Hiring Organization:
Filoha Hamadryas Project, Dept of Anthropology, Queens College, City University of New York
Position Description:
We are seeking two volunteers to co-manage a long-term study of the behavior, ecology, and reproduction of hamadryas baboons at the Filoha study site in the lowlands of central Ethiopia (http://www.baboonsonline.org/filoha). The position would be for a minimum of ten months, but could be for longer if desired. Responsibilities would include maintaining habituation of the study group through daily follows (5-15 km/day), daily census of the study group, collection of behavioral and reproductive data, collection of fecal samples, and transmission of reports to the project director via e-mail. Ideally, we would like to find two volunteers to share this position. Volunteers would always be accompanied by our local field assistant and/or a local guard or park scout while following baboons, as dictated by park regulations.
The study area is hot and dry (averaging 94 degrees F) for most of the year and the baboons often travel quickly over very rough terrain. The living conditions at Filoha are simple and rugged: we sleep in tents, cook on kerosene stoves, and bathe in the local hot springs. The field site is a remote outpost of the Awash National Park, so contact with the outside world is minimal and social interaction is limited to project personnel and park scouts. The area experiences occasional ethnic conflict, during which time baboon follows are suspended.
Monthly expenses can range from $200 to $400 per person and vary depending on the frequency of trips to town and whether volunteer subsists on local fare or relies or more expensive (imported) canned and packaged foods. Food expenses are the responsibility of the volunteer. A cook will be available and paid from project funds. Prior to departure, volunteers would need to arrange for Ethiopian visa, vaccines, anti-malarial prophylaxis, and travel insurance (for medical evacuation).
Depending on length of stay, amount of data collected, and other intellectual contributions to the project, these positions could potentially lead to co- authorship on one or more publications.
Qualifications/Experience:
Volunteers need to be physically fit and able to hike quickly and collect data under the conditions described above. Volunteers also must be able to drive a manual transmission (stick-shift) vehicle and, ideally, will have had previous experience driving and/or coping with mechanical problems in a remote area.
Malaria is endemic to the area, so volunteers must be willing to use insect repellent and take anti-malarial prophylaxis so as to minimize the chances of contracting malaria. Due to the remoteness of the field site and the lack of communication infrastructure (e.g., no telephones, no internet), volunteers must also be of sound physical and mental health without any pre-existing conditions that might require immediate medical attention. Volunteers must also be able and willing to maintain professional relationships with people of varied cultural backgrounds and cope with disruptions to fieldwork due to ethnic conflict and other factors out of one’s control.
The ideal candidate for this position would have the following
characteristics:
* Ability to withstand – and enjoy! – rugged and remote field conditions.
* Ability to adapt to the local cultural milieu and represent the project in a professional manner.
* Previous international field experience that includes living or traveling in a developing country.
* Previous experience collecting observational data on behavioral biology or ecology.
* Prior coursework on (and knowledge of) primate behavior and ecology.
* Excellent physical and mental health.
In addition to the above, the successful applicant will be flexible, adaptable, patient, emotionally mature, responsible, self-reliant, energetic, and highly motivated. To reiterate, living conditions are rough and remote, and to survive fieldwork at Filoha you must enjoy these aspects of fieldwork.
Salary/funding:
This is a volunteer position, so no salary is available. Some expenses will be reimbursed (see below).
Support provided for internship/volunteer positions (travel, meals, lodging):
Upon successful completion of the first six months of fieldwork, each volunteer will be reimbursed for the cost of their airfare to Ethiopia and their travel insurance (up to a maximum of $2000). An additional $1000 for reimbursement of other expenses may be available depending on grant funds.
Site fees will be covered by the project.
Term of Appointment:
The position begins immediately (August 2011 or as soon as possible
thereafter) and at least a 10-month commitment is required. As mentioned above, no expenses will be reimbursed until volunteer has spent six months at Filoha, so travel expenses (airfare, visa, vaccines, malaria prophylaxis, travel insurance) will need to be covered by the volunteer in advance.
Application Deadline:
Starting August 15, 2011, applications will be considered as they are received until suitable candidates are found.
Comments:
Applicants should submit by e-mail a letter of application describing your background, experience, and qualifications and explaining why you are interested in this position. Please also supply a CV listing your prior coursework, grades, and research experience along with the names and contact information (including e-mail addresses and phone numbers) of at least two people who can attest to your qualifications. Please send your correspondence via email to Larissa Swedell (LSwedell@qc.edu) and re-send if you do not receive a reply within a week.
Contact Information:
Larissa Swedell
Anthropology, Queens College, 65-30 Kissena Blvd Flushing, NY 11367-1597 USA
Telephone Number:
718-997-2897
Fax Number:
718-997-2885
Website:
http://www.baboonsonline.org/swedell
E-mail Address:
LSwedell@qc.edu