Field Manager (Kenya)

Hiring Organization:

Kakamega Monkey Project (based at Columbia University)

Position Description:

Field assistant needed to participate for 12 months in longterm research project on the social behavior of blue monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis) in a rain forest in western Kenya (Kakamega Forest).

Current research focus is on cooperation among adult females with their group-mates, including grooming, feeding tolerance, and joining in territorial defense against neighboring groups. Assistant will (1) collect behavioral and baseline life history data (and occasional fecal samples), (2) conduct daily data entry and quality control in the evenings and possibly at other times, (3) oversee local staff of 4, and (4) be responsible for regular communication with Principal Investigator, as well as general trouble-shooting.

Data collection presumes learning (i) to recognize about 150 individual animals in 5 habituated social groups, (ii) the behavioral repertoire of the species, and (iii) the coding scheme.

Data collection into notebooks or onto data sheets includes ad libitum records, systematic focal animal follows of individual adult females, and all-occurrences sampling of intergroup encounters.

Data entry and management require some familiarity with Excel and computers generally, and facility with attending to detail.

Ability to speak and write clearly and correctly in fluent English is a must.

Candidate will be trained on site mainly by experienced field personnel, and is expected to manage the study on his/her own most of the year. (The PI will be on site during July 2009.) One of our local assistants is able to take on an increasing portion of the organizational duties, but the field manager is ultimately in charge.

This is a teamwork-oriented position, and the ability to work closely with others, as well as to take the lead when necessary, is critical. Some participation with a local conservation education group may also be part of the work.Great opportunity for someone wishing to gain field research experience in a serious way (you will get your feet wet, both literally and figuratively!), including taking on a position of serious responsibility. Animals are well habituated, so the monkey watching is excellent for a forested environment. The Kakamega Forest has a very high diversity of birds as well, plus all the other creatures (plants, insects, snakes, etc) that one would expect to find. This project has a long history of working successfully with field assistants, and can provide references to serious candidates.

Nearly all prior field assistants have moved on to graduate school or other research positions.Check out websites at:

http://www.columbia.edu/~mc51/web-pages/Research.htmlhttp://www.keeporg.cjb.net/

Qualifications/Experience:

Two kinds of relevant EXPERIENCE are mandatory: first, some kind of significant foreign travel or living experience, preferably to/in a developing country (and ideally in the tropics), and second, some experience working on a scientific research project (i.e. collecting and working with data systematically), ideally an observational project, and even more ideally in the field. Interest in primate behavior, and relevant course work (animal behavior, primate behavior) is presumed.In addition, applicant must have certain

QUALITIES:

s/he must be energetic, patient, open, responsible, flexible, healthy, able to work independently but also as part of a team, and highly motivated. Applicant must also be hardworking and able to keep going, and cheerfully! Our schedule is demanding and unconventional (3 days work, 1 day off), up to 9 hrs field time per day (less during rainy season), approximately 1 hour per evening and 1 hr per morning (on average) for data collation, and 3 weeks off (in 2-3 chunks, not all at once) over the year. The position is not ideal for someone who needs a lot of personal time, nor for someone who easily feels lonely. The ideal applicant must be comfortable being unplugged and far away from easy communication with the ‘outside world’ (field phone and modem-based email possible, but sometimes things just don’t work!), and comfortable with other conditions and risks that are simply part of tropical fieldwork (such as limited healthcare, monotonous diet, rare confrontations with noxious plants or animals).

Evidence of the above qualifications must be presented as part of application.Non-smoker preferred. Fluent English and touch-typing mandatory.2-3 references will be required. These cannot be from personal friends or family.Salary/funding:A modest but adequate monthly stipend will be available to cover living costs in Kenya. (Stipend for the first two months will be reimbursed retroactively after successful completion of this trial period.) An allowance is available to reimburse airfare to Kenya and travel from Nairobi to fieldsite; however, this will not be disbursed until you have completed the 12 month period. Finally, costs of procuring immigration and research clearance documents (about $250) will be covered, but again, only after successful completion of your term. A successful applicant must have her/his own health insurance, and should plan to bring a year'’s supply of antimalarial drugs. Malaria can be a problem in the area, and willingness to protect oneself chemically and physically (repellant, bednets) is important!

Support provided for internship/volunteer positions (travel, meals, lodging):Reasonably comfortable housing will be provided at the field site (small house in forest department village, solar power for lights, laptop, and battery charging, but no major appliances, limited running rain water). Binoculars can also be provided if needed.

Term of Appointment:

Beginning approximately May 20, 2008 for 12 months.

Application Deadline:

Position will be filled by first suitable candidate on a rolling basis. The position is not filled as long as this notice is still posted.

Comments:Interested persons should make contact via email initially. Please send a copy of your application to mc51@columbia.edu, and use "YOURNAME Field Assistant" in the subject line. Your application should consist of ONE document (attachment) with ALL relevant information (and your last name as the first word in the title, e.g. Smith_2008_application.pdf). PDF documents preferred.Please include the following information: (1) how you fit the qualifications and duties outlined here (please address the required personal qualities and experiences SPECIFICALLY, using the descriptions in this posting); (2) how this opportunity fits your ambitions/plans in the shorter and longer terms (why do you want to do this, and why at this stage of your life; what’s in it for you? how does the 12 month duration fit your plans?); (3) your nationality, current residence (city, country), age, and whether you are a student (or if not, when you last were); (4) your CV or resume, if you have one, including the names and contact information (ideally email) of at least three referees. You may include any other information about yourself that you think might be relevant. We will follow up with a phone interview for the most suitable candidates, or an actual on-site interview (an advantage) if you can get yourself to New York.Sorry, but please do not apply if you do not have the two types of requisite experience outlined in the Qualifications section above. If you have any doubts whatsoever about the fit of your personal qualities to the demands of this project, it would be best to describe them for future discussion.Contact Information:Marina Cords1200 Amsterdam Avenue, 10th floorNew York, NY 10027USATelephone Number:212 854 7337Website:http://http://www.columbia.edu/~mc51/E-mail Address:mc51@columbia.edu

SYSTERRA, Appel à projet

Ecosystèmes & Développement Durable**L'appel à projet du programme SYSTERRA, en cofinancement par l'AIRD** (Agence Interétablissement de Recherche pour le Développement) intègre des thématiques identifiées par le Grenelle de l'environnement.L'édition 2009 prolonge les orientations initiées en 2008 en se focalisant sur la question des fonctionnalités écologiques de l'agriculture, la foresterie et la pêche (écocultures).

Il s'agit d'assurer des productions à la hauteur des besoins dans une perspective de développement durable.Ses objectifs centraux sont **d'élaborer une nouvelle vague de technologie et de méthodes** : * permettant une **gestion plus durable des facteurs conditionnant les productions agricoles** : qualité biologique des sols, patrimoine génétique des espèces, protection sanitaire alternative contre les maladies et ravageurs dans un contexte de réduction du nombre de molécules autorisées, gestion durable des ressources en eau, économie d'intrants, etc; * assurant une **contribution positive des « écocultures » à la satisfaction des fonctions attendues des agro-écosystèmes** : gestion quantitative et qualitative des eaux, séquestration du carbone, biodiversité, etc. * conduisant à des nouvelles **méthodes et outils de gestion des territoires et des ressources marines** conciliant les différents usages productifs et les services écologiques, dans une perspective de développement durable (prise en compte de l'équité sociale et des besoins des générations futures).

Texte de l’appel à projet :

http://www.agence-nationale-recherche.fr/documents/aap/2009/aap-systerra-2009.pdf

Date limite de soumission des dossiers : 31 mars 2009 à 13h00

RESEARCH WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST

Brewerton, NY – The National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services (USDA/APHIS/WS) is recruiting a Research Wildlife Biologist for its Brewerton, New York satellite office. NWRC provides science-based solutions to the complex issues of wildlife damage management as related to agriculture, human health and safety problems (including wildlife diseases), invasive species, and threatened and endangered species. The Research Wildlife Biologist position is supervised by the NWRC Mississippi Field Station and conducts research to develop information and tools for managing avian depredations on aquaculture production systems and natural resources. For more information on current NWRC research efforts, please visit (URL: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ws/nwrc/). Position Duties: The Research Wildlife Biologist is responsible for conducting research, assisting in the development of research priorities, and in interacting with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders. Research entails a variety of species and objectives to learn more about the: * foraging ecology and impact of fish-eating birds to commercial and natural resources; * local, regional, and migratory movements of fish-eating birds; * role of fish-eating birds in the epidemiology of fish diseases; and * the development of information and tools for evaluating and managing impacts of fish-eating birds. Position Location: This position is collocated with the USDA/APHIS/WS Operations office in Brewerton, NY near Oneida Lake. Brewerton is a small suburb of approximately 3,500 people located near Syracuse, NY. The USDA/APHIS/WS office is about an hour from Cornell University in Ithaca and the Cornell Biological Station on Cayuga Lake. As a result, the successful candidate is expected to interact regularly with Cornell and the Cornell Biological Station, as well as with the USDA/APHIS/WS Operations office. He/she is also encouraged to qualify for faculty status at Cornell. In addition to activities in New York, research staff also conduct field studies throughout the eastern United States and Canada. Outdoor activities abound in nearby Oneida Lake, the Finger Lakes, Adirondack State Park, and Lake Ontario. Salary: The salary ranges from approximately $55,000 to $65,000 plus benefits, depending on the qualifications of the successful candidate. To Apply: The position will be advertised sometime in Dec 2008 on the USAJobs website (URL: http://www.usajobs.gov/) as a Research Wildlife Biologist (GS-486/401). The position will also be listed on the NWRC website (URL: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/nwrc). To apply, please visit the website and submit the appropriate forms. For Additional Information Interested candidates may contact: DR. MARK E. TOBIN (PH:: 970-266-6135; EM: Mark.E.Tobin AT aphis.usda.gov).

EXPERIENCED BIRD BANDER

EXPERIENCED BIRD BANDER needed for research program focusing on ecology and management of songbirds, primarily the federally endangered black-capped vireo and golden-cheeked warbler.

Primary project headquarters are west of Austin, Texas but will require periodic travel to assist at other project locations in Texas. Assistance needed from early Mar through late Jul. Duties will primarily consist of banding nestlings, target-netting and banding adults, and resighting color-bands; however, additional duties may include nest searching and monitoring, behavioral observations, surveys, territory mapping, vegetation sampling, and data entry.

Qualifications: previous experience handling and banding songbirds and the ability to collect data with strong attention to detail, work early mornings and long days under physically demanding conditions, operate 4X4 trucks, identify songbirds by sight and sound, and work independently and in groups. Applicant must be comfortable working with private landowners and must supply your own binoculars.

For more information please see our website (URL: http://irnr.tamu.edu/ramses/) under Regional, Highway 71. Positions will be filled as suitable applicant is identified. Pay starts at $1600/month, group housing and field vehicles provided. To apply please specify “Highway 71 Bander” in subject line and in cover letter. Submit cover letter, resume, and contacts for 3 references (email addresses preferred) in one attachment (include your last name in file attachment) to MELISSA LITUMA (EM: melituma@ag.tamu.edu).

AVIAN CONSERVATION FIELD ASSISTANTS

AVIAN CONSERVATION FIELD ASSISTANTS (3-6) needed for breeding season work Mar-Aug on the endangered Puaiohi with the Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project.

This endemic Hawaiian songbird, also known as the Small Kauai Thrush, has an estimated population size of only 500 and inhabits the extremely wet, beautiful and rugged montane rainforest on the island of Kauai.

This is a rare opportunity to work on an endangered tropical species in the U.S. while gaining valuable research skills.The work is physically challenging, requiring an 8 mile hike to the main field camp (daypack only-camp is resupplied by helicopter) by way of steep slopes, tangled forest and stream crossings. Daily activities include hiking in and along stream courses often in rainy and chilly weather, searching for nests and conducting behavioral observations. Applicants must be physically fit, able to navigate rugged and complex terrain (using GPS and maps), and be able to detect birds by color-bands and sounds. Experience working with songbirds is strongly suggested, nest monitoring experience preferred. Abundant enthusiasm for conserving Hawaii's native species is essential, as are self-motivation, the ability to work well in a small team, a positive attitude, and willingness to live in a remote permanent camp for several days at a time. Careful data collection is a must, and when not in the field duties will include data entry and organization, maintenance of field equipment and living quarters and other work around the office.

Positions will start in Mar and Apr, cannot last more than 20 weeks due to Univ. Hawaii hiring rules. Compensation is $1075/mo plus housing and essential use of project vehicles. Must have a valid drivers license, and must provide own travel to Kauai.

To apply, send 1) resume, 2) cover letter 3) contact info for 3 references and 4) dates available and preferred by email to puaiohijobs@gmail.com Inquiries preferred via email, or contact PAULINE ROBERTS (PH: 808-338-1361), Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project, P.O. Box 458, Waimea, HI 96796. Positions open until filled, consideration will begin immediately.

SEASONAL AVIAN FIELD BIOLOGIST

Agency: Texas A&M University.
Location: Texas Job

Description:

Seasonal Avian Field Biologists (up to 30 needed), early Mar to late Jul for multiple research projects focusing on ecology and management of songbirds, primarily the federally endangered black-capped vireo and golden-cheeked warbler, in several regions of Texas, on public and private lands.
Duties may include point count surveys, nest searching, behavioral observation, territory mapping, vegetation sampling, radio telemetry, color-banding, predator trapping, data entry, and other approaches, depending on the project and region. Please visit (URL: http://irnr.tamu.edu/RAMSES/) for more information about each project.

Requirements:

experience in wildlife biology or closely related field; ability to collect data with strong attention to detail; ability to work 6 days per week doing physically demanding work, with early mornings (0500); a positive attitude in adverse environmental conditions such as fire ants, chiggers, rattlesnakes, feral pigs, mountain lions, cows, poison ivy, normal daily temperatures of over 90̊F, intense sun, thick and thorny brush, and steep and rocky terrain; ability to operate 4X4 trucks; patience and focus to quietly observe and follow birds; good eyesight and hearing; ability to work independently and in groups; must be comfortable working on private ranches and interacting with landowners; must supply your own binoculars. Preference will be given to applicants with experience: identifying birds by sight and sound, nest searching, identifying plants, navigating using handheld GPS unit, using Microsoft Access, Excel, ArcMap; possess a B.S. or B.A. in wildlife biology or closely related field.

Positions will be filled as suitable applicants are identified. Pay: starting at $1,600/month Housing will be provided, will vary depending on project and region. Please specify the project in which you are interested on the subject line of your email and in the body of your cover letter (see link above), e.g. “Fort Hood”. Include your last name in the file attachment. Submit cover letter, resume (including GPA), and contacts for 3 references (preferably email address) in 1 attachment to (EM: mlituma@neo.tamu.edu).