Positions for two assistants for an ongoing long-term project in LuiKotale, Democratic Republic of Congo are offered. Candidates will work together with local assistants, contacting and following bonobos that are not yet habituated to the presence of human observers. Assistants will also screen video footage from camera traps to enhance identification of community members, take notes on encounters with bonobos that are not under habituation, and, occasionally, follow habituated bonobos.
Assistants will be accommodated at the campsite of Ekongo, located two hours walking distance from the research camp LuiKotale. The site is very remote; access is with charter planes from Kinshasa and a subsequent hike of 25 km across dense and swampy forest. There is no running water, phone coverage or internet access. Electricity is limited to power supplied by solar panels. Daily communication is restricted to text-only emails. Assistants sleep in sheltered tents and mostly eat local foods (e.g., beans, manioc and rice). At Ekongo, communication is in French. Candidates must be (a) physically fit; (b) resistant to mental stress; (c) self-motivated and able to work with minimal supervision while out in the field; and (d) tolerant to different social customs and beliefs. The ability to work in a team is essential. Note that the LKBP adheres strictly to gender equality and does not tolerate any form of sexual harassment. Field conditions are physically and mentally challenging; work hours can be very long, and assistants are sometimes exposed to severe weather and tropical diseases. Team members live in close proximity to one another and have to adjust to changes in the team composition. Please carefully consider whether you will be able to cope with these conditions for an extended period before applying for this position.
SALARY/FUNDING: 500 (five hundred) Euro/month
SUPPORT
- food (mix of mainly local food and some western food items)
- lodging (in tents)
- airfare for one domestic return flight from Kinshasa to the field site and back
- contribution of up to 800 Euro to an international return flight (reimbursement AFTER SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF A 9 MONTHS TERM OF APPOINTMENT)
TERM OF APPOINTMENT: 9 months starting in January 2026
Candidates need a health insurance covering expenses in case of a health emergency evacuation by charter plane. Expenses for the initial entrance visa to DRC, the health insurance, and the costs for the stay in Kinshasa, cannot be reimbursed.
Applications include an updated CV, a letter of motivation that shows how the candidate meets the qualifications outlined above, references of three people (or their contact information). Applications should be send to Dr. Gottfried Hohmann (hohmann@eva.mpg.de) and Dr. Barbara Fruth (bfruth@ab.mpg.de)
Information about the research and conservation activities at LuiKotale is available at