Hiring Organization:
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Date Posted:
2013-05-17
Position Description:
TOPIC: INFLUENCE OF RANGING PATTERNS IN FIVE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES OF WILD CHIMPANZEES IN THE TAÏ NATIONAL PARK, CÔTE D’IVOIRE
We are offering a PhD fellowship working on how the ranging pattern of chimpanzees is influenced by neighboring groups and human activity in the forest. In addition the PhD candidate will be responsible for the management of the Taï Chimpanzee Project (50% of working time). The position will start in October 2013 and requires the successful candidate to stay in Taï for 3 years.
Our general interest is to understand if neighboring chimpanzee communities influence each other’s ranging pattern and what effect intergroup encounter have on the ranging of chimpanzees. We like to know how intergroup competition, especially with large food trees in the overlapping zones, impacts on the use of these areas for both communities and which are the affecting factors of inter-community dominance. We also want to know if human activity (illegal and legal) changes the ranging pattern of our three habituated and 2 unhabituated chimpanzee communities.
Qualifications/Experience:
MSc (or comparable degree) in Biology, Evolutionary Anthropology or Conservation Biology. Good knowledge in evolutionary biology, animal behavior and ecology are crucial for a successful application. Previous experience to work with GPS data and large data sets (data bank) are of advantage. The PhD candidate will need to work independently in a remote and physically demanding tropical forest habitat. Good social skills are important to work and live amongst a group of international colleagues with different cultural backgrounds.
The successful candidate is fluent in French and English and has some management experience. Previous experience with field work (as researcher and/or in a management position) will be beneficial to the application.
Salary/funding:
Supported by a MPI EVA PhD stipend. In addition the successful candidate will write a research proposal to apply for grant money.
Term of Appointment:
Starting October 2013 (3 consecutive years in Tai to oversee data collection and manage the Taï Chimpanzee Project). Tenure of the position is four years (+ one year extension).
Application Deadline:
The evaluation of applications will start on June 3, 2013, and application will be accepted until the position is filled.
Comments:
Applications include a cover letter stating research experience, field experience and experience of managing field sites, a detailed curriculum vitae, and the names and e-mail addresses of three referees. The application documents should be sent electronically to taichimpproject@eva.mpg.de.
Contact Information:
Deutscher Platz 6
Leipzig 04103
Germany
Telephone Number:
+49 341 3550 204
Fax Number:
+49 341 3550 299
Website:
E-mail Address: