Assistant Professor - Neural Mechanisms of Natural Behavior

Assistant Professor - Neural Mechanisms of Natural Behavior

Assistant Professor - Neural Mechanisms of Natural Behavior

Focus: Neural Mechanisms of Natural Behavior
Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University

Location: Ithaca, NY. The academic home for this position is the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, housed on the Ithaca campus of Cornell University.

The Department of Neurobiology and Behavior (NBB) in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Cornell University welcomes applications for a full-time tenure-track position in The Neural Mechanisms of Natural Behaviors at the assistant professor level.

We seek an outstanding scientist whose research connects animal behavior to its underlying neural mechanisms. We are interested in candidates who study how the brain generates, controls, or is shaped by innate or learned behaviors that have evolved in natural contexts, for example communication, navigation, mating, foraging, or social interaction, and who integrate neural measurements with rigorous, quantitative analysis of animal behavior. Laboratory and/or field-based research programs that utilize experimental, physiological, genomic, developmental, computational, or comparative approaches to uncover the neural mechanisms of animal behavior are welcome. Candidates working across species (both model and non-model; vertebrate or invertebrate) are encouraged to apply.

NBB was founded on the premise that neurobiology and behavior must be studied together, and this position is central to that mission. Faculty have access to the Liddell Field Laboratory, a unique resource for studying behavior in naturalistic settings, as well as to resources of Cornell Neurotech, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Center for Vertebrate Genomics, Imaging and Biotechnology Cores, and to a rich community of neuroscientists and behavioral biologists across campus. Cornell also has an active community of physicists, engineers, and computational scientists developing tools for the analysis and quantification of animal physiology and behavior. We are committed to building a community in which behavior and its neural basis are understood as a single integrated phenomenon.

The successful candidate will be expected to develop a vigorous, externally funded research program, to contribute to undergraduate and graduate teaching, and to participate in the intellectual life of the department.

Responsibilities: This position has an effort split of 50% research and 50% teaching.

Applications and Starting Date: The anticipated starting date is July 1, 2027, or as negotiated. Qualified applicants should submit (1) a cover letter briefly summarizing background, qualifications, and interest in the position, (2) a Curriculum Vitae, (3) a research statement outlining experience, interests, and goals, (4) a teaching statement outlining experience, interests, and goals, (5) copies of four relevant publications, and (6) names and contact information for three references.

Materials should be submitted online to: Applications received by November 15, 2026, will be given full consideration. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an on-site visit in early 2027.

This is an in-person position. The successful candidate will be expected to relocate within commuting distance of Ithaca, NY. Relocation assistance may be provided.

Consistent with Cornell’s practice, appointment to academic positions require candidates to disclose relevant information about their prior employment including whether they have been found to have violated institutional or employer policies related to or governing unlawful discrimination and harassment, academic and research misconduct, or financial misconduct.

We seek a colleague with an outstanding record demonstrating success and promise across all these areas, and who will be supported by and contribute to a vibrant culture of inclusive excellence at Cornell. Learn how CALS fosters an environment where faculty are supported, valued, and empowered to make meaningful contributions throughout their careers.

Inquiries may be directed to:

Dept. Neurobiology and Behavior

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853

Email: View email address on click.appcast.io

In compliance with New York's Pay Transparency Law, the annual base salary range for this assistant professor position is $90,000 - $135,000. This pay range represents base pay (for 9 months). Cornell University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Cornell University seeks to meet the needs of dual career couples, has a Dual Career program, and is a member of the Upstate New York Higher Education Recruitment Consortium to assist with dual career searches including positions available in higher education in the upstate New York area.

The new faculty member will join a collaborative, interdisciplinary community on the main campus in Ithaca, New York. Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League and Land-grant university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement.

Cornell’s regional and global presence includes state-wide Cornell Cooperative Extension programs and offices in all counties and boroughs, global partnerships with institutions and communities engaged in life-changing research and education, the medical college’s campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, and the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.

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 View email address on click.appcast.io.

To learn more about applying for a position at Cornell, this notice contains important information about applying for a position at Cornell as well as some of your rights and responsibilities as an applicant.

Cornellwelcomes 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 seeksjob candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. Wehire based on merit, andencourage 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.

Assistant Professor - Neural Mechanisms of Natural Behavior

Focus: Neural Mechanisms of Natural Behavior
Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University

Position: Assistant Professor, Tenure-track.

Location: Ithaca, NY. The academic home for this position is the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, housed on the Ithaca campus of Cornell University.

The Department of Neurobiology and Behavior (NBB) in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Cornell University welcomes applications for a full-time tenure-track position in The Neural Mechanisms of Natural Behaviors at the assistant professor level.

We seek an outstanding scientist whose research connects animal behavior to its underlying neural mechanisms. We are interested in candidates who study how the brain generates, controls, or is shaped by innate or learned behaviors that have evolved in natural contexts, for example communication, navigation, mating, foraging, or social interaction, and who integrate neural measurements with rigorous, quantitative analysis of animal behavior. Laboratory and/or field-based research programs that utilize experimental, physiological, genomic, developmental, computational, or comparative approaches to uncover the neural mechanisms of animal behavior are welcome. Candidates working across species (both model and non-model; vertebrate or invertebrate) are encouraged to apply.

NBB was founded on the premise that neurobiology and behavior must be studied together, and this position is central to that mission. Faculty have access to the Liddell Field Laboratory, a unique resource for studying behavior in naturalistic settings, as well as to resources of Cornell Neurotech, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Center for Vertebrate Genomics, Imaging and Biotechnology Cores, and to a rich community of neuroscientists and behavioral biologists across campus. Cornell also has an active community of physicists, engineers, and computational scientists developing tools for the analysis and quantification of animal physiology and behavior. We are committed to building a community in which behavior and its neural basis are understood as a single integrated phenomenon.

The successful candidate will be expected to develop a vigorous, externally funded research program, to contribute to undergraduate and graduate teaching, and to participate in the intellectual life of the department.

Responsibilities: This position has an effort split of 50% research and 50% teaching.

Applications and Starting Date: The anticipated starting date is July 1, 2027, or as negotiated. Qualified applicants should submit (1) a cover letter briefly summarizing background, qualifications, and interest in the position, (2) a Curriculum Vitae, (3) a research statement outlining experience, interests, and goals, (4) a teaching statement outlining experience, interests, and goals, (5) copies of four relevant publications, and (6) names and contact information for three references.

Materials should be submitted online to: Applications received by November 15, 2026, will be given full consideration. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an on-site visit in early 2027.

This is an in-person position. The successful candidate will be expected to relocate within commuting distance of Ithaca, NY. Relocation assistance may be provided.

Consistent with Cornell’s practice, appointment to academic positions require candidates to disclose relevant information about their prior employment including whether they have been found to have violated institutional or employer policies related to or governing unlawful discrimination and harassment, academic and research misconduct, or financial misconduct.

We seek a colleague with an outstanding record demonstrating success and promise across all these areas, and who will be supported by and contribute to a vibrant culture of inclusive excellence at Cornell. Learn how CALS fosters an environment where faculty are supported, valued, and empowered to make meaningful contributions throughout their careers.

Inquiries may be directed to:

Search Chair: Micheal Sheehan

Dept. Neurobiology and Behavior

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853

Email: View email address on click.appcast.io

In compliance with New York's Pay Transparency Law, the annual base salary range for this assistant professor position is $90,000 - $135,000. This pay range represents base pay (for 9 months). Cornell University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Cornell University seeks to meet the needs of dual career couples, has a Dual Career program, and is a member of the Upstate New York Higher Education Recruitment Consortium to assist with dual career searches including positions available in higher education in the upstate New York area.

The new faculty member will join a collaborative, interdisciplinary community on the main campus in Ithaca, New York. Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League and Land-grant university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement.

Cornell’s regional and global presence includes state-wide Cornell Cooperative Extension programs and offices in all counties and boroughs, global partnerships with institutions and communities engaged in life-changing research and education, the medical college’s campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, and the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.

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 View email address on click.appcast.io.

To learn more about applying for a position at Cornell, this notice contains important information about applying for a position at Cornell as well as some of your rights and responsibilities as an applicant.

Cornellwelcomes 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 seeksjob candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. Wehire based on merit, andencourage 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.

Pay Range:

Refer to Posting Language

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 View email address on click.appcast.io.

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 View phone number on click.appcast.io, or email at View email address on click.appcast.io.

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 View email address on click.appcast.io.

Notice to Applicants:

To learn more about applying for a position at Cornell, this notice contains important information about applying for a position at Cornell as well as some of your rights and responsibilities as an applicant.

About Us

Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery and engagement. With our main campus located in Ithaca, NY, Cornell's far-flung global presence includes the medical college's campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, as well as the Cornell Tech campus located on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.

We offer a rich array of services, programs and benefits to help employees advance in their career and enhance the quality of personal life, including: employee wellness, workshops, childcare and adoption assistance, parental leave, flexible work options.