lundi 11 février 2019

Position(s) as station and as research managers (starting in July 2019) at the striped mouse project in South Africa

We are looking for an extremely motivated and independent biology student with a master’s degree to join the striped mouse project in July (latest September) 2019 at least until November 2020 and for a maximum of 3 years as research or as station manager. This position is suitable for somebody who would like to gain experience in field work and scientific management. Managers get free accommodation at the station and a compensation to cover their daily costs. Travel costs can be refunded by up to an additional R 15 000 / year. As such, the position compensates for all arising costs but does not represent a legal employment.
The research manager and the station manager work closely together and both managers share many responsibilities. However, each will have specific main duties, but should also be able to deal with all other duties (for example when the other manager is on leave, or when a new manager has to be trained). The new manager will be instructed by the present managers.
Skills needed: Good experience in field work and good knowledge of behavioural ecology or a similar field of research. Experiences in working with small mammals, radio-tracking, blood sampling, living at a remote location are of advantage. Handyman skills are of advantage and needed for the station manager position.
You must be hard-working, highly motivated, able to work independently, good in communicating with people, able to supervise others, and not afraid of snakes. You must have a drivers licence and you must love to live at a remote place in nature, without regular internet and cell-phone reception. Most importantly, you are fascinated by nature and science!
Great opportunity: This is a great opportunity to spend 1.5-3 years in Africa, acquiring important skills in field biology and project management, while improving your CV. These skills will become valuable whether you later continue with a PhD or other jobs. It will be very hard and demanding, but also a once in a life time experience!
Job description: Five working days a week (Mo, Tue, Thu, Fr, Sat), with Wednesday being used for a shopping trip to town (not counted as working day) and Sundays being free. Included are four weeks of holiday for 12 months, which has to be taken outside the main breeding season (so not during August to November) and during periods when the other manager is present at the research station (the two managers cannot be on leave at the same time).

Shared duties of managers at SKRS
Striped mice:
·         Trapping
·         Observing
·         Radio-tracking, putting radio-collars on
·         Blood sampling
Collect data for specific research projects (to be determined. Examples would be collecting urine samples, data on basking, cognitive testing

Primary duties research manager / secondary duties station manager
·         Data:
o   Weekly data entry
o   Weekly data check
o   Monthly data backup
o   Monthly data report
o   Training and supervision of field assistants
o   Training of students and postdocs
o   Support for students and postdocs
o   Management of transmitters
o   Management of field and laboratory supplies

Primary duties station manager / secondary duties research manager
·         Technical support research station:
o   Water system incl. sewage system
o   Solar system
o   Gas bottles replacement
o   House and furniture
o   Running of the respirometry laboratory
o   Management of the captive colony
o   Management of the research station car
o   Management of bank account and cash box
o   Management of research station supplies

Compensation:
·         Free accommodation.
  • A monthly compensation of R 4 700, which is sufficient to pay all costs of living.
  • For travel costs, R15 000 per year can be refunded, but proof (receipts) must be presented for this. This refund is only payable after October 2020 and will not be paid if the person leaves earlier than agreed.
  • You will become an honorary researcher at the University of the Witwatersrand in the group of Prof. N. Pillay.
  • Scientific co-authorship will be possible if the manager contributes to the success of projects by not only collecting the majority of data, but also by data analysis and writing of the manuscript.
Responsibilities:
·         The manager has to cover the costs to get to the station, including travel costs and visa fees. For this, a refund can be paid (see above).
  • The manager needs to arrange for a health insurance covering him / her during the stay. A copy must be sent to C. Schradin before travelling to the stations.
Place and project: Succulent Karoo Research Station (SKRS) in the Goegap Nature Reserve near Springbok in the Northern Cape of South Africa. The research projects are on the socio-ecology of small mammals, studying ecological and physiological reasons of social behaviour, behavioural flexibility, cognition, and physiological adaptation.
Period: The new manager is expected to start in July or latest September 2019 and to stay at least until the end of November 2020 (end of the breeding season). The agreement might be extended for a total period of up to 3 years.
How to apply? Please send a CV, a letter of motivation and the names and contact information of at least two scientists available for reference. The letter of motivation should state why you think you are the perfect candidate for this, when you could start, and whether you have a preference for the position as station or as research manager.
Application deadline: 1st of March 2019.

Further information under www.stripedmouse.com
Dr. Carsten Schradin, Director of the Succulent Karoo Research Station, a registered South African non-profit organization supporting research in organismic biology.