Volunteers needed as field assistants for the project:
Evolution and Socio-Ecology of small Mammals in
the Succulent Karoo of South Africa
From May 2010 onwards
Opportunity: This is a great opportunity for
anybody who wants to get more experience in field
work relating to evolution, ecology and behavior
before starting an MsC or PhD project.
Project: We study the evolutionary and ecological
reasons of group living, paternal care, communal
nesting and social flexibility in the striped
mouse. As this species is diurnal and the habitat
is open, direct behavioral observations in the field are possible.
What kind of people are needed?
Biology/zoology/veterinary students are preferred
as candidates. Applicants must have an interest
in working in the field and with animals. Hard
working conditions will await applicants, as the
study species gets up with sunrise (between 5 and
6 o` clock), and stops its activity with dusk (19
o` clock). Work during nights might also be
necessary. Work in the field will be done for 5
days a week. Applicants must be able to manage
extreme temperatures (below 0 at night in winter,
sometimes over 40°C during summer days).
Applicants must both be prepared to live for long
periods in the loneliness of the field and to be part of a small group.
Work of field assistants: Trapping, marking and
radio-tracking of striped mice; direct behavioral
observations in the field. Volunteers are also
expected to help with maintenance of the research
station (water pump, solar power, etc.)
Confirmation letter: Students get a letter of
confirmation about their work and can prepare a
report of their own small project to get credit
points from their university for their bachelor or masters studies.
Costs: Students have to arrange their transport
to the field site themselves. Per month, an
amount of Rand 1000 (around 100 Euro) must be
paid for accommodation at the research station.
For students with their own undergraduate
project, a fee of Rand 1250 (approx. 120 Euro)
per month applies. Students must buy their own
food etc in Springbok (costs of about R 2000 or
200 Euro/month). Including extras, you should
expect costs of about 300 - 400 Euros per month.
Students get an invitation letter which they can
use to apply for funding in their home country
(eg. DAAD in Germany, SANW in Switzerland).
Place: The field site is in the Goegap Nature
Reserve near Springbok in the North-West of South
Africa. The vegetation consists of Succulent
Karoo, which has been recognized as one of 25
hotspots of biodiversity. It is a desert to
semi-desert with rain mainly in winter (June to September).
When and how long: At the moment we are looking
for volunteers to start in May 2010 and
especially for the period June to December 2010.
Volunteers are expected to stay at least 2
months, but longer periods of up to 6months are preferred.
How to apply? Send a short motivation letter
stating why and for which period you are
interested and your CV via email to
<mailto:[email protected]>[email protected].
More information under <http://www.stripedmouse.com/>www.stripedmouse.com
Contact via e-mail:
<mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]
Dr. Carsten Schradin
Research Assistant, Department of Animal Behavior,
University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
Tel: +41 - (0)44 635 5486
Honorary Researcher at the School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences,
University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.
