Sports AI and Analytics Project Associate (Part-Time, 2-year TERM, Hybrid)

The Opportunity
Help connect sports, research, and student learning as Cornell’s Sports AI and Analytics Project Associate. In this role, you will coordinate projects, partnerships, and programming that bring together faculty, students, Cornell Athletics, alumni, and external partners to expand hands-on research opportunities and advance the use of data science and artificial intelligence to address real-world challenges in sports.
As the Sports AI and Analytics Project Associate, you will:
Support the development, administration, and coordination of Cornell’s Sports AI and Analytics initiative. Assist with program planning, implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement in collaboration with faculty, students, Cornell Athletics, alumni, and external partners.
Coordinate project activities by facilitating communication among faculty, students, Cornell Athletics, and external partners; connecting students with research opportunities and datasets; tracking project activities; and supporting the implementation of applied research projects in sports analytics, data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
Plan and coordinate conferences, workshops, meetings, and other program activities, including registration, scheduling, facilities, catering, technology, travel, and related logistics. Monitor programs and events, resolve issues, ensure compliance with university policies, and manage event budgets.
Coordinate program communications, reports, presentations, promotional materials, websites, and other digital resources. Support the dissemination of research through conferences, publications, and other academic and industry forums.
Coordinate administrative and logistical support for grant submissions, sponsorship activities, alumni engagement initiatives, and other external funding efforts. Develop and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support research, programming, and program growth.
Manage program budgets, accounts, expenses, and financial reporting.
Develop, create, and maintain databases and tracking systems to meet program needs. Track, gather, and report program statistics, including participation, research activity, partnerships, events, and program outcomes.
Evaluate program effectiveness and identify opportunities for future development. Collect, compile, and analyze program metrics and stakeholder feedback to support assessment, reporting, and future planning.
Recruit, train, and supervise temporary and student employees as needed.
Support the initiative’s broader goals of expanding student research opportunities, strengthening partnerships with Cornell Athletics, and advancing Cornell’s leadership in Sports AI and Analytics.
Oversee website maintenance, ensuring that information about contacts, policies and regulations, resources, events, and other program matters remains accurate and current.
About Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science
Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science is a college founded in recognition that computing is an essential tool in almost every scientific and scholarly discipline. It is a community of people committed to tackling some of the world's biggest challenges by working together across multiple colleges and two Cornell campuses. Bowers CIS is home to the three academic departments that power the information economy: Computer Science, Information Science and Statistics and Data Science. It is known for bold new ideas expressed in high-impact research and scholarship, inspiring educational contributions, and entrepreneurial and commercial engagement. The synergies among faculty, researchers and students make Bowers CIS more than the sum of its parts.
About the Statistics and Data Science Department
Statistics and Data Science (SDS) is a joint department with three participating colleges including ILR, CALS and Bowers CIS as the lead dean. The department combines the traditional tools of statistics, a solid foundation in probability theory, and the skills of computer science into a single, radically collaborative department. The department offers undergraduate degrees in Biometry through CALS and Statistics and Statistical Science through the College of Arts and Sciences, and also has a Master of Applied Statistics and a PhD graduate degree program. It is also closely associated with and oversees the Cornell Statistical Consulting Unit.
Cornell University is home to exceptional research across many disciplines related to sports, data science, analytics, and artificial intelligence. However, much of this work is currently distributed across different colleges and departments. Our vision is to create a centralized platform that showcases and connects sports-related research activities across the entire university, highlighting Cornell’s leadership in Sports AI and Analytics.
We aim to build strong partnerships with Cornell coaches and athletic teams to identify real-world challenges and develop research projects that contribute directly to athletic success. Through these collaborations, students gain access to authentic datasets and meaningful problems to solve, while coaches benefit from innovative, data-driven insights and solutions tailored to their needs.
A key objective of this initiative is to create a sustainable pipeline of research opportunities for students. Sports naturally inspire engagement and enthusiasm, making them an ideal gateway for students to deepen their expertise in data science, applied statistics, machine learning, and sports analytics while working on impactful projects.
Success Factors
You’ll thrive in this role if you demonstrate:
Proactive project coordination: You establish clear timelines and responsibilities, track progress, address obstacles, and keep collaborators informed to move projects from opportunity to completion.
Relationship building and collaboration: You build trust across academic and athletic settings, understand stakeholders’ needs, and connect students with meaningful research opportunities, faculty guidance, and datasets.
Strong organization and attention to detail: You coordinate well-run events, maintain accurate communications and records, and manage budgets and grant logistics reliably.
A commitment to continuous improvement: You use tracking systems, program metrics, and stakeholder feedback to assess results, inform priorities, and support program growth.
Hours, Location, and Appointment
This part-time position is based on Cornell’s Ithaca campus, with office and lab space in the new Computing and Information Science Building. Onsite presence is important for building relationships and launching projects with students, faculty, and Cornell Athletics staff. Some work may be performed remotely, with greater flexibility as projects become established, in coordination with the supervisor.
The position is 20 hours per week, generally Monday through Friday. Scheduling flexibility is needed to accommodate student availability, including student-athletes, with occasional evening or weekend meetings.
This is a two-year term appointment, with possible renewal depending on available funding and performance.
What We Need
A cover letter and resume outlining your interest and how your experience and goals align with the potential for mutual success in the role are required for consideration.
Bachelor’s Degree and 2 to 4 years relevant experience or equivalent combination
Highly organized and excellent time management
Strong attention to detail
Excellent written and verbal communication
High level of initiative
Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.
Knowledge of a University sports ecosystem
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.
Ability to explain complex statistical models to non-technical stakeholders like coaches and players.
Demonstrated background managing multi-faceted technical projects, preferably within a high-performance sports or academic setting
Rewards and Benefits
This position is 20 hours per week, generally Monday through Friday, with scheduling flexibility needed to accommodate student availability, including student-athletes, and occasional evening or weekend meetings.
This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement, and employees typically perform this role in a hybrid format. The university reserves the right to modify, suspend, revoke, or terminate the hybrid work arrangement at any time.
Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, and sustainability.
Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and nationa