Poste assistant.e de terrain

  Research Assistant for Chimpanzee Field Work

We are seeking applicants for a research assistant position at a wild chimpanzee field project in Côte d’Ivoire. The research assistant will support data collection on chimpanzee tool use and learning, as part of a project with the Technological Primates research group at the Max Planck Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology.

Data collection will take place at the Djouroutou chimpanzee project from November 2026-August 2027.

Preferred start date: 01.11.2026

Application deadline:  Until filled (ca. 01.10.2026)    

About us:
The Technological Primates Research Group at the Max Planck Institute in Germany (https://www.eva.mpg.de/technological-primates/) works in close collaboration with Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’Ivoire (https://www.csrs.ch/fr). We are interested in the evolution of tool use and culture in humans and our primate relatives. Together we compare the tool selection patterns and material record of tool using primates across several species, including early hominins, apes and monkeys.

Field site:
The Djouroutou chimpanzee project is located in the Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire. The Taï forest, a UNESCO world heritage forest, is home to various threatened mammal species, including several monkey species and western chimpanzees (for more info see https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/195/). The Djouroutou research project collaborates closely with the eco-tourism camp operating there.
The research camp in the forest is small and isolated, only hosting a couple researchers or research assistants at a time. Living conditions are very basic. Researchers sleep in tents, food options are basic and limited, network connection is limited and unstable. Researchers rarely leave the forest.

Position:
We are looking for a motivated, detail-oriented observer who will collect observational behavioural data on wild chimpanzees. Observational data is collected through daily focal follows: We follow one individual chimpanzee throughout the day and collect detailed behavioural data. This type of data collection requires the ability to stay focused for many hours in harsh, unpredictable environments. Aside from collecting data, the applicant will clean, sort, label, and store the collected data. Work in the forest is highly demanding. We follow chimpanzees from early morning until the evening, typically over 12h, while covering long distances in the forest. The forest is hilly, includes swampy areas, and is home to a variety of wildlife.
This requires excellent physical fitness and constant attention.

Outline : 

    Field stay of ca. 8 months from November 2026 to August 2027
    Costs covered: One round trip (including flights, other means of transport, hotel stays), visa and permit fees
    The position comes with a monthly living stipend
    An associated option of master project topics can potentially be discussed, given that the student is enrolled and officially supervised at a University. The topic would fall within the scope of the research project, but could be selected and adjusted according to the background, interests, and preferences of a student.


Requirements :

    French AND English fluency
    Previous field work experience, preferably with apes or primates
    Ability to stay focused, motivated, and attentive to details over long periods of time and for repetitive tasks
    Physical fitness
    Resilience to psychological stress, isolated living, little private space
    Awareness and acceptance of cultural differences
    Strong ability to work autonomously, while communicating with and adjusting to a team and supervision


Application :
Please send your applications (short motivation letter and CV in English; field work reference where available) until October 1st, 2026, to nora_slania@eva.mpg.de 
Since we will work and live together closely, you could tell me something about yourself (apart from primate-related things), too.
We will start to evaluate the applications as they come in and until the position is filled.