Buck Island Reef National Monument (BIRNM), located on the island of St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, is seeking applicants for the position of Sea Turtle Research Assistant (RA) to conduct sea turtle research and monitoring. This will be the 25th year of the Buck Island Sea Turtle Research Program (BISTRP), a long-term monitoring, research and conservation project supported by the National Park Service (NPS), Buck Island Reef National Monument. BIRNM is a nesting beach for hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), green (Chelonia mydas), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), and loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles.
RAs must be available from 15 July through 6 October 2012 (applicants must state availability in their cover letter) and are expected to stay the length of the project (specific dates will be identified in phone interviews). This is a highly competitive project that is physically and mentally intense, aimed at individuals who want to make ecology/resource management their career. RAs must work equally effectively as a team and alone. RAs will provide assistance to the NPS staff in the collection and processing of field data. Buck Island’s nesting beaches will be monitored 7 days/week sundown to sunup, by a joint team of NPS staff and RAs. Access to the island is by boat only, where there are minimal facilities. RAs will be trained to meet the high standard of competency in sea turtle monitoring established in the BISTRP protocol manual ( http://fl.biology.usgs.gov/Seaturtles.pdf). All nesting turtles will be encountered; biometric data will be collected on turtles, physical data will be collected on nest locations, and animals will be tagged (inconel and PIT). Nests will be excavated to determine hatch success. Imperiled nests will be relocated as part of continuing research to determine optimal relocation conditions. RAs will collect soil samples, deploy temperature loggers, take water-related measurements, and participate in processing histological samples. RAs will also assist in deploying satellite and acoustic tags. RAs may participate in snorkel surveys for foraging sea turtles and/or assist in sea turtle stranding response incidents. RAs will gain an invaluable experience learning research techniques from NPS biologists and encountering threatened and endangered sea turtles in a pristine nesting habitat. Each RA will be scheduled for up to 5 nights on the beach, or 4 nights and 1 day of lab/office work (data entry and sample processing), on a dynamic schedule. RAs will be responsible for field equipment care and maintenance. RAs are also responsible for weekly daytime monitoring of beaches at The Buccaneer Hotel, their residence, recording activities using GPS. RAs will also conduct outreach to hotel guests. RAs will write a report at season’s end summarizing turtle nesting activities at The Buccaneer Hotel. RAs will receive two meals/day and lodging from The Buccaneer Hotel at no cost to the RAs. A small weekly stipend will be allotted to each RA (less than $100), and travel costs will be covered by the NPS. RAs need to seriously consider their finances before applying to these openings; it will not be possible to work locally while conducting RA duties. Qualifications Required - Must: · Communicate effectively in English, orally and in writing · Have biology training/background · Collect data and maintain records precisely according to standardized protocol · Enter and analyze data (written and computer database format) · Be in excellent physical shape · Be able to persevere under stressful conditions · Work outdoors, day and night in isolated conditions, and in adverse weather · Walk in the sand up to 10 kilometers/night · Climb rocks; stoop, kneel and stand on soft substrate and in cramped conditions. · Have a strong work ethic · Be able to work all night and on weekends · Be able to lift and move heavy objects · Operate communications equipment properly (cell phone, hand-held VHS radio, marine radio) · Be able to swim; crew a boat in open water conditions · Have a valid US driver’s license To apply, send a cover letter stating your interest in and qualifications for the project, a resume summarizing your experience, and contact information for three references to the email address below. Email is preferred, but postal mail/fax is accepted. Deadline for application: 3 March 2012 If selected for interview you will be contacted by March 16TH, PLEASE DO NOT MAKE FOLLOW UP INQUIRIES. Email: [email protected] Telephone: 340.773.1460 x 236 Fax: 340.719.1790 National Park Service C/o Ian Lundgren, Biologist 2100 Church Street, #100 Christiansted, St. Croix, Virgin Islands 00820
