duties as requested.

Required Qualifications:

• Candidates are required to hold a Ph.D or M.D./Ph.D. degrees biochemistry or molecular biology or equivalent field, and to have at least 4 years of equivalent research associate experience. 
• The candidate will have a track record of publications in leading journals.
• At least four years of research experience gained through a postdoctoral, research associate, or similar research position(s).
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills
• Ability and desire to innovate and acquire new technical skills in the wet lab.  
• 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 undergraduate and graduate students; positively influence and guide members of the laboratory team.
• Demonstrated ability to multi-task, work under pressure/constraints and meet deadlines.
• Skilled at facilitating teams and problem solving.
  

Demonstrated skills to develop, implement, and maintain our biospecimen archive, collect and analyze data, and report to management.

Ability to teach and technically train laboratory personnel and visiting scientists.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in human clinical research.
• Working knowledge of thermal ionization mass spectrometry and stable mineral isotope use in human studies.
• Experience overseeing students and laboratory teams.
• Able to effectively communicate with our clinical collaborators. The ideal candidate will have exceptional communication and organizational skills, timely data generation, and excellent multitasking abilities.

Applicants must submit: (1) cover letter, (2) CV, (3) research statement, (4) description of approaches to working in a diverse community, and (5) 3 letters of reference (to be submitted online by the reference writers on the site link below). Applicants may either submit a stand-alone statement that describes their experiences with, and or approaches to, fostering learning, research, service, and/or outreach in a diverse community, or they may include such information elsewhere in their application.   

TO APPLY, CLICK THE LINK:  https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/26085

Salary Range: $45,700 to $91,000

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.

Please direct all questions to the search chair, Kimberly O’Brien at koo4@cornell.edu .

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.

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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 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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2023-10-05