MSc: Nature Conservation – Baboon behavioural ecology

The University of South Africa has the following opportunity available for a student wanting to undertake a MSc.

This is a MSc (Nature Conservation) for a person who would like to undertake the challenge of conducting some intensive fieldwork on baboons. The project aims to understand the impact of resource availability and utilization on the home-range and other ecological factors on baboon behavioural ecology.

Background: This project forms part of a larger research program that is investigating the implications of baboon behavioural ecology on the management of baboons in protected areas that are surrounded by agriculture. This project is going to take up the challenge and quantify the perceived impact that baboons have on their environment and surrounding farms. The first stage of the project will take place on a Nature reserve within Gauteng and possibly be extended to other sites.

Research group: The MSc candidate will be registered as a student with UNISA (University of South Africa) and work within the Department of Environmental Sciences research unit ABEERU (Applied Behaviourial Ecology and Ecosystem Research Unit). The unit is situated on UNISA’s Florida campus in Gauteng, South Africa. The project will be supervised by Dr. Slater and Prof Brown.

Requirements: Candidates must have BTech in Nature Conservation or a BSc degree, with Zoology and Botany or related subjects. Candidates must also provide evidence that he/she has the ability to conduct scientific research. Some background in primatology and vegetation surveys would be advantageous but is not essential. Some research background is essential and candidate may have to complete a module in Research methodology. The applicant must be fluent in English, computer literate, be able to work independently as well as in a team, and demonstrate good writing skills.

Criteria:

Must be willing to work long hours, often in adverse weather conditions

Be prepared to spend long, strenuous hours in the field

Have your own reliable transport

Be able to reside in or close to Johannesburg for the duration of the project.

Be prepared to do quite a lot of travelling between the study site and laboratory.

Supply own accommodation.

The position is for two years, with a possible extension.

To apply, please send

(1) A letter describing your education, qualifications, relevant experiences and your research interests (maximum of two pages),

(2) A CV,

(3) A list of publications (if applicable)

(4) Certified copies of your qualifications. In addition, applicants should arrange to have three letters of reference submitted by the closing date 31 December 2009.

(5) Copy of your ID and academic records.

More information and applications can be sent to Dr Kerry Slater (slatek@unisa.ac.za) before the 31^st December 2009.

Kerry Slater

Lecturer: Nature Conservation

Department of Environmental Sciences.

UNISA

Tel: +27 (0)11 471 2342

Fax: 0866428751

Research Specialist

Hiring Organization:
Emory University, Yerkes Primate Center, Living Links Center

Date Posted:
2009-10-27

Position Description:
JOB DESCRIPTION: Under direct supervision of the principal investigator, Dr. Frans de Waal, performs non-invasive, observation-based behavioral and cognitive research on chimpanzees at the Yerkes Field Station: a variety of defined research protocols and experiments on a pre-assigned schedule. May be required to participate in laboratory maintenance activities such as cleaning of equipment, ordering of supplies, inventory and media preparation. Maintains records, files and logs of work performed in notebooks and computer databases. Compiles data and records results of studies for publications, grants and seminar presentations. Employees in this classification may be required to work with, take specific precautions against and/or be immunized against potentially hazardous agents. Performs related responsibilities as required by principal investigator.

This position requires working with great apes. Preferred applicants should have previous experience conducting behavioral studies with primates or other mammals in zoo or laboratory settings.

Qualifications/Experience:
At minimum, a Bachelor's degree in Biology, Psychology, Anthropology or related field.

Salary/funding:
Full-time hourly position with benefits, $30,700 yearly.

Support provided for internship/volunteer positions (travel, meals, lodging):
n/a

Term of Appointment:
based upon performance

Application Deadline:
December 15, 2009

Comments:
Hiring and training for this position may take place As soon as December 1, 2009. Applications reviewed as they come in.

Contact Information:
Living Links Center, Devyn Carter
2409 Taylor Ln.
Lawrenceville, GA 30043
USA

Telephone Number:
404-727-9071

Fax Number:
404-727-9069

Website:
http://www.emory.edu/LIVING_LINKS/

E-mail Address:
jdcarte@emory.edu

Camp Manager

Hiring Organization:
University of Michigan

Date Posted:
2009-10-27

Position Description:
ONE camp manager needed for The University of Michigan Gelada Research Project, a study of the behavior, communication, endocrinology, and conservation of wild geladas (Theropithecus gelada) – a close relative of baboons. All research is conducted at a field station located in the Simien Mountains National Park of ETHIOPIA. Directors of the project are Drs. Thore Bergman and Jacinta Beehner, faculty at the University of Michigan. The camp manager will be responsible for (a) collecting basic demographic and reproductive data as part of routine monitoring of the well-habituated study population, (b) conducting focal animal samples and collecting fecal samples from individually-recognized geladas (for later laboratory steroid hormone analysis in the USA), (c) recording GPS readings of gelada ranging locations, (d) managing the computer database, and (e) equipment upkeep and personnel management. The gelada population has been studied on a near-daily basis since 2006 and we currently recognize approximately 150 individuals. The camp manager will live in a stone hut located in the national park with 0-3 graduate students (depending on the time of year), and 1-2 Ethiopian staff. Our camp includes one stone house with 3 bedrooms, a full kitchen set-up (including a propane-powered stove and oven), solar panels to power computers and lights, a generator (for electricity during the rainy season), a satellite telephone and modem (for email), a Mitsubishi 4x4 pickup truck, a shower tent (hot showers can be had by heating up water on the stove). There is no running water at the fieldsite, but fresh water can be fetched from a nearby spring. Also, there is no refrigeration at the fieldsite, but we have a project freezer at a nearby eco-lodge (about a 30-minute drive away) where we can store things. For more information on the project directors, the project publications, and some photos of the fieldsite, please see the following websites: http://sitemaker.umich.edu/jacinta.beehner/home, and http://sitemaker.umich.edu/thore.bergman/home.

Qualifications/Experience:
Qualified applicants will have a B.S. or B.A in Biology, Zoology, Biological Anthropology, or a related field. Prior travel and/or field experience in Africa or mountainous regions of Asia or South America preferred. Applicants must be fluent in English and eager to learn Amharic (the national language of Ethiopia). Good physical fitness is essential - the terrain is hilly, the air is thin (due to the high elevation), and the temperatures can get quite cold during the rainy season (nights are sometimes below freezing and days can be cold). Good organizational skills and experience with basic database management a must. Must be able to drive a stick-shift 4x4 truck over rough terrain. Experience with leadership also a plus – as you will be managing several graduate students and field assistants.

Salary/funding:
No salary, but full support (see below)

Support provided for internship/volunteer positions (travel, meals, lodging):
Salary/funding: Round-trip airfare and living support provided for the volunteer (travel, meals, lodging). Volunteer will be provided with basic accommodation, food and other basic supplies while at the field site. However, the volunteer is responsible for any additional expenses incurred while traveling in Ethiopia. The project will provide travel health insurance, but the volunteer is required to acquire the necessary vaccinations prior to entry to Ethiopia. The volunteer will need to provide their own winter/alpine condition clothing, footwear and sleeping bag. Advice about what items are necessary for life in the Simien Mountains will be provided to the successful applicant. Applicants committing to a longer period will receive one round-trip flight to their home country halfway through their internship.

Term of Appointment:
Appointment: 1-2 years beginning late January 2010. Because the training process requires 2-4 months, the successful applicant must be willing to work for a minimum of 1 year.

Application Deadline:
Deadline: Position will remain open until filled.

Comments:
Application: Please email the following materials to Dr. Jacinta Beehner at jbeehner@umich.edu: (1) a letter of interest stating how and why this position satisfies your interest and future career goals, explaining your suitability for this project, plus a time frame during which you are available to work, (2) a CV or resume detailing relevant experience, (3) a summary of college courses taken and the grades received, to be followed by an official transcript, and (4) contact information for at least two references, preferably at least one academic reference as well as one person who has worked closely with you or who has closely supervised your work. The subject heading of the email message should read: “Application for field research position”.

Contact Information:
Jacinta Beehner
Dept. of Anthropology, 1085 S. University Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
USA

Telephone Number:
734-764-2415

Website:
http://sitemaker.umich.edu/jacinta.beehner/home

E-mail Address:
jbeehner@umich.edu

Principal Research Coordinator

Hiring Organization:
Max Planck Institute for evolutionary Anthropology / Dept of Primatology

Date Posted:
2009-10-27

Position Description:
Project description:

The Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig is seeking a principal research coordinator for our Pan-African great ape research and surveillance program. This is a long-term project, which will run over at least the next 5 years. The aim of the project is to systematically survey 14 African ape (chimpanzee, bonobo and gorilla) range countries. The project is two-fold and has a conservation and research aspect to it. For the conservation aspect of the project, we will use a combination of classic remote sensing and line transect survey methods with innovative remote camera trapping and audio monitoring to obtain national and regional abundance and trend estimates and information on human impact and efficiency of different conservation management actions. For the research aspect of the projects, we will apply non-invasive cross-sectional sampling to assess ape demographic, cultural and behavioral population diversity over a very large scale. Here, we will collect information on demographic rates and structure, predation pressure, life history parameters, grouping patterns, food resource availability, intra- and interspecies contact rates, dispersal rates, and population genetic structure.

Essential functions:

The candidate will be overseeing the administrative, logistic and organizational aspects of the monitoring project. The position will involve tasks ranging from, writing and reviewing research and funding proposals, assisting with the processing of data to coordinating logistical and administrative issues encountered by field teams and students involved in different aspects of the projects. The candidate will also oversee and manage the financial aspects of the project.

Qualifications/Experience:
The successful candidate should have a PhD degree in biology or related field with strong academic research and analytic skills and excellent written and oral communications skills. He/she needs to be proficient with computers, graphics and spreadsheets and able to work under pressure, juggle multiple tasks and meet deadlines. Written and oral English and French language proficiency is necessary. Some degree of German language skills are necessary, but may still be acquired once the successful candidate has started the position. Field experience and familiarity with primate ecology are beneficial but not mandatory.

Salary/funding:
The starting salary will be EUR 36.000 per annum, but may be raised in accordance to the candidates performance.

Term of Appointment:
Start of work: 01. January 2010, duration 2-5 years

Comments:
Please send a Curriculum Vita, cover letter and three reference letters to boesch(at)eva.mpg.de and reference "Principal Research Coordinator" in the subject line.

Contact Information:
Boesch Christophe
Deutscher Platz
Leipzig 04103
Germany

Telephone Number:
00 49 341 3550 200

Website:
http://www.eva.mpg.de/primat

E-mail Address:
boesch@eva.mpg.de

Postgraduate Degree in Primate Conservation - Masters by Research, MPhil, PhD

Educational Organization:
Oxford Brookes University

Date Posted:
2009-10-26

Program Description:
Students considering the taught MSc in Primate Conservation at Oxford Brookes University might also consider conducting and independent research project by undertaking a one year Masters by Research, a two year MPhil, or a three year PhD through the Department of Anthropology and Geography. Research students have the option to sit in on relevant lectures in the taught MSc Primate Conservation modules (see ad on this web site or the web link below), to attend weekly seminar series in Primate Conservation, and to attend twice-monthly meetings of our Primate Forum and Environmental Discussion groups, both of which fall under the remit of the Anthropology Centre for Conservation, Environment and Development.

In general but not exclusively, research students will fall under the remit of one of our research groups: Nocturnal Primate Research Group (established for more than 30 years, including studies on nocturnal primates and mammals from all regions -- ecology, behaviour, taxonomy, conservation), Wildlife Trade Research Group (including studies on pet, medicinal and bushmeat trade, and the impact of trade, including reintroduction studies), and the People Animals Interactions Research Group (focussing mainly on human dimensions of crop raiding). Students also have the opportunity to obtain a certificate in teaching higher education.

Postgraduate students in Primate Conservation have access to our primate conservation computer lab, sound analysis laboratory, wet lab for undertaking hormonal or parasite studies, and to their own hotdesk space in a large open plan office dedicated to postgraduate students in the School of Social Sciences and Law. Specific courses regarding research methods and statistics are also offered, as are yearly University research conferences.

Entrance Qualifications:
A first class honours degree in Anthropology, Biology, Ecology, Psychology, Animal Husbandry or related discipline or an MA/MSc in one of these disciplines. The prospective student should contact the member of staff with whom they would like to work with a research concept, and develop a research proposal.

Tuition / Fees:
Varies depending on the course; approximately £4000 home/EU students per year and £9300 foreign nationals.

Support (scholarships, travel):
Scholarships are occasionally available; external funding is also available and listed here: http://ssl.brookes.ac.uk/primate/scholarships.asp

Start + End Dates:
Masters by Research - one year; MPhil - two years; PhD - three years; all degrees have September or January start time

Application Deadline:
none

Contact Information:
Jennie Cripps
Gipsy Lane Campus, Headington, Oxford Brookes University, Department of Anthropology, School of Social Sciences and Law
Oxford OX3 0BP
United Kingdom

Telephone Number:
+44 (0)1865 483750

Fax Number:
+44 (0)1865 484291

Website:
http://ssl.brookes.ac.uk/primate/home.htm

E-Mail Address:
jcripps@brookes.ac.uk

Post-doctoral Research Associate in Neuroscience

Hiring Organization:
Duke University Medical Center

Date Posted:
2009-10-26

Position Description:
The Center for Cognitive Neuroscience (CCN) at Duke University invites applicants for a post-doctoral position in the neurobiology of numerical behavior in the laboratory of Dr. Michael Platt and Dr. Elizabeth Brannon.

Responsibilities: The research associate will join a team focused on determining how neurons in parietal cortex extract numerosity information from the sensory world. We are particularly interested in applicants with expertise in single neuron electrophysiology, although applicants with experience in brain imaging or experimental psychology will also be considered. Applicants with strong quantitative skills are particularly encouraged to apply.

Qualifications/Experience:
Requirements: The research associate will hold a PhD in neuroscience, cognitive psychology, or a related field.

Salary/funding:
This position has been created with ARRA Stimulus funding and is a limited term appointment that is contingent upon the availability of additional research funds.

Application Deadline:
Deadline: The position is available immediately.

Comments:
Send a statement of research interest, CV, and 3 letters of reference electronically to Dr. Michael Platt via email: platt@neuro.duke.edu.
Duke University is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.

Contact Information:
Michael L. Platt, PhD
Box 90999, LSRC, Research Drive
Durham, NC 27705
USA

Telephone Number:
919-668-0333

Website:
http://www.mind.duke.edu/faculty/platt/

E-mail Address:
platt@neuro.duke.edu