Research Internship: Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico

 Field Site:

Cayo Santiago, an island 1 km off the coast of Puerto Rico, is a research field station home to approximately 1600 rhesus macaques. The monkeys currently living on Cayo Santiago are all the direct descendants of 409 monkeys who were brought to the island in 1938. Monkeys roam freely on the island and naturally separate themselves into social groups. Today, researchers from universities around the world conduct field work focused on a range of disciplines including evolutionary ecology, anthropology, and psychology. The site is run and maintained by the Caribbean Primate Research Center and the University of Puerto Rico.


Internship:

A team of interns will assist in non-invasive data collection for an ongoing study of rhesus macaques physiology and behavior. Primary duties will include collection of biological samples (feces and urine) and behavioral data from both adult and juvenile free ranging monkeys. This will involve spending approximately 7.5 hours per day on the island (5 days per week), observing the monkeys in their natural habitat, and collecting fecal and urine samples from the monkeys opportunistically. Interns must be willing to committee to the full internship duration, which requires a minimum of 4 – 5 months commitment but a 9 – 10 months commitment will be preferred, with a start date in early January 2027. 

Living stipends:

A stipend of $40 per day (Mon-Fri) and housing in the coastal town of Punta Santiago are provided. Travel to and from Puerto Rico (from anywhere in the continental United States) is also covered.

Qualification:

-       Ability to work independently, as well as be a positive and contributing member of a group

-       Ability to work in physically challenging conditions, including standing for the majority of the day (up to 8 hours) under hot conditions with minimal shade, and walking across uneven and steep terrain

-       Willingness to work in close contact with free-ranging monkeys, which requires both vigilance as well as confidence around wild animals

-       Tolerance to collecting both feces and urine samples

-       Sincere interest in biological anthropology, animal behavior, primatology, ecology, veterinary sciences, or another related field

-       Applicant must be a US citizen or permanent resident and a minimum of 18 years of age

-       Proof of:

o   Diphtheria/Tetanus vaccination,

o   MMR vaccination (2-doses),

o   recent negative TB test (within 6-months of start date) (blood test preferable),

o   recent negative results for measles titers (IgG) antibodies

-       Willingness to submit a health questionnaire is required

Preferred:

-       Previous field work experience, especially field work involving primates and/or under hot climatic conditions

-       A bachelor’s degree in biology, anthropology, ecology, or a related field

-       Basic Spanish

 

HOW TO APPLY:

To apply, please email a single .pdf document titled “CayoApplication_YOURNAME” to both Dr. Emma Thurau at ethurau@nd.edu and Dr. Rachel Nelson at rsn9179@nyu.edu by October 31st. .

The single .pdf document should contain:

-       Cover letter (maximum 2 pages)

-       Your resume

-       Contact details of two references

Please specify in your cover letter:

1.     Earliest date in January 2027 that you are able to start, and

2.     How many continuous months you are able to commit to this internship [**preference will be given to those who can commit to January – October 2027]. 

This internship is part of a collaborative research project led by Dr. James Higham (New York University), Dr. Lauren Brent (University of Exeter), Dr. Sam Patterson (University of Notre Dame) and Dr. Noah Snyder-Mackler (Arizona State University).

Preference will be given to applicants that can begin early January 2027 and that can stay through to the first week of October 2027.