Job category: Habituation field assistant

 Hiring organization: Max Planck-Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology

The LuiKotale Bonobo Project (LKBP) is looking for research assistants
who take over an ongoing habituation project. Habituation takes place in
the vicinity of the ranges of two habituated groups and is in an
intermediate stage. The field site is located in a remote forest outside
Salonga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Duties include: (i) locating and following bonobos; (ii) collecting
information facilitating identification of individual bonobos, and (iii)
collecting biological samples. Before taking over habituation work,
assistants will be trained by research staff at LuiKotale, following
habituated bonobos in order to learn to identify acoustic cues, feeding
remains, nest sites etc.

The field conditions are physically and mentally challenging. The forest
is often dense and swampy and assistants are sometimes exposed to severe
weather and tropical diseases. The research camp is very remote and has
no running water, electricity, phone coverage, or internet access. Daily
communication is limited to short emails sent via a short wave radio
system, but satellite phones are available in the event of an emergency.
Assistants live in tents and mostly eat simple, local foods (e.g.,
beans, manioc and rice). Habituation work can be frustrating because
searching time still exceeds observation hours and after encountering a
group, bonobos still tend hide from human observers. Please carefully
consider whether you will able to cope with these conditions for an
extended period of time before applying for this position.

*Qualifications/Experience*:

Ideal candidates will express an interest in primate behavior and forest
ecology, and demonstrate strong organizational skills and proficiency
with French language. Due to the challenging physical and social
environment at LuiKotale, all candidates must be (a) physically fit; (b)
resistant to psychological stress; (c) self-motivated and able to work
with minimal supervision while out in the field; and (d) tolerant of
different social customs and beliefs. Good social skills and the
willingness to work as part of a team are essential. Previous experience
using Microsoft Excel and navigating with a compass and GPS unit are
assets, but not required. Please note that the LKBP adheres strictly to
gender equality and will not tolerate any form of sexual harassment.

*Salary/Funding*:

Up to 500 Euro/month (depending on qualification)

*Support provided for internship/volunteer positions (travel, meals,
lodging)*:
- food (mix of mainly local food and some western food items)
- lodging (in tents) at the field site
- airfare for one domestic flight from Kinshasa to the field site and back*
- expenses for visa*
- contribution to an international return flight of up to 800 Euro*

*reimbursement ONLY AFTER SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE APPOINTMENT

Please note that people joining the research team in the field are
required to have a health insurance that covers expenses for evacuation
by charter plane in a case of emergency. Expenses for the health
insurance cannot be covered by the project.

*Term of Appointment*: 12 months

*Application Deadline*: none

*Comments*:
Applications include an updated CV, a letter of motivation that shows
how the candidate meets the qualifications outlined above, and
references of three people (or their contact information). Applications
should be send to Dr. Gottfried Hohmann (hohmann@eva.mpg.de) and to
Barbara Fruth (fruth@eva.mpg.de).

Information about the research and conservation activities at LuiKotale
are available at
https://www.eva.mpg.de/primat/research-groups/bonobos/luikotale-study-site.html
https://www.bonobo-alive.org/index.html

*Contact Information*:
Dr. Gottfried Hohmann <mailto:hohmann@eva.mpg.de>
Deutscher Platz 6
Leipzig 04103
Germany

*Telephone Number*:
++49 341 3550 208

*Website*:
http://www.eva.mpg.de <http://www.eva.mpg.de/>

*E-mail Address*:
hohmann@eva.mpg.de <mailto:hohmann@eva.mpg.de>