Hiring Organization:
Roberta Salmi
Date Posted:
2008-07-06
Position Description:
I am seeking an experienced field assistant for my PhD research on the vocal communication of western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), focusing on the fully habituated group at Mondika Research Center, Republic of Congo / Central African Republic. Duties include working with local BaAka pygmy trackers to follow the silverback male (20 days per month) while the PhD student conducts simultaneous focal follows of females, and assist in data entry. Data collection will include: instantaneous sampling of male activity, scan sampling of male ranging and proximity, and continuous recording of social behavior.
Qualifications/Experience:
Mondika has flat terrain but is characterized by a combination of dense thickets, mixed forest, and swamp forest, over which the gorillas can cover large distances in a relatively short period of time. Therefore, you must be in excellent physical condition. Additionally, the site is very remote and therefore you must be accustomed to the rigors of living far away from civilization (e.g. sleeping in tent, bucket bathing, eating boring food, limited or no access to email or phone, etc.), committed to learning the local language quickly, and living with a small group of people. French-speaking ability is a plus. It is a prerequisite that you have conducted field work in a third world country previously and that you are familiar with behavioral sampling methods. You must have a valid passport and provide your own medical insurance.
Salary/funding:
I will pay your round trip airfare (if you stayed at least 12 months at the site) and in-country transportation to and from the site and cover your food and lodging costs while at Mondika. No salary is provided.
Support provided for internship/volunteer positions (travel, meals, lodging):
See salary/funding section above (travel, meals, and lodging will be provided).
Term of Appointment:
October 1, 2008 to January 1, 2010
Application Deadline:
August 26, 2008
Contact Information:
Roberta Salmi
Interdepartmental Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences
SUNY at Stony Brook, Stony Brook,, NY 11794
USA
Telephone Number:
631-721-7427
E-mail Address:
rsalmi@ic.sunysb.edu