Hiring Organization:
Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel
Position Description:
We are looking for a volunteer to work on communication in wild olive baboons (Papio anubis) to explore the evolutionary origins of
audience-aware communication, a prevalent feature in human language. Our goal
is to investigate how olive baboons take others into account during acts of
communication. The research is carried out at the Gashaka Primate Project (GPP,
www.ucl.ac.uk/gashaka/project) in Northwestern Nigeria. The appointment is for a
period of 6 months and will consist of helping with data collection and
carrying out playbacks experiments. Work at the field site
is physically demanding with temperatures varying between 5º and 40 ºC. Living
conditions are very basic, although there is electricity. The study is funded
by a SNF grant on audience awareness in primates to Klaus Zuberbühler.
The main responsibilities of this position
are:
1) Individually recognizing monkeys
2) Running playback experiments and
collecting focal animal and scan sampling data
3) Entering and managing data for subsequent
analyses
Qualifications/Experience:
·
Background and interest in animal behavior
·
Open-minded and independent
·
Ability to adapt to living in a foreign culture and
work in a team
·
Fluent in English
·
Previous field experience is plus
Salary/funding:
No salary is provided.
Support provided for internship/volunteer
positions (travel, meals, lodging):
We will be able to cover for the accommodation fees at GPP ($300 per month), a
return flight ticket to Nigeria and costs for local travel. This will be on a
reimbursement basis, after successful completion of fieldwork. The applicant
will be responsible for all other costs, including health insurance and
vaccinations.
Term of Appointment:
This position is for 6 months, starting beginning of April
2014
Application Deadline:
20th of March 2014
Comments:
To apply please email a one-page cover letter, CV, and 1-2 letters of reference
to Yaëlle Bouquet.
Contact Information:
Yaëlle Bouquet
Université de Neuchâtel
Institut de Biologie
Rue Emile-Argand 11
2000 Neuchâtel
Switzerland
Telephone Number:
+41-32 718 24 69
Website:
http://www2.unine.ch/compcog/yaelle_bouquet
E-mail Address: