Hiring Organization:
Instituto de Biologia Subtropical - sede Iguazu - CONICET-UNAM (Argentina)
Date Posted:
2013-02-18
Position Description:
Ilaria Agostini, postdoctoral fellow of the Argentinean Instituo de Biología Subtropical – sede Iguazú, CONICET-UNAM, is looking for two highly motivated and enthusiastic field research assistants for a new project on tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus nigritus) in Argentina. The research is focused on the interaction between nutrition and parasitism and their effects on the health status of tufted capuchins, and it will take place in Iguazu National Park. The project is being supported by the National Geographic CRE-grant and other grants are still pending.
The assistants will be required to participate to the project between the 1st of May until the 1st of September 2013. It is strictly necessary that the candidates commit themselves to work during the entire duration of the field season. The assistants will be responsible for collecting behavioral data and fecal samples for parasitological analyses, provisioning monkeys with bananas on platforms, as well as habituating monkeys to visit a platform scale, collecting data on individuals’ body weight, and helping a veterinarian in the administration of anti-helminthic drugs to selected individuals. The assistant will also collaborate in data entry and fecal samples organizations and maintenance. The assistants will work in a team of doctoral students, post-doctoral researchers, and local field workers, who have been working in the project for many years.
Assistants will be based at the CIES (Centro de Investigaciones Ecológicas Subtropicales) Biological Station, approx. 400 m from the Iguazu waterfalls in Iguazu National Park, and 17 km from the nearby town of Puerto Iguazu. Buses connect the CIES with Puerto Iguazu (60.000 people) every 20 min. The area is covered with subtropical rain forest and hosts attractive animal species, like jaguars, pumas, ocelots, tapirs, deers, armadillos, toucans, snakes and several others. Assistants will be required to work at least 8 hrs in the field each day, about 25 days per month. They should be physically and psychologically fit since they will frequently work in harsh conditions, with bad weather (low temperatures and rain), mosquitoes, ticks, and should be prepared for encounters with poisonous snakes which are quite abundant in the area.
Qualifications/Experience:
Applicants should have a solid background in primatology, animal behavior, ecology, biology, or biological anthropology. Moreover, previous experience in the field and demonstrated capacity for self reliance as well as social skills are highly appreciated.
The position will start in May 1st and will be ongoing until September 1st. Applicants should ensure a commitment to the project for all 4 months.
Salary/funding:
The project will cover for lodging fees at the CIES (which includes shared room & bathroom, use of laboratory facilities and kitchen), and costs of transportation within Argentina (e.g. return bus tickets from Buenos Aires tu Puerto Iguazu). Binoculars, two-way radios, notebooks, boots, rain ponchos, and bag packs will also be provided, but assistants should bring their own field clothes. Accident insurance will be provided by the project, but applicants should care for any other personal expenses.
Support provided for internship/volunteer positions (travel, meals, lodging):
Assistants will be accommodated at the CIES Biological Station. However, due to the high number of assistants working with capuchins at the CIES (in this and other parallel projects), likely other researchers and I will rent a house in the town of Puerto Iguazu (17 km away from the field site), so that assistants will do turns for sleeping between the two locations depending on who follows the monkeys the next morning.
The project will cover all costs of food and lodging and transportation within Argentina.
Term of Appointment:
Four months (from May 1st to September 1st , 2013)
Application Deadline:
March 15, 2013
Comments:
Applicants should send me the following material by e-mail: (1) a letter of interest; (2) a 2-3 pages CV (including relevant courses in ecology, animal behavior and biology and description of previous field work experience) (3) contact information for at least two references. The e-mail subject should say: "Field assistant tufted capuchins project".
Additional information about the study site can be found on the following web page: http://www.parquesnacionales.gov.ar/_OLD/03_ap/15_iguazu_PN/ciesweb.htm
Contact Information:
Bertoni 85
Puerto Iguazu 3370
Argentina
Telephone Number:
0054-3757-423511
E-mail Address: