CALS- Technician III- Food Science Department- Geneva Agritech

Technician III

The Opportunity

As a university founded to be a place where “…any person can find instruction in any study,” inclusion and belonging are at the core of our values and mission. We strive to be a welcoming, caring, healthy, and equitable community where students, faculty, and staff with different backgrounds, perspectives, abilities, and experiences can learn, innovate, and work in an environment of respect, and feel empowered to engage in any community conversation. As a member of the Cornell University community, it is important to recognize our shared responsibility to each other to cultivate a culture of inclusion for all. Cornell Core values

As an individual contributor you will model and support a culture of inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing and continually seek to understand how your role, behaviors, and actions impact the success of this culture.

While position responsibilities vary greatly, the Skills for Success and Leadership Skills for Success are foundational to what is expected of every employee and leader working at Cornell. These skills are essential for individual and organizational success. Staff Skills for Success ; Leadership Skills for Success

About the College

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is a pioneer of purpose-driven science and Cornell University’s second largest college. We work across disciplines to tackle the challenges of our time through world-renowned research, education, and outreach. The questions we probe and the answers we seek focus on three overlapping concerns: We believe that achieving next-generation scientific breakthroughs requires an understanding of the world’s complex, interlocking systems. We believe that access to nutritious food and a healthy environment is a fundamental human right. We believe that ensuring a prosperous global future depends on the ability to support local people and communities everywhere. By working in and across multiple scientific areas, CALS can address challenges and opportunities of the greatest relevance, here in New York, across the nation, and around the world.

The Cornell Fermentation Farming Lab (CFFL) provides comprehensive assistance to research and extensions programs at Cornell as well as to entrepreneurs focused on using fermentation processes to produce foods and food ingredients. The CFFL offers services, access to facilities and equipment, and research development opportunities in precision and biomass fermentation processes, including microbial culture identification, development and maintenance, fermentation optimization and downstream processing at laboratory and pilot scale. The CFFL is jointly supported by the New York State Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture at Cornell AgriTech, the Cornell Food Venture Center and by fermentation services provided by Cornell-affiliated and external entities.

The New York State Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture at Cornell AgriTech (CoE) is committed to improving people's lives and livelihoods by growing New York's vibrant food and agriculture economy statewide and supporting innovation and leadership in those sectors. The CoE is an economic development hub for the state's food, beverage and agriculture industries. The CoE cultivates business growth and job creation opportunities by connecting businesses and entrepreneurs to the resources they need to scale and thrive. The strategy and goal are to push entrepreneurs and startups to commercialize new innovations; pull food, beverage and agriculture-related businesses to locate in New York; and grow existing food, beverage and agriculture-related businesses.

The Cornell Food Venture Center (CFVC), provides comprehensive assistance to establish and beginning food entrepreneurs, thus promoting sustainable economic development of rural communities. The CFVC offers services, outreach and research development opportunities in business and product process development, product safety, process/product technology transfer and product commercialization. The CFVC responds to over 5,000 inquiries for assistance annually and assists food processors and entrepreneurs that require safety evaluations of over 3000 specialty products for commercial production. Through the Seneca Foods Foundation Pilot Plant, the CFVC also provides extensive support for internal and external stakeholders in product and process development and scaling up.

The Program Technician III position supports the operational, analytical, and technical functions of the Cornell Fermentation Farming Lab, with additional support to the Cornell Food Venture Center and Seneca Foods Foundation Pilot Plant. The position enables laboratory- and pilot-scale fermentation services by maintaining laboratory systems, preparing and monitoring microbial cultivation processes, supporting downstream processing activities, conducting routine analytical testing, maintaining accurate records, and assisting with reports for internal and external stakeholders. This role is essential to the CFFL’s ability to deliver reliable fermentation research, extension, product development, and client-service activities at Cornell AgriTech.

The Technician III will work under the supervision of the Associate Director of the CFFL to provide laboratory and analytical support for the internal and external clients of the CFFL, Seneca Food Foundation Pilot Plant (SFFPP), and the Cornell Food Venture Center (CFVC). Primary activities involve maintaining and organizing laboratory records, materials, tools, equipment and reagents; perform basic literature review on topics related to ongoing projects; isolate, cultivate and identify microorganisms of interest and maintain culture collections; cultivate microorganisms in batch and continuous processes, perform analyses related to microbial cultivations, including pH, acidity, liquid and gas chromatography; prepare and monitor fermentation processes in laboratory bench scale and pilot scale; develop and execute downstream processing at bench and pilot scale. On as as-needed basis, the Technician III will provide support for routine analytical activities at the CFVC, including testing food samples for pH, water activity, Brix, solid content and perform the filing and communication related to these activities. The Technician III will also support pilot scale fermentation activities (and other operations as necessary) at the SFFPP.

This is a full-time position at 97.5% FTE . This is a one-year term appointment that is contingent upon available work, funding, and performance.

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

Relocation assistance will not be provided for this position.

What We Need

• Associate’s degree and up to 2 years of relevant experience or equivalent combination.
• Prior experience in a laboratory setting.
• Prior knowledge of safety protocols in a lab setting and proper waste handling.
• Experience with Microsoft office suite – including Word, PowerPoint and Excel and familiarity with outlook.
• Ability to communicate verbally and written with faculty, staff and students.
• Must have and maintain a valid and unrestricted NYS driver’s license and be cleared to drive for university business.
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

If you have all those things, great! We have a few more things that we would prefer you to have, but it’s ok if you don’t.

• Bachelor’s degree. Experience working in university-based laboratories or extension programs. Familiarity with biochemistry, biotechnology, microbiology, and industrial fermentation processes.

Rewards and Benefits

Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, and sustainability.

• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell .
• Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1. To offer greater flexibility for observing faiths and traditions we also offer two additional floating holidays. Learn more about our generous leave provisions: Holiday and Accrued Time Off | Working at Cornell
• Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program. Learn more about our extensive educational benefits: Education Benefits | Working at Cornell
• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell:

Total Rewards | Working at Cornell .

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Cornell is an equal opportunity employer. For more information, visit hr.cornell.edu/eeo.

University Job Title

Technician III

Job Family

Technical

Level

C

Pay Rate Type

Hourly

Pay Range

$24.31 - $26.87

Remote Option Availability

Onsite

Company

Contract College

Contact Name

J'Frances White

Contact Email

jmw572@cornell.edu

Job Titles and Pay Ranges

Non-Union Positions

Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

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Prior relevant work or industry experience

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Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position

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Unique applicable skills

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Academic Discipline

To learn more about Cornell’s non-union staff job titles and pay ranges, see Career Navigator .

Union Positions

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined in accordance with the rates in the respective collective bargaining agreement . To learn more about Cornell’s union wages, see Union Pay Rates .

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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.

2026-06-30