Behavioural Ecology fieldwork in Texas, April-May 2013
Closing date: Wednesday March 13th 2013
We are seeking a field assistant for 4-6 weeks starting mid April 2013, to help with a social insect behavioural ecology field study in southern Texas, USA. This is a collaborative project between the Institute of Zoology at London Zoo, and Queen Mary University of London. We work on an unusual and fascinating pollinator species, the Mexican honey wasp (see http://www.texasento.net/Brachygastra.htm). These wasps live in large paper nests in the area and share many behavioural features with honeybees. The project will focus on their foraging behaviour. We will work with live wasps, setting up artificial feeders, and carrying out video observations and dissections, so the successful candidate will gain excellent first-hand experience of behavioural ecology fieldwork.
Accommodation will be in a trailer shared with other members of the research group with shower, cooking facilities, etc., at a university extension centre in a small town. The field assistant will be part of a team with one principle investigator and one PhD student. Air fare (from the UK) and accommodation expenses will be provided, so each applicant will need to pay only their own food/personal expenses, which are relatively cheap in Texas.
Working conditions can be hard, in very hot temperatures, so applicants must have a fitness level suitable for fieldwork, and most importantly, an enthusiastic interest in evolutionary biology. A driving license, valid passport and at least one year’s driving experience is essential; applicants must also be over 21 to satisfy car insurance requirements.
For more information, contact:
Elli Leadbeater (ellouise.leadbeater@ioz.ac.uk)
or Erika Dawson (e.h.dawson@qmul.ac.uk).
To apply, send a covering letter and CV, including contact details (email addresses and telephone numbers) for 2 referees. Email as a single Word document or pdf to ellouise.leadbeater@ioz.ac.uk.