Hiring Organization:
Max-Planck-Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Date Posted:
2013-02-05
Position Description:
We are seeking two research assistants for an ongoing long-term project in LuiKotale, Salonga NP, Democratic Republic of Congo. Candidates will be in charge of investigating the forest in proximity to the main study site. Investigations include data collection on a) presence/absence and densities of bonobos; b) sizes, ranging patterns, and boundaries of bonobo groups; c) presence/absence of other wildlife; and c) habituation of bonobos to the presence of human observers. After initial investigations on bonobo presence/absence, the most promising area is chosen and daily work consists of walks in the forest to locate bonobos, attempts to follow individuals during the day, notes on the foods consumed by bonobos, scoring locations of nest groups, records and monitoring of travel routes, placement of camera traps, as well as control and storage of their recordings. In the initial phase, assistants will be accommodated at the LuiKotale Research Camp and trained, but may have to establish a separate camp in the forest if required. Candidates are expected to work as a team and together with Congolese field assistants. Information about the field site and research activities at LuiKotale is available at www.eva.mpg.de/primat.
Qualifications/Experience:
Essential requirements are: (1) field experience, (2) above average physical fitness, (3) above average resistance to social/psychological stress, (4) practical and technical skills required to orient and move across dense tropical lowland forest without prominent land marks, (5) the ability to achieve tasks by improvisation, using the limited sources that are available, (6) the capacity to live and work with an international team of students, volunteers and local staff. Candidates should have a strong motivation to take on responsibility, the ability for working both alone and in team, excellent social skills and interpersonal relationships, technical and analytical competence, the capability to easily adapt to a remote and basic environment, and a tolerance to customs and practices of traditional societies. Communication within the current research team is mainly in English, with local field assistants in French and Lingala. Candidates with such language skills will be preferred.
Salary/funding:
300 Euro/month
Support provided for internship/volunteer positions (travel, meals, lodging):
- food (mix of mainly local food and some western food items
- lodging (in tents)
- airfare for one domestic flight from Kinshasa to the field site and back
- contribution of up to 800,- Euro to an international return flight (reimbursement ONLY AFTER SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF A 9 MONTHS TERM OF APPOINTMENT)
- expenses for visa (reimbursement ONLY AFTER SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF A 9 MONTHS TERM OF APPOINTMENT)
- please note that expenses during the stay in Kinshasa on the way in/out of Congo CAN NOT be covered by the project
Term of Appointment:
9 months starting in May 2013
Application Deadline:
15th of April 2013
Comments:
Applicants should send a CV, a letter of interest that shows how the applicant meets the qualifications for the position outlined above, and the contact details of at least two people that would serve as reference.
Contact Information:
Deutscher Platz 6
LEIPZIG, none 04103
Germany
Telephone Number:
+493550252
Fax Number:
+493550299
Website:
E-mail Address: