PhD position on Dolphins’ Vocal Communication

The Animal and Human Ethology laboratory (UMR 6552 CNRS - Rennes 1 University,) and the scientific department of the delphinarium in Planète Sauvage park (next to Nantes city, France) are proposing a PhD project on dolphins’ vocal communication.

Applicants should apply at the address below with full CV:
Contact: alban.lemasson@univ-rennes1.fr

PhD title: Vocal communication and social relationships in captive bottlenose dolphins

PhD supervisor: Alban Lemasson, Co-supervisor : Martine Hausberger

Starting date: September 2010

PhD objectives: (1) describe the vocal production of a captive group of 5 dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and test the influence of social and environmental factors on the acoustic structuring of individual repertoires and on the communicative rules, (2) investigate the question of the function of whistles through an analysis of the contexts of call emission and through experiments aiming at testing the perceptual and recognition abilities of animals.

Competences of the candidate: Master diploma obtained no later than June 2010. University education in ethology required. Skills in acoustic recording and analysis desired. Skills in computer/electronic welcomed.

Position is dependent upon result of grant application; successful applicant will have to start September 2010.

Website of the research unit : http://www.ethos.univ-rennes1.fr/

Website of the animal park : http://www.planetesauvage.com/

Field Assistant

Hiring Organization:
German Primate Center DPZ

Date Posted:
2010-03-15

Position Description:
Field Assistant for Guinea Baboon Research in Senegal

The Cognitive Ethology Laboratory of the German Primate Center at Goettingen runs a research station in the Niokolo Koba National Park in Senegal, the Centre de Recherche de Primatologie Siment(www.cog-ethol.de). To help with the data collection and the running of the project we are looking for a highly motivated field assistant for a period of six months, starting in July 2010.

Qualifications/Experience:
Preference is given to applicants with experience of living and working under harsh conditions. Basic knowledge of French is essential, an interest in cultural exchange highly recommended. It would be helpful if the candidate had some experience with studies of animal behavior, but this is not a requirement. After some initial training period, we expect the candidate to collect GPS ranging data, record vocalizations, and contribute to the habituation of further animals. In addition, the candidate is required to contribute to the running of the project (repairs etc.). The position is open until a suitable candidate is found.

Applicants should send a brief letter of motivation, a CV and addresses of two references via email to:

Nadine Ellrott
nellrott@dpz.eu

Cognitive Ethology Lab
German Primate Center
Kellnerweg 4
37077 Göttingen
Germany
Phone: +49-551-3851-258

or contact Julia Fischer (fischer@cog-ethol.de) or Dietmar Zinner
(dzinner@gwdg.de) for further enquiries.

Salary/funding:
We cover travel costs (reimbursement after completion of stay), medical insurance, necessary examinations and vaccinations as well as malaria prophylaxis. The monthly salary is € 400 net, plus benefits.

Contact Information:
Dietmar Zinner
Kellnerweg 4
Goettingen, none 37077
Germany

Telephone Number:
49 551 3851 129

Website:
http://www.cog-ethol.de/

E-mail Address:
dzinner@gwdg.de

Kagwene Assistant Manager

Hiring Organization:
TMLP/WCS

Date Posted:
2010-03-16

Position Description:
The project is located in the South West Province of Cameroon. Individuals will be required to undertake both office (~60% of time) and field (~40% of time) work to assist the WCS Project in all facets of daily conservation activities. Field work mainly concentrates on indirect study of the endangered Cross River gorillas and includes periods of up to one month at an isolated field site. Fieldwork consists of managing operations of the research camp and responsibility for collecting and entering data into databases following established protocols. Mentoring local staff is an important obligation of the position. Other responsibilities include administrative support to the office, and other projects in support of the Director and Research Coordinator

Qualifications/Experience:
A minimum of an undergraduate degree in a biological related discipline or a minimum of 6 months previous field experience (preferably in Africa) of ecology and conservation of large mammals. Given field site locations and topography, physical fitness is a high priority and the ability to work with minimum support in isolated areas in different weather conditions. Good spoken and written English. French would be an additional advantage.

Desirable attributes: Enthusiasm about working with wildlife and a Cameroonian national research team. Mature self-starter able to work within established program protocol. Practical experience with ArcGIS would be a bonus.

Salary/funding:
No salary is provided – see below.

Support provided for internship/volunteer positions (travel, meals, lodging):
Volunteers are expected to pay for their own airfare, visa, and medical insurance (no volunteer will be accepted without proof of medical insurance and up to date vaccinations). Basic field rations and local transport costs are provided for whilst on field assignments; however, out of field food and accommodation costs will not be covered.

Term of Appointment:
6 months renewable up to one year . Start date: 1 July 2010

Application Deadline:
30th April 2010

Comments:
Send your application by e-mail to ikromanus@hotmail.com with subject V2010 and your surname. Application should include your curriculum vitae (no more than two pages) and a covering letter explaining (i) why you would like the position, (ii) what personal characteristics and technical experience you would bring to the project and (iii) what you would most want to accomplish as a volunteer member of the project team?

Contact Information:
Romanus Ikfuingei
c/o Limbe Botanic Gardens
Limbe, none
Cameroon

Telephone Number:
00237 3333 3755

Fax Number:
N/A

Website:
http://www.wcs.org/

E-mail Address:
ikromanus@hotmail.com

Volunteer

Hiring Organization:
Primate Rescue Project - Darwin Primate Group

Date Posted:
2010-03-15

Position Description:
As a volunteer you will be part of our organization which rescues mainly injured and orphaned vervet monkeys and monitors wild vervet and baboon troops in the area.

By working, you will have a learning experience with all daily routines at a sanctuary.

The best times – for most - to volunteer with us are from September to May during the warmer months.

ROUGH OUTLINE OF GENERAL ACTIVITIES:
-Chopping food
- Cleaning enclosures
- Acting as human enemies to show what humans are capable of.
- Collecting branches and insects for monkey food.
- Observing integration/socializing from a fair distance while attempting to remain passively non-communicative (to encourage monkeys to mingle with their own kind).
- Observing the behaviour of the monkeys undergoing rehabilitation and the wild troop of baboons - noting hierarchy changes, vocalizations and their context, the working out of new relationships, each individuals particular personality and how s/he interacts with everyone else etc.
- When monkey mothers are not available, a volunteer may be required to act as surrogate mother for at least 3 months. It is always in the best interest of the monkeys to choose a surrogate monkey first if possible.
- Fetching food from our closest town.
- Monitoring wild troops for male/female ratios, behaviour etc.
- Researching what the vervet monkey and chacma baboon eat naturally in this area.
- Anti-poaching patrols.
- Hikes - The Garden Route where we are based has spectacular scenery and world renowned hikes like the Otter trail. We are a few minutes away from various animal centres like the Elephant Sanctuary, Eagle Encounters and Monkeyland for those who seek an experience with captive wildlife.
- Building/maintaining enclosures
- Blogging about your activities for our website.
- Writing awareness articles about the plight of non-human primates in this province - your experiences as a visitor to this country - for our local newspaper.
- Fundraising ideas/activities.
- Walking our rescue huskies on the beach or in the forest.

An Average Day during the baby season/summer:
6.00/7.00 am - Babies get bottles first thing after they have been sterilised. (October to February when there may be infants here during the baby season - this is not always the case). Mr Gandhi gets a handful of biscuits.

Cutting branches and looking for insects to put into monkey enclosures for juveniles, sub adults and adults.

07h00 - 10 am (depending on time of year) Cleaning cages of faeces, dishes and food. (Check faeces for diarrhoea, worms etc. Preparing food, putting out clean water (to be done two/three times a day), and feeding of other animals.

- If monitoring baboon troops, it may be necessary to go and look for them early on sunny mornings (6-8am when it is not baby season). This means that someone needs to be at home to care for the monkeys who need to know there is a protector around in the absence of a functional monkey adult and to exhibit a warning when/if any predators/enemies arrive. The appearance of an eagle, snake, strange dog or strange human offers an opportunity to show the monkeys that these are potential enemies.

08h00/9 - Breakfast continental style.

If all are up and willing, it is good to discuss the day's activities during a communal breakfast.

10h00 - 13h00 - Continue with feeding if not complete, check for injuries or any discomfort with casualties if any and report. Washing blankets.

While some of us clean cages, the monkeys are taken out to socialize by the full time caretakers of the troop where we will supervise and observe them while bearing the dehumanizing process in mind as much as is possible.

9 - 10.30 - TWO (or more) DAYS A WEEK:
On monitoring days we will leave at 9 -10.30 (winter) to monitor wild troops. Depending on how many volunteers there are, volunteers will go together.

13h00 - 14h00 Lunch prepared by volunteers if hungry. The kitchen is yours to use whenever you please. Because many have individual eating habits we have found it more practical to work this way.

14h00 - 17h00 Afternoon programmes vary from building new enclosures, maintaining old ones, vegetables (for animals, checking animals in various stages of rehabilitation programme, collecting food, or sometimes having some time off to go on excursions or just personal time to do whatever volunteers want to do.

Depending on the animals needs, socializing and integration may take up much of the afternoon.

- Volunteers with ideas on how to dehumanize monkeys/baboons could help by showing the monkeys to be scared of strange humans.

- Anti-poaching in our area is another option for volunteers to get involved in at this time. The growing snaring problem is claiming lives of much of our local wildlife.

- Taking babies for forest walks, showing dangers (like raptors, wild baboons, feral dogs etc.) and food sources - foraging etc. This depends on the age of the monkey as well as the history.

Qualifications/Experience:
A willingness to help out with all daily chores as listed above. A passion for animals. Volunteers who have initiative to take our project forward are much appreciated.

Salary/funding:
Donation of 150 pounds per week. This project relies solely on the support of the public and donations are integral to our primates survival.

Support provided for internship/volunteer positions (travel, meals, lodging):
Included are accommodation, laundry, lift once a week to the closest town for supplies, and continental breakfast.There is internet access and lifts are provided to local attractions when needed.

Application Deadline:
None

Comments:
For a more detailed account of this project, please contact Karin Saks at: karinsaks@gmail.com

Contact Information:
Karin Saks 6602
South Africa

Website:
http://www.darwinprimategroup.blogspot.com/

E-mail Address:
primates.south.africa@gmail.com

PhD course: Measuring and assessing animal welfare at herd level

Dead line registration: May 1st 2010

Course date(s): Residential course May 31st – June 4th 2010, 2 day follow-up in October 2010 and in between project work
Location: Koldkærgård, Aarhus, Denmark (www.koldkaergaard.dk)
Participants: Primarily PhD students of veterinary, animal and social sciences, max. number of participants: 15
Course fees: For PhD students registered at Danish Universities 8500 kr. (including 2-day follow-up) covering lodging and meals. Other participants 15000 kr (incl. lodging and meals). All participants cover their own travelling costs.
Course content:
The course is built up of a residential course of 5 days and a 2 day follow-up on individual student report work carried out in the intervening period. The residential course will focus on measuring and assessing animal welfare at herd level and will include in-depth introduction to the following topics:

• Animal welfare and ethics; the ‘isms’, the different stakeholders, measuring vs. assessing animal welfare
• Definition of animal welfare; the different approaches ‘nature’, ‘biological functioning’, ‘emotions’
• Animal welfare assessment concepts – Different goals…different methods
- General guidelines
- Decisions support for the farmer
- Certification / Classification
• Animal welfare indicators; Individual and marginal validity, applicability and robustness
- Animal behaviour and health as animal welfare indicators
• Aggregation of animal welfare indicators / Animal welfare index
- The concept of Welfare Quality
- The acceptable vs. the non-acceptable level
• Animal welfare legislation and control

Lecturers: Raphaelle Botreau INRA, NN Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, Peter Sandøe LIFE/KU, and researchers DJF/AU.
Course language: English
Course examination: Mandatory requirements: Participation in residential course and 2 day follow-up – as well as a passed course report. Report presentations and opponent criticism of fellow students’ course report possible via video link for PhD students from abroad.

Contact and registration: tine.rousingnielsen@agrsci.dk, +45 89991350

Positions Details - 2010/79 - Research Scientist - Animal Welfare

Job Profile

Reference Number: 2010/79
Position Title: Research Scientist - Animal Welfare
Division: CSIRO Livestock Industries
Location: Armidale, NSW
Classification: CSOF5
Salary Range: $79K - 85K plus Superannuation
Tenure: Indefinite
Applicants: International Applicants Welcome
Relocation Assistance: May be offered to the successful applicant.
Applications Close: 26 Mar 2010
Job Category: Scientific Research

Would you like to join Australia's leading research organisation and make a difference in farm animal welfare?
CSIRO Livestock Industries is looking to appoint an accomplished Research Scientist to join our highly successful team working to address current and emerging animal welfare issues in Australian Livestock industries. The position will be based at the FD McMaster Laboratory in Armidale NSW. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and leading research projects that are central to the core strategies of the team:
1) The biology of animal welfare and its measurement,
2) Identification and selection of animals adapted to their environment and
3) Assessment and improvement of animal husbandry practices.

Under the direction of the Team Leader, you will be expected to liaise with external funding bodies, and develop and maintain partnerships with other research groups within and external to CSIRO and across a range of disciplines. The position requires original thinking, conceptualizing complex relationships and a thorough understanding of the science and technologies used in animal welfare research. The need for high level interpersonal and communication skills is central to this position.
Applicants should hold a PhD or equivalent in an animal or biomedical science such as physiology,
neurobiology, behaviour, cognition, immunology or veterinary science. You should be able to demonstrate conceptual and practical knowledge and experience in research to improve animal welfare and a strong publication record. The applicant must have at least 2 years demonstrable experience (post PhD) in animal science or related research.

Position Description

Key Capabilities:

• Application of research skills in animal behaviour, cognition, neurobiology, physiology or immunology for assessment of animal welfare and demonstrated research impact.
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate productive relationships with clients, maintaining research collaborations to share leading edge concepts and technologies, and investments to support development and implementation of research outputs.
• Ability to resolve major conceptual scientific issues in areas that have little or no precedent and require original concepts and approaches.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain effective and efficient work relationships within a team and to assist in managing resources to achieve objectives displaying creativity and a high degree of cooperation.
• Strong commitment to working as a team member to achieve project goals.
• Coordination and management of resources to undertake animal experimentation, on time and within budget.
• Excellent skills in data analysis, report preparation and publication of research findings in peer- reviewed international journals.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic planning, and in progressing complex, sensitive or contentious research matters to finality.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication, negotiation and representational skills, including evidence through reports and scientific papers published in peer-reviewed international journals.
• Knowledge, understanding and commitment to principles of equal employment opportunity and health and safety and environment.
  

Key Result Areas/Duties:

• Participate in a team of approximately 8 to 10 research and support staff, assisting in building the reputation of the team as a source of non-partisan, authoritative research and advice on livestock welfare issues.
• Assist in development of funding proposals and reports that are effective by being concise and timely, based on a thorough understanding of the needs and expectations of the funding body.
• Maintain costings spreadsheets and ensure projects are conducted on budget and in a timely manner.
• Work effectively in a team environment where team members may come from diverse backgrounds and may be located in other establishments.
• Be able to conduct research in a manner consistent with CSIRO’s organizational objectives and code of conduct.
• Develop novel concepts and methodologies for the assessment of animal welfare.
• Influence industry appreciation of animal welfare issues.
• Publish original research and reviews in quality peer reviewed journals.
  

Selection Criteria

Applicants must address the selection criteria. Applicants that do not address the selection criteria will not be considered. To assist you prepare your application please read the information available at "Before you Apply".

Essential:

1. PhD or equivalent in an animal or biomedical science such as physiology, behaviour, animal cognition, immunology or veterinary science.
2. At least 2 years demonstrated experience in animal welfare or relevant animal research after completing a PhD.
3. Demonstrated conceptual and practical knowledge and experience in application of experimentation to improving animal welfare.
4. Demonstrated record of publication in quality peer reviewed journals.
5. Demonstrated ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary research team.
6. Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication and negotiation skills.
7. Ability to maintain and manage research project budgets and delivery schedules.
8. Knowledge, understanding and commitment to principles of equal employment opportunity and health and safety and environment.
9. Willingness to travel within Australia as required.

Desirable:

1. Experience managing externally-funded research projects.
2. Knowledge of current and emerging welfare issues of Australia’s livestock industries.


More Information


APPLICATIONS

Before you apply ensure that your documents are in Text, MS Word or PDF. Ensure your file is not larger than 1MB in PDF format, or 2MB for all other formats. Your documents will be converted into PDF format.
To view these documents once converted you will need to download Adobe Reader Download Adobe Reader.
CSIRO prefers your application be lodged online via this careers site.
You are required to include two (2) documents "Statement of Claims Addressing the Selection Criteria" and a "Resume or CV" including the names of at least two (2) referees.
If you experience difficulties applying online call 1300 301 509 for assistance. Outside business hours please email csiro-careers@csiro.au.
If you are unable to lodge your application online you can send your completed application and copies of any supporting documentation quoting reference number 2010/79 to:
CSIRO Careers Online
PO Box 225
Dickson ACT 2602
Or alternatively fax to 02 6276 6641.
Contact: Should you require more information on this position please contact Drewe Ferguson via email
Drewe.Ferguson@csiro.au or by phone on 02 6776 1354.

Please do not email your application directly to Drewe. Applications received via this method will not be considered. Please use the 'Apply Now' link.

About CSIRO

CSIRO's purpose is to deliver great science and innovative solutions for industry, society and the
environment by igniting the creative spirit of our people.
People are at the centre of everything we do. We work to create the right environment to amplify our talent. We take a ‘Team Australia’ approach. It is not enough just to have a great idea; we must have impact, solve problems and make a difference. We take a triple bottom line focus in our activities, balancing between commerce and the public good.
Great science is our foundation. Getting it out there is our aim. Description of the Research/Business Group CSIRO Livestock Industries creates, develops, and commercialises technologies for the benefit of Australia’s livestock industries, the environment, and the food industries. We have a major research initiative to improve animal welfare within Australia’s livestock industries.
This key research position lies within the Livestock Industries business unit of CSIRO through its Theme
1045 ~ Transforming the Animal and its Products.

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