Temporary Research Aide (Cornell Lake Erie Research and Extension Laboratory); Portland, New York

Cornell University•New York, NY

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is a pioneer of purpose-driven science and Cornell University’s second-largest college. Cornell AgriTech serves an evolving agricultural sector that remains an economic engine for New York state. The Cornell Lake Erie Research Extension Laboratory (CLEREL) supports the grape industries of western New York and Pennsylvania through precision viticulture, vineyard mechanization, and optimized nutrient management. As the Temporary Technical Research Aide, you will focus on the integration and deployment of autonomous systems within vineyard research plots. This role is responsible for the operational setup, communication, troubleshooting, and field execution of the farm-ng Amiga robotic platform. The position serves as a technical link between autonomous hardware and precision viticulture data collection.

Requirements

High School Diploma and 1+ year of relevant experience in precision agriculture, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Proven ability to work with digital technology, including experience or aptitude for robotics interfaces, GNSS systems, and wireless networking.
Must be able to navigate uneven vineyard terrain and access difficult-to-reach field locations.
Ability to work outdoors in all types of weather conditions common to the region’s growing season.
Ability to lift and carry equipment weighing up to 10 pounds.
Must be able to meet the travel requirements of the position and have reliable transportation as well as have and maintain a valid and unrestricted New York State driver’s license and be cleared to drive for university business.
Must be able to meet the regional travel requirements of the position to reach various research vineyard sites.

Nice To Haves

Completion of college-level education in Engineering, Computer Science, Agricultural Technology, or a related technical discipline.
Direct experience with field robotics and autonomous navigation systems.
Must be independent and self-motivated, with a demonstrated ability to troubleshoot technical challenges in a field environment.

Responsibilities

Executing the setup and field deployment of the farm-ng Amiga robotic platform for autonomous navigation within vineyard rows.
Assisting in the mounting and calibration of agricultural sensors onto the robotic platform for automated data collection.
Maintaining detailed logs of robotic performance, communication interruptions, and battery/power efficiency under field conditions.
Adhering to strict safety standards regarding the operation of autonomous machinery in shared agricultural workspaces.
Conducting field checks to ensure autonomous sensor deployments align with traditional ground-truth measurements.