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:
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