Hiring Organization:
SUNY at Buffalo
Date Posted:
2012-06-29
Position Description:
We
are looking for two candidates to assist with a project on the
socioecology of behavior related to dominance, competition, cooperation
and conflict management among rhesus monkeys on Cayo Santiago. We will
examine between-group variation and co-variation of behavior across
three social groups. The project is being undertaken by Krishna
Balasubramaniam, a PhD candidate in the program in Ecology, Evolution
and Behavior, at the University at Buffalo, SUNY, under the supervision
of Dr. Carol Berman
(http://wings.buffalo.edu/anthropology/Faculty/berman.htm). The
volunteers will be working alongside the PhD candidate (Krishna) in the
field.
Successful applicants will be expected to work on Cayo Santiago for 6
days a week for 3-4 months at a stretch. They may also be required to
undertake data entry and/or processing during evenings, and on Sundays.
Work will primarily involve recording behavioral data (primarily dyadic
aggressive interactions, but also grooming, agonistic support in
conflicts and tolerance) in three groups of rhesus macaques by following
individual monkeys for half hour periods and recording data in a
sequential manner into digital devices, and by using video cameras to
record interaction at food bins and/or drinking stations.
The study will take place during a four month period tentatively between
February – June 2013. Final starting and ending dates will be decided
in September 2012.
Qualifications/Experience:
Individuals
with backgrounds in anthropology, biology, ecology, animal behavior or
psychology are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to
candidates with previous experience in primate behavioral data
collection on captive, wild or free-ranging groups. Previous field
experience (preferably in the tropics) is helpful, but not necessary.
Salary/funding:
No salary is available
Support
provided for internship/volunteer positions (travel, meals, lodging):
Support
for assistants will be provided pending funding from NSF. Currently,
the project has been "recommended for funding", and we expect to have
the final decision by mid August. If fully funded, we will provide
support for airfare from mainland US to San Juan, Puerto Rico, ground
transportation to the field site, modest lodging (three investigators
will share a fully furnished two-bedroom apartment) and a modest
allowance for living expenses at the field site. The applicant will have
to cover his/her own expenses for medical insurance, medical tests
required to work on Cayo Santiago, and field clothes. The applicant’s
transportation and living expenses at the field site will be reimbursed
upon completion of the entire field season.
Term of Appointment:
February 2013 – June 2013
Application Deadline:
There
is no strict deadline, but we will be reviewing applications throughout
July and August 2012, following which final decisions will be taken by
late September.
Comments:
For more
information, please contact Krishna Balasubramaniam at the address
below. To apply, please send him a brief letter (as an attachment to
your email) introducing yourself and expressing your interests in
working in this project, and a Resume that includes at least two
References. Subsequent interviews will be conducted by phone/ skype.
Contact
Information:
380 MFAC-Ellicott Complex
Buffalo, NY 14261
USA
E-mail Address: