Hiring Organization:
Washington University in Saint Louis
Date Posted:
2012-01-29
Position Description:
Research assistants will be assisting main researchers in an investigation of a community of callitrichids in a long-term study at two sites in southeast Peru: a biological field station called CICRA located on the Los Amigos river, and the CCRST, a more rugged site that is barely known to science. While CICRA is fully equipped to sustain long-term projects, with laboratory space and large public areas, the CCRST is definitely more of an adventure with our team likely being the single team on site. As such, the CCRST is slightly cheaper to stay at than CICRA, but all volunteers will be required to spend 2 weeks at CICRA training before moving to the CCRST.
Assistants will work on monitoring the behavior, ecology, communication and reproduction of groups of four primate species.
CICRA: Saddleback tamarins (Saguinus fuscicollis), emperor tamarins (Saguinus imperator) and Goeldii's Monkey (Callimico goeldii) costing ~$1500/month
CCRST: Saddleback tamarins (Saguinus fuscicollis), white-lipped tamarin (Saguinus labiatus) and Goeldii's Monkey (Callimico goeldii) costing ~1000/ month
Here are some of the specific tasks you will participate in:
1. Line transect surveys of primates
2. Daily follows of individual monkey groups
3. Behavioral observations during follows
4. Positional data recording (GPS) on ranging patterns of groups
5. Vegetation sampling
6. Recording locations and monitoring plant feeding sites
7. Setting up and monitoring traps
8. Assisting during processing of animals once trapped (when applicable).
This will include:
a. Photographing individuals
b. Recording data as obtained from the individuals
c. Collecting DNA samples (painlessly, and with NO harm to the individual)
This is a great opportunity for a student interested in a graduate program in biology, conservation, ecology or anthropology. You will learn how to record behavioral data, track primates using sound as well as radio telemetry, and conduct focal follows on individual animals. In depth-training through the use of audio-visual aids and field demonstrations on tropical field biology in general will be provided to all accepted candidates.
A minimum of a 2-month commitment is required. If your situation is special and you can stay for longer, please contact us. We are accepting volunteers immediately for the months of April to July (CICRA begins in April and the CCRST in June). Should an individual be able to work beyond this period, they will at least have to begin during the aforementioned months in order to be trained; indeed we are specifically looking for students who can stay on for longer than July to continue monitoring of groups until December.
Fill out the application at http://www.primatesperu.org/how-you-can-help/raoa and have a recommendation letter from a reliable reference sent via email to primatesperu@gmail.com within 2 weeks of completing the online application. All letters must come directly from the reference and not from the applicant.
Decisions will be made quickly and on a rolling basis, beginning right away. We expect to be able to accommodate ~8 research assistants for the summer.
A detailed job description can be found here: http://primatesperu.org/howyoucanhelp/volunteerreq
Qualifications/Experience:
Ideally, volunteers should have past experience working or living in a tropical country, preferably in South America. More importantly, a background in science that allows you to understand the scientific method, basic research terminology, and maintenance of data records is vital.
Past Experience
The qualifications we are looking for in a research assistant are:
Degree or expected degree in a life science or anthropology
Knowledge of at least basic Spanish
Good physical and mental health
Ability to hike long distances (> 6 miles) in a day
Ability to carry a moderately heavy pack
Cheerful, optimistic approach to work
Ability to be independent of family and friends for extended periods
Commitment to the project during days of work (5/6 days a week)
Ability to work with Microsoft Office and Excel for data entry/backup
No fear of snakes, insects, etc.
Salary/funding:
There is no salary or funding provided to first-time volunteers
Support provided for internship/volunteer positions (travel, meals, lodging):
The costs of the project include meals and lodging, but travel to the sites is outside of the project costs.
Term of Appointment:
2 month commitment, 3 is preferred, beginning in April 2012
Application Deadline:
March 1, 2012, rolling until positions are filled
Comments:
The earlier applications will benefit, as applicants are accepted on a rolling basis from the beginning of 2012. For further instructions, visit www.primatesperu.org and look under "How you can Help" . Please direct all correspondence to primatesperu@gmail.com
Contact Information:
Mrinalini Watsa
USA
Website:
http://www.primatesperu.org
E-mail Address:
mwatsa@wustl.edu