Postdoctoral Associate- Public and Ecosystem Health

Postdoctoral Associate

Dr. Raina Plowright's Laboratory

Public and Ecosystem Health

College of Veterinary Medicine

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY

Position Description: This position is funded off our NIH P20 grant (Research on Climate, Health and Equity in A Changing Environment (C-CHANGE)) and funding from the Burroughs Wellcome Foundation (Investigating how climate change may increase risk of zoonotic spillover by changing human and wildlife movement, stress, and behavior). This position requires a PhD in ecology, disease ecology, epidemiology, or related fields and the successful applicant must have advanced quantitative and biological skills and an understanding of basic disease dynamics. The work will explore large datasets on bat viruses we have acquired, with collaborators around the world, primarily from Australia, South Africa, and Bangladesh. Current work adds data from the US-Mexico interface. These two grants fund work seeking to understand links between climate change, human behavior, bat behavior, land-use change, policy, and disease spillover risks. PI Plowright and colleagues are deeply engaged with disease research in the context of One Health, policy change, leading international policy groups such as the Lancet Commission on Prevention of Viral Spillover, advising UN agencies, and working closely with on-the-ground with conservation groups.

Postdoc position responsibilities will include:

• Analyzing longitudinally collected virological and serological data on zoonotic bat viruses
• Experience with environmental data and/or movement data would be an asset, but is not required, for:
  • linking environmental covariates (e.g., climate, land use, habitat change) with infectious disease dynamics using advanced statistical approaches
  • analyzing bat movement data
• Collaborating with a transdisciplinary international team of experts
• Assisting with project coordination and management
• Developing multiple peer-reviewed manuscripts as a lead-author and a co-author

Requirements:

• PhD in ecology, disease ecology, epidemiology, or related fields.
• The candidate must be highly organized, curious, a creative critical thinker, a good communicator, and have strong interdisciplinary skills spanning biology, ecology, One Health, computer science, and disease ecology.

Salary and Benefits: Salary Range: $62,232-$75,000.  This position is eligible for benefits.

Offers higher than the published salary range might be considered to meet unique circumstances, qualifications, academic discipline, and experience.

Postdocs from the Plowright lab have gone on to tenure-track positions in academia and research or policy positions in government. If you any questions about the position, please email Emma Spence (es957@cornell.edu ) for more details.

To apply:  Visit https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/31899 and submit a resume with references and their contact information, as well as a paragraph on your unique experiences that would make you suitable for the position (can be formatted as a cover letter). Applications will be reviewed as received, and the position will remain open until filled.

Pay Range:

$62,232.00 - $88,745.00

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
• Unique applicable skills.

Employment Assistance:

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 Office of Civil Rights at voice (607) 255-2242, or email at accommodations@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 .

Notice to Applicants:

Please read the required Notice to Applicants statement by clicking here . This notice contains important information about applying for a position at Cornell as well as some of your rights and responsibilities as an applicant.

EEO Statement:

Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of “... any person ... any study.” No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, 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.

Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

2026-04-02