Urgent – Volunteer research assistant

 Position Description:

We are looking for two volunteers to assist in a project studying vocal behavior in black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra) at Palenque National Park, Mexico. You will work in a team together with a local assistant and Dr. Van Belle while observing study groups. Observations days run from sunrise to sunset during which multiple types of data such as activity scan samples, ranging behavior, and vocal behavior. Resting days will be scheduled regularly as part of the field work. 

 

Palenque National Park, located in the state of Chiapas in south-eastern Mexico, is known for harboring the ruins of the ancient Maya civilization. The Mexican government has created a national park to safeguard their patrimony. Only 10% of the ruins has been excavated; the remainder remains covert by tall evergreen tropical rain forest. It is in this forest that the study take place.

 

Palenque National Park is an important tourist attraction and is located near the town of Palenque that provides all basic facilities (grocery stores, pharmacies, hospitals, banks, etc).

 

 

Qualifications/Experience:

The qualifications we are looking for in a research assistant are:

- Be physically fit, and capable of undertaking fieldwork in hot/humid conditions.

- Be capable of teamwork and not have issues with authority figures.

- Have a background in biology/anthropology/zoology/psychology or a related field.

- Be interested in primate behavior, ecology, and conservation.

- Be hard working, disciplined in following field procedures, and be reliable.

- Some knowledge of animal behavior and data collection is preferred but not required.

- Enjoy being outdoors and experiencing the tropical rainforest.

- Enjoy being in the culture of southeastern Mexico

- Basic knowledge of Spanish is required

 

Salary/funding:

No salary will be provided.

Support provided for internship/volunteer positions (travel, meals, lodging):

Assistants will be responsible for airfare/transportation to and from Palenque, food costs (estimated at 30 US$ per week), and personal expenses. Lodging will be provided by the field project in a comfortable fully equipped house (electricity, high speed internet, beds, bathroom, a large living room kitchen area) in Palenque.

Term of Appointment:

The project is ongoing, and we urgently need two assistants. Assistants need to commit at least 4 months, but longer commitments are possible (till March 2023) and preferred.  

 

Application Deadline:

none

 

Comments:

To apply, please email a recent copy of your CV and send a letter of motivation describing your research interests, experience, and availability for the position.

 

If the outcome of the 1st step assessment is positive, you will be requested to submit a letter of recommendation from your most recent advisor/supervisor. If approved to join the project, you will be provided with detailed information about the research program and about logistics.

Note on contingencies: Volunteers should be covered by medical insurance when traveling to Mexico. They will need to sign a releasing liability form upon joining the research team in Palenque.

 

Contact Information:

Dr. Sarie Van Belle, Dept. of Anthropology, University of Texas at Austin, USA.

Email: sarievanbelle@gmail.com

Website: www.sarievanbelle.com

Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sarie_Van_Belle2