Graduate Field Assistant

About The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences  

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Cornell is a leader in purpose-driven, interdisciplinary science focused on complex global systems, food security, environmental health, and community prosperity. Within CALS, the Department of Animal Science offers undergraduate and graduate programs centered on the biology and management of food, laboratory, and companion animals.   

The Opportunity 

The Graduate Field Assistant (GFA) is an administrative position that provides programmatic and student support services for the Animal Science graduate field and professional degree programs. Under general supervision, the GFA serves as the primary administrative resources for approximately 50–55 graduate students, about 30 faculty members. The role serves as a central resource for students, faculty, and program directors while providing comprehensive support for graduate and professional degree programs, from recruitment to degree completion. Responsibilities include managing admissions, recruitment, funding administration, student records management, student progress tracking and reporting. The position coordinates with campus offices, contributes to outreach and website initiatives, and provides backup administrative support for course coordination activities.

Key Responsibilities 

• Serve as the primary administrative resource for students, faculty, the Director of Graduate Studies, and the MPS Director. 

• Support graduate and professional programs (admissions, recruitment, orientation, and student records).  

• Coordinate with the Graduate Admissions Committee and manage funding processes (fellowships, assistantships, bursar credits). 

• Maintain and extract student data for field, college, and university reporting. 

• Serve as liaison with the Graduate School, Bursar’s Office, Registrar’s Office, and International Services Office. 

• Track student progress through degree completion. 

• Assist with recruitment by developing promotional materials and maintaining prospective student relationships. 

• Contribute to website updates and outreach initiatives. 

• Provide backup administrative support for ANSC course coordination activities in collaboration with the Undergraduate Program Coordinator. 

What We Need 

A resume and cover letter are required for further consideration. 

• Associate’s degree plus 2–4 years of relevant work experience. 

• Ability to build inclusive, equitable relationships with diverse stakeholders. 

• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. 

• Strong organizational, communication, multitasking, and interpersonal skills in fast-paced settings. 

• Ability to collaborate across college units and with varied constituents. 

• Sound judgment, creativity, analytical thinking, and problem-solving with confidential information. 

• Proven customer service experience and attention to detail with initiative. 

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively under pressure while balancing priorities. 

• Strong reasoning and innovation in resolving routine issues. 

• Ability to advocate for individuals from a broad range of backgrounds. 

Success Factors include: 

• Strong Communication Skills 

• Organizational & Time Management 

• Student-Centered Approach 

• Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking 

• Collaboration & Relationship Building 

• Technological Proficiency 

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. 

• Experience with systems used at Cornell University, including PeopleSoft, Workday, CollegeNET, Salesforce, Drupal, e-Shop, Canvas, and Qualtrics. 

This is a full-time (39 hours per week), three-year term position within the Contract College, based in Ithaca, NY, with a hybrid work arrangement. Employees typically work on-site four days per week and remotely one day per week. Core hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, with flexibility as needed. The final schedule will be determined in collaboration with the supervisor. 

Rewards and Benefits