Hiring Organization:
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Date Posted:
2009-12-02
Position Description:
We are looking for two volunteers to assist on a project examining kin recognition on a semi free-ranging rhesus macaque population on Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico. The project is being undertaken in the Lab of Dr Anja Widdig, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig (Germany) (see http://www.eva.mpg.de/pks/index.html). The volunteers will work alongside Dr Dana Pfefferle (http://www.eva.mpg.de/pks/files/people.html).
The successful applicants will be expected to work on Cayo Santiago for 5-6 days a week, and are also required to undertake data entry and/or processing in the later afternoon and early evenings. The volunteer assisting in the first project will collect behavioral data using focal observations. For this project it is necessary to learn up to 400 animals, living in different groups. The second volunteer will help carrying out playback experiments as well as record rhesus macaque vocalizations. For this project it is necessary to learn to identify about 150 animals. Appropriate training will be provided, after which a good quantum of independence is expected.
We prefer applicants that stay for the entire period of 6 month. However, in the case of two very good applications for the second projects, a split into two times three months might be possible. Please apply only for one of the two projects (specify in your application!). If you apply for the second one, please mention the period of time you are interested to volunteer.
Qualifications/Experience:
Applicants should have a Bachelor in Biology, Ecology, Animal Behavior, Physical Anthropology, Primatology, or a related field. Previous field experiences (preferably in the tropics) and knowledge of Spanish is helpful, but not necessary. In general, applicants must be in good physical and mental condition; feel comfortable being far away from family and friends; be emotionally mature, energetic, and very patient; have an excellent eye for detail; don’t be afraid of approaching monkeys (!); willing to work in a small team setting and follow instructions; be able to maintain a positive and humorous attitude towards challenging and tiring work.
The language in our team is English. The successful candidate must have medical insurance, a valid IACUC certificate (www.citiprogram.org) and a TB-test.
Salary/funding:
At the moment there is NO financial support available. It is aimed that accommodation costs are shared by the two candidates (450 UD-$/month for two people). However, if for whatever reason, this is not possible, one candidate needs to be able to pay the entire rent. After very good performance and upon approval of pending grant application, we might be able to partially offset some of the living costs.
Term of Appointment:
10th March until 30th August 2010
Application Deadline:
January 10, 2010
Comments:
To apply, candidates should email a brief cover letter outlining their interests, experience, and why they wish to join one of the two projects. They should attach a CV which includes at least contact details of two academic reference. Please only send email applications.
Contact Information:
Dana Pfefferle
Germany
E-mail Address:
danapfefferle@googlemail.com