field assistant for bonobo survey in DRC

 The LuiKotale Bonobo Project (LKBP) offers positions for assistants, participating in an ongoing survey of wild bonobos within the buffer zone of Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Field work aims on monitoring ranging pattern and nest site locations of multiple bonobo communities to assess population density and dynamics of range use over time. During encounters with bonobos, assistants will collect data facilitating identification of individuals, feeding and social behavior. Other duties include participation in monthly phenology surveys, camera trapping, and collection of biological samples. The survey team is accommodated at the camp site of Ekongo and the survey area covers forest overlapping with those of habituated groups. New assistants will be trained by research staff at LuiKotale, following habituated bonobos in order to learn to identify acoustic cues, feeding remains, and nest sites. Candidates will work together with international and Congolese assistants. The Camp and Research Manager of LuiKotale assists with the administration of Ekongo but the international team at Ekongo is in charge of the daily administration tasks which include handling of field data, recording whether data, making food orders and payments to local workers.

Staying at Ekongo can be 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 with the outside world is limited to short emails. Forest teams use inReach and Turaya sat phones to communicate with camp. Assistants live in tents and mostly eat local foods (e.g., beans, manioc and rice). Field work can be frustrating because searching time for bonobos exceeds observation hours and after encountering a group, bonobos are likely to 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.

Candidates are expected to have an interest in primate behavior and/or forest ecology, and experience with similar field work. Strong organizational skills, stress resistance, physical fitness and language skills (French and English) are essential. Experience with devices such as short wave radio, GPS unit, compass, Turaya sat phone, and knowledge in using Microsoft Excel and other software are assets, but not essentially required. Note that the LKBP adheres strictly to gender equality and will not tolerate any form of sexual harassment.

Term of Appointment: September 2023

Salary/Funding:

300 Euro/month during training (1st month) and 500 Euro/month thereafter

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

- food (mix of local and some western food items)

- lodging in tents

- airfare for one domestic flight from Kinshasa to the field site and back

- expenses for long-term visa

- contribution to an international return flight of up to 800 Euro*

*reimbursement ONLY AFTER SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE APPOINTMENT

People joining the project are required to have a valid passport, yellow fiever vaccination and a health insurance covering expenses for evacuation by charter plane in a case of emergency. Expenses for the health insurance cannot be covered by the project.

Comments:

Applications include an updated CV, a letter of motivation showing how the applicant 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 (bfruth@ab.mpg.de).

Information about the LKBP is available at

https://www.ab.mpg.de/364649/fruth

https://www.ab.mpg.de/person/110350/11746

https://www.eva.mpg.de/primat/research-groups/bonobos/luikotale-study-site.html