The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund
Date Posted:
2012-03-09
Position Description:
The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund seeks high-caliber PhD applicants for a Fossey Fellowship. The Fellowship provides an exciting and unique opportunity to contribute to the Fund’s continuing scientific growth and to use the Fund’s long-term databases on the Karisoke gorillas to explore hypothesis-driven questions about gorilla social behavior, reproductive strategies and life history decisions.
The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund currently collects daily demographic, behavioral and ranging data on 120 mountain gorillas living in the Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. The Fund maintains long-term databases (ranging, demography, behavior) on the research groups of gorillas in Rwanda, some of which date back to the inception of the Karisoke Research Center in 1967.
Responsibilities will include: 1) overseeing digitization of long-term records stored in paper format; 2) collaborating with current Fossey Fund staff to publish high-priority papers related to ongoing Fossey scientific activities; 3) addressing questions relevant to gorilla/primate sociobiology and conservation based on the long-term database; 4) writing grants to support ongoing research activities; 5) providing data management support to field scientists.
The position is one year but with the potential to be extended if funding becomes available.
This position will be based at the Fossey Fund headquarters in Atlanta, GA, USA. At least one field stay at the Karisoke Research Center will occur during the fellowship.
Potential candidates should send a CV (including names of at least 2 referees) and a detailed letter of interest that includes a description of research interests with respect to long-term databases to Dr. Tara Stoinski (tstoinski@zooatlanta.org).
Qualifications/Experience:
PhD in biology, psychology, anthropology or related field. Strong publication record and knowledge of statistical methods. Field work with apes preferred but not mandatory.
Salary/funding:
One year salary plus benefits.
Support provided for internship/volunteer positions (travel, meals, lodging):
Support for travel to Karisoke Research Center (airfare, lodging meals) provided.
Term of Appointment:
1 year starting ASAP with potential to extend pending funding
Application Deadline:
March 30, 2012
Contact Information:
Tara Stoinski
800 Cherokee Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30315
USA
Telephone Number:
404 624 5826
Fax Number:
404 624 5841
Website:
http://www.gorillafund.org
E-mail Address:
tstoinski@zooatlanta.org