Head Field Technician Required-Columbian ground squirrels Sheep River Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada
We are looking for a head field technician to assist with, and coordinate, fieldwork on the ecology of a wild population of Columbian ground squirrels. The head tech will supervise 4-5 volunteers for the period of May 1 to Aug 31, 2012. Duties will include monitoring the phenology (when animals emerge from hibernation), reproduction and survival of individuals, data entry and data verification. Fieldwork will involve live-trapping and handling of animals, behavioural observation, radio-telemetry (to locate natal burrows) and assistance with the measurement of physiological (metabolism) traits on free-ranging animals. The successful candidate will have previous fieldwork experience, ideally in a field camp/station setting, have experience in data entry and management and show a high level of responsibility. Additionally, you should have an interest in a number of the following (the more the better!): ecology, evolutionary biology, wildlife, field biology, and animal behaviour. Periods of time will be spent camping and, as such, successful applicants need to enjoy the outdoors, be up-beat, positive, responsible and work well as a member of a team. All fieldwork is carried out in the spectacular Rocky Mountains of southwestern Alberta, Canada, home to some of the most majestic wildlife in North America. We will be staying at the University of Calgarys R.B. Miller research station in Sheep River Provincial Park, Alberta (http://bgs.ucalgary.ca/facilities/facilities). You will interact with other researchers working with ground squirrels on a diversity of projects in behavioural and population ecology. Additionally, the field station is home to a number of other researchers working on a variety of projects, ranging from insects to large mammals. Salary is $1800/month. Food, accommodation and travel within western Canada are provided. Applicants from further afield are encouraged to apply. In this case the equivalent of travel within western Canada will be reimbursed. If you wish to apply for this position, please send a CV with a cover letter and contact details of three references (with e-mail address), by email to Jeff Lane (contact info below), by April 07, 2012. Note that due to Canadian immigration laws, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. Contact: Dr. Jeff Lane [email protected] Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton, AB Canada T6G 2E9
