Hiring Organization:
Smithsonian Institution - National Zoo
Date Posted:
2009-12-28
Position Description:
The Center for Conservation Education and Sustainability (CCES) at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo is seeking a highly motivated post-doctoral fellow to design and lead a large-scale study of the influence of roads on wildlife in a coastal rainforest, southwestern Gabon. The study area’s network of mostly unpaved access roads has been developed as a result of oil development activities in the region. The potential influence of these roads on wildlife, either directly, through disturbance or habitat fragmentation, or indirectly through increased access to hunters, is of concern to the associated oil company, as well as to CCES and other NGOs who have been engaged in conservation research and biodiversity monitoring in this region for many years. Mammalian wildlife, particularly primates, ungulates and larger carnivores, will be a focus of the study but additional taxa may also be included. This research will factor into a larger, long-running research and education effort in the region which has focused on documenting the region’s biological diversity, assessing the impact of extractive-use operations on local flora and fauna, and working with government and private-sector decision makers to minimize these impacts.
Background: The Center for Conservation Education and Sustainability (CCES) has over fifteen years of experience integrating biodiversity conservation into energy development projects and nearly ten years working in Gabon. The Center’s Gabon Biodiversity Program is the principal organization dedicated to advancing fundamental scientific discovery, capacity building and understanding of biological diversity in what is known as the Gamba Complex of Protected Areas (Gamba Complex). The Gamba Complex is an 11,320 km 2 area which includes two national parks (Loango, Moukalaba-Doudou) and a partially protected zone (3585km2) between them, known as the industrial corridor, where selective logging and oil production takes place. Our program is a partnership with the government of Gabon, Shell Gabon and other stakeholders and plays an important role in the research, monitoring, conservation and education programs for the region.
Qualifications/Experience:
The successful applicant will have: 1) a PhD in wildlife ecology, forest ecology, conservation biology or a related discipline, 2) research experience and publication record in tropical ecology, particularly using mammalian field survey methods (e.g. camera trapping, line-transects), 3) strong organizational skills, and 4) experience working in remote tropical areas. A basic to intermediate level of GIS experience as well as some knowledge of French is preferred. The position is a 1-yr appointment with potential for extension depending on funding. Position will be based in Washington DC when field work in Gabon is not ongoing. The successful applicant should expect to spend multiple months of the year in Gabon.
Applicants should email: 1) a letter of interest detailing qualifications for the position, 2) curriculum vitae and 3) a list of 3 professional references with contact information (institution, email address, phone number) to Dr. Joe Kolowski at kolowskij@si.edu. Please include “Gamba Post-doc application” in the subject line.
Salary/funding:
$42,000/yr.
Term of Appointment:
1-yr appointment with potential for extension depending on funding.
Application Deadline:
January 22, 2009
Contact Information:
Dr. Joseph Kolowski
1100 Jefferson Dr. SW., Suite 3123, Quad
Washington, D.C. 20560
USA
Website:
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ConservationAndScience/MAB/conservation/centralafrica/gabon/default.cfm
E-mail Address:
kolowskij@si.edu