Graduate Teaching Research Positions

Students who join the Program in Real Estate often looks for ways to contribute to the Program and to Cornell University in ways other than school work. The Program in Real Estate specifically designs positions for this purpose and offers them to interested and qualified students. Graduate Teaching and Research Specialist (GTRS) positions vary in responsibilities and duties, depending on the interests of the applicant but allow students to participate in meaningful activities on campus. Additionally, these positions relieve some of the financial burden that students often face when attending graduate school, possibly covering up to 50% of annual tuition costs. It is important to note that the positions are offered to students in both years of the Program. Incoming students are able to apply for these jobs during the first few weeks of school.

The following is a sample of current GTRS positions that have been made available to students in the Program in Real Estate. New positions and job descriptions can arise depending on demand but all positions require interested students to complete an application process.

Brian McKinley, MPS/RE’12, currently holds the Graduate Research Fellowship position in which he works directly with Student Agencies, Inc. in a variety of functions. Student Agencies, Inc. is the nation’s oldest independent student-run corporation and offers a mix of services ranging from Marketing Consulting to Student Housing Services. Mr. McKinley works primarily with the Student Housing division and is responsible for providing the following services for the property portfolio: financial analysis, asset management and sustainability consulting. When asked about his experience as a Graduate Research Fellow he noted, “This position has given me the opportunity to gain practical experience that is easily applicable to a future job or internship. It’s fantastic to be able to apply some of the theory learned in class directly to the projects we are working on.”

Another position that is available to students is the Graduate Admissions Specialist, which Randolph Zhao, MPS/RE’12, currently holds. Although duties and responsibilities may vary in this function, the goal of the Graduate Admissions Specialist is to guide potential PRE students through the application process. He describes the role as, “Applicants can find the process daunting and sometimes need a hand, particularly students who are not familiar with the American application system. This position gives me the chance to give back to the Program and help others.”

The Program understands that some students may prefer a more traditional approach to these positions and consequently offers Graduate Teaching Assistantships. Students who excel in certain courses are eligible to apply for these positions and assist university professors with a variety of tasks including: conducting research, instructing workshops and tutoring other students through course material. These positions are mainly reserved for PRE students in their second year of the Program. Some of the current students holding Graduate Teaching Assistantship positions and their respective course are:

     
  • Ankoor Jivan – Principles of Real Estate
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  • Joshua Heller – Real Estate Finance and Investments
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  • Stephen Woodward – Principles of Real Estate
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  • Richard Weidel – Real Estate Finance and Investments
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  • Khari Buck – Residential Development
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  • Tyler Williams – Real Estate Marketing


More positions are available and range from Editorial Board positions on the Cornell Real Estate Review to Video Editing for those interested in visual communications. One thing is certain, Graduate Teaching and Research Specialist positions are available to interested students and offer a great way to be more connected to Cornell during graduate study. The positions also offer opportunities to meet and work with faculty and students from other schools on campus which is beneficial to students preparing to enter an interdisciplinary industry such as real estate. For more information regarding GTRS opportunities contact the PRE office at (607) 255-7110.