Temporary Research Assistant (Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering); New York State

Cornell University•Ithaca, MI

4d•Remote

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. We work across disciplines to tackle the challenges of our time through world-renowned research, education, and outreach. The Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering (BEE) is one of the largest of its kind in the country with a large faculty, staff, and student population. The department serves three integrated functions: teaching undergraduate and graduate students, researching problems in biology and the environment, and public outreach to help society implement new knowledge. As the Temporary Research Assistant, you will support an Indigenous mapping project that will create spatial representations of Indigenous lands, resources, perspectives, activities, and traditional knowledge in the Finger Lakes region. You will work directly with staff and faculty in the American Indian and Indigenous Studies Program, as well as members of the Steinschneider Lab in BEE, to develop these mapping products.

Requirements

Significant experience with GIS and digital mapping
Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
Experience incorporating the perspectives of multiple communities.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with Indigenous communities, including knowledge of key principles and practices to ensure ethical work: respect for sovereignty, protocols, and data ownership; understanding and valuing cultural inclusion; ensuring reciprocity; and acknowledgment of self-accountability for commitments to the community.
Ability to represent map content in Indigenous languages.

Responsibilities

Designing and extending GIS maps of Indigenous lands, activities, resources, and traditional knowledge in the Finger Lakes region, in coordination with staff in the American Indian and Indigenous Studies Program.
Working with staff in the Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering to add layers of water quality in Lake Cayuga and design the visualization of these data layers to support synthesis and effective communication.
Sharing mapping development progress with the Principal Investigator and partners in regular meetings.