About the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS)

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.

Position Function

The Taracena Agarwal Lab in the Department of Entomology at Cornell University seeks a creative and motivated Postdoctoral Associate to lead research on the genomic and epigenomic basis of sexual dimorphism in somatic tissues of insect disease vectors.

This is a foundational position in a newly established research program, and the successful candidate will play a defining role in shaping the lab's scientific direction and contributing first-author work to its inaugural body of publications.

Sex-specific traits in somatic tissues—such as those governing blood-feeding, reproductive physiology, immune competence, and vector capacity—are central to the biology of disease transmission, yet the regulatory architecture underlying these differences remains poorly understood.

The successful candidate will combine functional genomics approaches (ATAC-seq, single-cell and single-nucleus RNA-seq, splicing variant analysis) with the sex-determination cascade to dissect how chromatin accessibility, transcriptional regulation, and alternative splicing produce sex-specific somatic phenotypes.

Findings from this work are expected to inform the next generation of genetic and biological control strategies for vector-borne disease.

The Postdoctoral Associate will:

• Design and execute experiments.
• Generate and analyze high-throughput sequencing datasets.
• Prepare manuscripts as first author.
• Present findings at international conferences.
• Contribute to grant and fellowship applications.

The position offers substantial intellectual independence within a collaborative environment, direct mentorship from the PI, and tailored support for career development toward the postdoc's chosen trajectory (academic, industry, or otherwise).

Anticipated Division of Time

• Research design, execution, and data analysis: 70%
• Manuscript and grant/fellowship writing: 15%
• Mentorship of graduate and undergraduate students in the lab: 10%
• Lab citizenship, including journal clubs, seminars, and shared lab responsibilities: 5%

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in molecular biology, genetics, genomics, entomology, developmental biology, or a closely related discipline (completed by the start date).
• Hands-on experience with next-generation sequencing library construction (e.g., RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, or related).
• Demonstrated experience with at least one of the following:Proficiency in command-line bioinformatics and a scripting language for genomic data analysis (R, Python, or equivalent).
  • ATAC-seq.
  • Single-cell or single-nucleus RNA-seq.
  • Splicing variant identification.
  • Functional dissection of the sex-determination cascade.
• Track record of first-author peer-reviewed publication (published or in advanced preprint/submission).
• Strong written and oral scientific communication skills in English.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, and to mentor junior trainees.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with insect systems, particularly disease vectors (mosquitoes, triatomines, sand flies, or related).
• Integrated experience across two or more of:Experience with multi-omic data integration and/or chromatin biology.
  • ATAC-seq.
  • sc/snRNA-seq.
  • Splicing variant analysis.
  • Sex-differentiation pathway studies.
• Experience generating or working with transgenic insect lines, CRISPR/Cas9 editing, or RNAi-based functional validation.
• Prior success in obtaining independent fellowship funding, or a clear plan and willingness to apply for postdoctoral fellowships (e.g., NIH F32/K99, HFSP, Burroughs Wellcome, Damon Runyon, or international equivalents).
• Interest in vector biology, disease ecology, or translational applications to vector control.

Driving Requirement

• Driving is not a requirement for this position.

Supervision Exercised

The Postdoctoral Associate will provide day-to-day functional supervision and scientific mentorship to graduate and undergraduate students working on related projects within the lab.

The PI retains primary responsibility for personnel decisions and formal evaluations.

Supervisory expectations will follow the CALS Guidelines for people leaders.

What the Lab Offers

• Direct, frequent mentorship from the PI, with weekly one-on-one meetings and active engagement in experimental design and manuscript preparation.
• First-author opportunities on foundational lab publications and a defining role in shaping the lab's research identity.
• Salary at or above the current NIH NRSA postdoctoral scale, commensurate with experience.
• Guaranteed funding for the initial appointment, with strong support and active mentorship for applying to independent fellowships.
• Access to Cornell's outstanding genomics, imaging, insectary, and computational core facilities, and to a vibrant community of vector biologists, geneticists, and computational biologists across the Department of Entomology, the Cornell Institute of Host-Microbe Interactions and Disease (CIHMID), and allied programs.
• Support for conference attendance, professional development, and career planning tailored to the postdoc's goals.
• Visa sponsorship available for qualified international applicants.

How to Apply

Please apply via Academic Jobs Online.

Qualified candidates should submit:

1. A cover letter (1–2 pages) describing:Curriculum Vitae, including a full publication list.
   • Research experience.
   • Scientific interests.
   • Fit with the advertised project.
   • Career goals.
   • One proposed experiment to investigate sex-specific differentiation, transcriptional regulation, or alternative splicing in a somatic tissue of your choice. The committee is interested in your scientific reasoning, not in a polished or pre-validated proposal.
3. Contact information for three professional references (letters will be requested for shortlisted candidates).

Informal inquiries prior to formal application are welcomed and may be directed to Dr. Taracena Agarwal at mabel.taracena@cornell.edu.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as received and will continue until a suitable applicant is identified.

The anticipated start date is flexible and can be negotiated to accommodate the thesis defense, current commitments, and visa timelines.

Salary

• CALS hiring rate: $63,480

Pay Range

• $62,232.00 – $88,745.00

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering:

• 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 participate in the recruiting process, contact:

• Cornell Office of Civil Rights
• Phone: (607) 255-2242
• Email: accommodations@cornell.edu

Applicants without internet access are encouraged to visit their local library or local Department of Labor, or request an appointment to use a dedicated workstation at the Office of Talent Attraction and Recruitment by emailing mycareer@cornell.edu.

Notice to Applicants

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

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, consistent with its 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:

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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. The university hires based on merit and encourages 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 and qualified individuals with disabilities. It also recognizes a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.