Field assistant: Crested macaques, Sulawesi, Indonesia

Hiring Organization:
German Primate Center

Position Description:
We are looking for a field assistant for a project investigating the ecological role of the endangered crested macaque (Macaca nigra) as a seed disperser and its potential importance in forest regeneration in the Tangkoko Nature Reserve, North Sulewesi, Indonesia. The study will be conducted on habituated groups of macaques located in the vicinity of the Macaca Nigra Project field site in the reserve (see www.macaca-nigra.org).
Work will include behavioural data and faecal sample collection from male and female crested macaques, vegetation and microhabitat analysis and seed identification. The project is supervised by Dr A Engelhardt and Prof JK Hodges.

Qualifications/Experience:
A Bachelor degree in anthropology, biology, ecology, forestry or any other relevant field is required. The language in our team is English but the willingness to learn basic Bahasa Indonesia is expected. Previous field experience is welcome but not required. Priority will be given to applicants with experience of collecting behavioural data from individually recognized mammals. Experience of working in a tropical climate under demanding physical conditions is helpful as monkeys are followed from dawn to dusk (about 12h a day; 5 days a week) in a tropical rain forest.

In general, applicants should:
- be physically fit with good social skills
- be able to work independently within our team
- feel comfortable living under basic conditions and being far away from family/friends
- be willing to adapt to a foreign culture
- be emotionally mature, friendly, energetic and very patient
- be able to maintain a positive attitude towards hard and tiring work.

Salary/funding:
There will be no salary.

Support provided for internship/volunteer positions (travel, meals, lodging):
Food and lodging in the field will be covered by the project and a contribution to airfare will be provided after successful completion of the project. Insurance and visa/permit fees will have to be covered by the assistant.

Term of Appointment:
Jan 2014 (or as soon as possible) – June 2014

Application Deadline:
November 20th 2014

Comments:
If interested, please email the following to aengelhardt@dpz.eu or khodges@dpz.eu
- A cover letter explaining why you are interested in this position
- Your CV
- The names and contact information for 2 academic or professional references.

Contact Information:
Prof. Keith Hodges
Kellnerweg 4
Goettingen, none 37077
Germany

Telephone Number:
+49 551 3851 140

Fax Number:
+49 551 3851 288

Website:
http://www.macaca-nigra.org

E-mail Address:
khodges@dpz.eu