CORNELL UNIVERSITY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Research Technician
- Bird Research Technician
Job Titles:
- Director, Web Communications
Expertise
Product Management • Marketing • Product Development
I work with the Web Communications team on the Cornell Lab's website, All About Birds, Merlin for the Web, and service the Lab's web needs. I also work with various programs and projects across the Lab on product development and marketing.
I write the code that makes eBird work. As a birder, I find it rewarding to work on a product that I (try to) use every day, and has brought me a lot of joy.
After graduating from Bowdoin College with a degree in Mathematics and Russian, I started watching birds and working as a software programmer. I worked in NYC for two years before moving to Moscow where I continued programming, birdwatching, and improving my Russian. After the war broke out between Russia and Ukraine in 2022, I moved back to the United States and found the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Job Titles:
- Data Science & Software Engineer
Expertise
Data engineering • Python • spatial databases • SQL • GIS • R
Expertise
Membership Management • Customer Service
I knew I was a nature lover from a young age, participating in every school environmental club or green team event. In college, I discovered the many ways to enjoy being outdoors from dendrology course work to white water rafting and winter camping. My passion for helping others was also born, working with volunteer clubs that partnered with Habitat for Humanity and Relay for Life. Bouncing to an AmeriCorps stint at a Soil and Water Conservation District in the Pacific Northwest, I learned about community organizing and building relationships.
Cornell became my home away from home after moving to the Ithaca area. I found my home in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations for 11 years and built wonderful relationships with colleagues there. Once our family expanded we decided it would be beneficial for me to stay at home for a few years. Luckily enough the Sciencenter became my home as my next career stage, which provided the foundation and expertise to begin my work with the Membership team at the Lab of Ornithology. I am thrilled to be here and hope it will be another long journey on my path in life.
Education
B.S., SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
I connect people to the Cornell Lab's Merlin Bird ID by doing talks, webinars, and other outreach activities, and assist Merlin users by managing the help desk. I love supporting birders both new and experienced, and Merlin is an amazing tool that can help anybody learn!
My love of birds was sparked on a middle-school field trip to Cape May to see the annual spring spawning of horseshoe crabs and the shorebirds that depend on them (what's cooler than thousands of birds fueling up on the eggs of prehistoric-looking crabs!?). I attended the Young Birders Event here at the lab in 2011 and learned that there are careers that focus on bird conservation, and I continued on to get a BS in Wildlife Ecology to pursue the dream of working with birds.
In the many jobs I've worked since graduating (with puffins, shorebirds, and owls) I've found the most impactful experiences to be working with citizen scientists, volunteers and birders, which is what has led me to my current role with Merlin. Birding and citizen science has an amazing and huge positive impact on conservation and our understanding of birds, and Merlin is a fantastic way to help birders of all levels connect with the birds around them.
Education
B.S. Wildlife Science, State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF)
Job Titles:
- Garvin Professor and Senior Director, Center for Avian Population Studies
Job Titles:
- Faculty Curator of Ichthyology
Expertise
Species & field surveys • Nest assessments • Raptor handling & management • Public outreach & education
As an assistant at the Visitor Center, I juggle a few different responsibilities. I am responsible for ensuring that the Cornell Lab's library requests are sent out in a timely fashion, give tours as a docent, and assist with staffing the front desk.
After taking a non-traditional route to academia, I chose Cornell University because of its prowess in ornithology. For 10 years I worked at a non-profit doing humanitarian aid and disaster relief work in several countries and saw the need for ecological conservation first hand. This made me passionate about public outreach as well as field work.
Education
B. Sc., Interdisciplinary studies, Cornell University
Job Titles:
- Director, Bird Population Studies
I research, document, and produce media that supports partnerships and conservation outcomes around the world. My role in the Cornell Lab's Center for Conservation Media spans pre-production partnership-building, story research and writing, field production logistics and cinematography. In close collaboration with worldwide partners on location, our team produces compelling media about birds and their environments in order to reach targeted audiences with a capacity for conservation action.
I've been a birder since I was in elementary school, and always wanted to study ornithology at Cornell. I ended up doing my undergraduate studies here, focused on shorebird migration. I assumed I'd be a researcher in academia, but at the Cornell Lab encountered another path into science-based multimedia storytelling. It's an exciting place to work, blending science, policy, and art to strategically pursue real-world impact.
Job Titles:
- Research Support Technician
I create data visualizations and summaries for conservation agencies using eBird Status and Trends products to support the full annual cycle conservation of migratory birds.
I started birding around 2014-15 and attended the Cornell Lab's Young Birders Event in 2018. I came to Cornell for my undergraduate studies in 2019 and have been involved in Cornell Lab projects ever since. I have also worked extensively with Macaulay Library and the Merlin project.
Job Titles:
- Research Analyst
- Research Analyst / Center K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics
I coordinate the K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics real-time right whale monitoring project in Massachusetts Bay. Large-scale data analysis and integration of technological advancements in conservation practices has been a focal point of this effort. Also, I coordinate education and outreach efforts to communicate our research findings to a wide range of stakeholder groups.
Growing up at the edge of the Bay of Bengal and Sundarban, the largest mangrove forest in the world, introduced me to the sights and sounds of the natural world and shaped my personal and professional life. I have witnessed the struggle between human interest and a declining natural world firsthand. I have seen how human interest pushed the royal Bengal tigers to the edge of extinction and how a changing climate threatened the livelihood of millions of people in the coastal regions of Bangladesh. These experiences shaped my determination for advancing our understanding of large-scale ecological phenomena and sharing information with various stakeholder communities about potential conservation solutions. I am actively involved in environmental conservation through scientific inquiries and public engagement.
Expertise
Native Habitat • Sustainability • Conservation & Sustainability Education
At the Cornell Lab I am involved in two projects, Nest Quest Go! and the Great Backyard Bird Count.
Job Titles:
- Software Developer
- Software Developer / Center K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics
Job Titles:
- Communications Specialist
Expertise
Communications • Biology • Ecology • Outreach • Education
I manage the content and communications for the Cornell Lab's Bird Cams project. Whether it's in the nest or at the feeder, live streaming cameras provide a great way to connect people with nature through their intimate views of wild birds. In my role, I develop content that fosters deeper learning about the resiliency, behaviors, and natural history of the birds that are featured on cam.
My love of birds and science has continued to grow as I've moved east from Nebraska to Ontario to New York. Thankfully, I've landed in a position at the Lab where I can use my skills to help the public develop a stronger interest, understanding, and respect for our natural world.
Education
M.S., Biology, Western University
B.S., Animal Science, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Job Titles:
- Research Analyst
- Research Analyst / Center K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics
I became interested in bioacoustics as an undergraduate after reading about Katy Payne's pioneering research on elephant infrasound and learning about the African elephant poaching crisis. That led me to attend the Sound Analysis Workshop hosted in 2007, where my interest in bioacoustics grew. I began working at the K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics in 2008, where I use passive acoustic technology in the context of ecology and conservation. Most of my current research is focused on baleen whale spatiotemporal acoustic occurrence in anthropogenically active marine environments in order to better understand habitat use and inform management decisions. In much of my research, I measure ambient noise levels to characterize noise conditions of marine habitats before, during, and after invasive industrial operations.
Expertise
Marketing • Graphic Design • Advertising Partnerships • Strategy and Implementation.
I develop and execute Bird Academy's marketing strategy, to help bring its award-winning content to bird enthusiasts of all levels. As a lifelong "bird nerd" and licensed falconer/raptor handler, I have a personal and vested interest in advancing Bird Academy's mission of education. I bring my background in marketing, graphic design, and vendor relations to our amazingly talented team at the Lab.
Education
B.A., University of Akron
Job Titles:
- Director, Development and Philanthropy
Job Titles:
- Desktop Support Technician
- Support Technician
Job Titles:
- Digital Publications Lead
I provide support and training for many students, visiting scientists, and other researchers who come to the Fuller Evolutionary Biology Laboratory from all over the world to perform molecular work with samples (e.g., blood, tissue, and feathers) collected during their fieldwork. I maintain and manage the molecular laboratory and train lab users in everything from extracting DNA to whole genome sequencing.
I find it fascinating how just four little bases that make up DNA can convey so much information! Until my move to the Cornell Lab, I had spent most of my career studying DNA regulation in bacteria and knew very little about birds. Here at the Cornell Lab I continue to apply my strong molecular background to training others and hoping that they too will learn to appreciate the wonders of the molecular world. Along the way I am learning that birds are pretty cool too.
Education
Ph.D., Microbiology, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
B.Sc., Microbiology and Biochemistry, University of Cape Town, South Africa
B.Sc. (Honours), Microbiology, University of Cape Town, South Africa
I am the Managing Editor for Birds of the World. I work with a vibrant community of editors, authors, experts, photographers, and recordists to produce one of the richest and most authoritative digital natural history resources. I am thrilled to be at the Cornell Lab, where I not only have the privilege of thinking about birds every day, but I get to combine my background in educational resource design with my passion to make digital natural history engaging, authoritative, and accessible.
A lifelong aspiring naturalist, I have been watching birds since childhood, but in all honesty my enthusiasm extends to most anything with a backbone (and many things without!). In my formative years, I worked at a natural history museum and was an itinerant field biologist. This afforded me opportunities to work on everything from spiders to Hawaiian honeycreepers before I returned to the academic world to pursue my Ph.D. My experiences in graduate school led me to a love of teaching and a desire to create engaging and effective educational content, which got me into the world of digital publishing before I came to the Cornell Lab.
Expertise
Mobile Development • Java Development
I'm responsible for developing and maintaining the Android version of the Merlin Bird Id app. I believe Merlin is a powerful tool for bringing new people from all around the world into birding, and thus raise their awareness of birds and the environment. Tools like Merlin can change people's and birds' lives.
I've worked with information technology since 2000, and started birding in 2008. I joined the Cornell Lab in 2015 and finally had the chance to combine my professional skills with my passion for birds.
Education
Masters, Ecology and Conservation of Natural Resources, Universidade Federal de Uberl ndia, Brazil
Undergraduate, Universidade Federal de Uberl ndia, Physics
Job Titles:
- Professor Emeritus of Neurobiology and Behavior
Job Titles:
- Leadership Giving Officer
Expertise
Philanthropy • Habitat Conservation • Community Engagement • Partnership-building • Conservation Planning
As a member of the philanthropy team, I serve as an ambassador for the Lab of Ornithology and raise support for the Lab's programs. In my role, I'm fortunate to collaborate with donors who are dedicated to advancing the conservation, appreciation, and understanding of both birds and our planet.
My enthusiasm for birds and the natural world started at a very early age, thanks to my parents. Professionally, I became focused on birds after a fateful day banding birds with the Lab's Dr. David Bonter during a field ornithology course. As a Cornell undergraduate, I spent part of the academic year at the Lab conducting field research and contributing to efforts inside the building-from writing All About Birds species accounts to working for the eBird team. My summers were spent in the field researching bird behavior and habitat use.
Upon graduation, I conducted research for the Lab in the Channel Islands and later worked for a nonprofit in Costa Rica before pursuing my graduate work. Studying imperiled bird species in the U.S. and Central America fostered a real sense of urgency for me to help enact change. Consequently, I shifted my focus to protecting land and working directly with people. For many years I conserved land, restored habitat, and conducted outreach programs with land conservation organizations in both the U.S. and Latin America.
Prior to returning to the Lab of Ornithology, I served as the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition. I'm delighted to have come full circle and to be back with the Lab of Ornithology building capacity for bird conservation.
Education
Master's, Duke University, Environmental Management
B.S., Cornell University, Natural Resources
Job Titles:
- Curator of Fishes and Herps
Job Titles:
- Leadership Giving Officer
Expertise
Philanthropy • Advocacy • Relationship Management • Donor Giving • Conservation
I help members deepen their relationship with the Cornell Lab and achieve their philanthropic goals. Whether I'm working with those who are giving to support a specific project, or who are leaving a legacy that includes the Cornell Lab, I am humbled to build and nurture relationships with amazing partners who make our work possible.
My love for nature and all it encompasses began at a very young age. When I first moved to Ithaca in 2017 to pursue my Master's degree in public administration and nonprofit management at Cornell, I quickly discovered the Cornell Lab and felt drawn to its mission to conserve birds and biodiversity through the unique combination of innovative technology, citizen science, research, and education. I am grateful to work alongside such a talented and enthusiastic group of individuals.
Education
B.A, Geography, University of Colorado at Boulder
M.A., Public Administration, Cornell University
Job Titles:
- Project Leader, Bird Cams
Job Titles:
- Development Database Manager
Job Titles:
- Public Programs Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Program Assistant, Golden - Wing Society
Job Titles:
- Individual Giving Officer
Job Titles:
- Information / Data Manager
Job Titles:
- Field Applications Engineer
Job Titles:
- Senior Director, Marketing and Communications
Job Titles:
- Senior Scientist Emeritus
Job Titles:
- Managing Director, Center for Avian Population Studies and Director, EBird
Job Titles:
- Research Support Specialist
Job Titles:
- Network Support Specialist
Job Titles:
- Public Information Assistant
Job Titles:
- Project Leader, Macaulay Library
Job Titles:
- Direct Response Fundraising Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Senior Research Associate
Job Titles:
- IOS Application Developer
Job Titles:
- Director, Elephant Listening Project
Job Titles:
- Co - Director, Center for Engagement in Science and Nature
Job Titles:
- Field Research Specialist & First Mate
Job Titles:
- Strategic Partnerships Manager
Dr. Ian Owens is the Cornell Lab's executive director. Photo courtesy Ian Owens.
Job Titles:
- Project Leader, Birds - of - Paradise
Job Titles:
- Project Leader, Project FeederWatch
Job Titles:
- Manager, Golden - Wing Society
Job Titles:
- Research and Laboratory Technician
Job Titles:
- Curator, Macaulay Library
Job Titles:
- Professor, Faculty Curator of Herpetology
Job Titles:
- Project Coordinator, EBird
Job Titles:
- Director, Fuller Evolutionary Biology Program and Director, Center for Biodiversity Studies and Higher Education
Job Titles:
- Story Researcher / Associate Producer
Job Titles:
- Multimedia Collections Specialist
Job Titles:
- Associate Director for Administration
Job Titles:
- Manager of Facilities Operations
Job Titles:
- User Experience ( UX ) Designer, Bird Academy
Job Titles:
- Project Co - Leader, EBird
Job Titles:
- Senior Director, Operations and Staff Development
Job Titles:
- Director, Membership and Annual Giving
Job Titles:
- Graphics Editor and Staff Illustrator
Job Titles:
- Computer Systems Administrator
Job Titles:
- Director, Conservation Media
Job Titles:
- Director Emeritus
- Director, K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics
Job Titles:
- Temporary Finance and Budget Specialist
Job Titles:
- Manager of Corporate Partnerships
Job Titles:
- Gift Processing Assistant
Job Titles:
- Professor, Faculty Curator of Herpetology
Job Titles:
- Applied Conservation Scientist Emeritus
Job Titles:
- Senior Course Developer and Instructor, Bird Academy
Job Titles:
- Data Processing Specialist
Job Titles:
- Research Associate, Applied Quantitative Ecologist
Job Titles:
- Digital Publications Marketing Manager
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director, K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics
Job Titles:
- Data Visualization Developer
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director, Fuller Evolutionary Biology Program
de Freitas, E. L., L. Campagna, B. Butcher, I. Lovette, and R. Caparroz (2022). Ecological traits drive genetic structuring in two open-habitat birds from the morphologically cryptic genus Elaenia (Aves: Tyrannidae). Journal of Avian Biology:jav.02931.
Job Titles:
- Visitor Experiences Manager
Job Titles:
- Member Services Associate
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director, Gift Planning Administration and Stewardship
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Job Titles:
- Bartel 's Science Illustrator
Job Titles:
- Bilingual Outreach Specialist
Job Titles:
- Director, Major Gifts and Corporate Marketing Partnerships
Job Titles:
- Research Support Specialist
Job Titles:
- Director, Macaulay Library
Job Titles:
- Senior Director, Science Communications
Job Titles:
- Co - Director, Engagement in Science and Nature
Job Titles:
- Senior Extension Associate Emeritus
Job Titles:
- Data Processing Specialist
Job Titles:
- Gift Processing Assistant
Job Titles:
- Director, Coastal Solutions Fellows Program
Job Titles:
- Senior Research Associate
Job Titles:
- Software / Firmware Developer
Job Titles:
- Applications Engineering Scientist
Job Titles:
- Direct Response Fundraising Manager
Job Titles:
- Senior Research Associate Emeritus
Job Titles:
- Systems Hardware Designer
Job Titles:
- Senior Extension Associate Emeritus
Job Titles:
- Machine Learning Engineer
Job Titles:
- Lead Web / User Experience Designer
Job Titles:
- Public Information Specialist
Job Titles:
- Media and Archive Manager
My spark bird was a Snowy Owl, when I overheard some professors talking about twitching one on the Maine coast, and I googled the bird and found out Hedwig was real.
Job Titles:
- K - 12 Education Learning Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Advertising and Marketing Manager
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Finance and Budget
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director, Engagement in Science and Nature
Job Titles:
- Geospatial Data Science Team Lead
Job Titles:
- Curator of Birds and Mammals
Job Titles:
- Bartels Science Illustrator
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director, Center for Avian Population Studies Program Leader, Conservation Science
Job Titles:
- Visiting Senior Scientist
Job Titles:
- Senior Research Associate
Job Titles:
- Grid and Application Programmer