Dear Ecolog members,
Please distribute this announcement widely:
Volunteer research assistants are needed to participate on a PhD
research project on human-elephant conflict near Ruaha National Park,
Tanzania. Responsibilities will vary according to the skills and
interests of each applicant but will likely involve accompanying local
villagers into the National Park and using various techniques,
including surveys, to help measure the effects of these visits on local
peoples’ perceptions of wildlife, and of elephants in particular. Some
opportunistic data will also be collected on the behavioral ecology of
elephants in the field. Research assistants will be expected to commit
some of their time to volunteering in local schools, to teach students
about wildlife and conservation; there will also be ample opportunity
to teach additional subjects, if it is of interest to the volunteer.
This work represents a unique opportunity to gain invaluable
experience living and working in rural East Africa on an elephant
research and conservation project. The investigator is in the process
of establishing a long-term project in the area aimed at applying
research findings to conservation, and human-wildlife conflict
mitigation work. Thus, research assistants who work on the project
during this time will be in a position to directly influence the
development and initial success of this undertaking. Additionally,
those volunteers who successfully complete a commitment on this project
and later move onto graduate school will likely be invited to return to
the field site to conduct independent research; infrastructure and
logistical support will be provided in these cases.
Unfortunately, no funding currently exists to support research
assistants, so a program fee of $320 per week will be required to cover
program costs as well as your accommodation, local transportation,
visits to the park, and food in the field. Please wait to submit your
application materials until you are sure of your ability to cover these
costs. You will also be responsible for your own airfare to and from
Tanzania, as well as medical insurance and vaccinations. Because of the
remoteness of the field site and the time it takes to acclimate to the
region and the work, a minimum commitment of 6 weeks will be required,
with preference given to those who can make longer commitments.
Applications for those available to work between August 2012 and
December 2012 are now being accepted; positions will be filled as
suitable applicants are found.
Field/work conditions:
Field conditions at this site can be very challenging, with frequent
exposure to poisonous snakes and crocodiles, daily temperatures
frequently exceeding 90°F, and shared living quarters being cramped and
very basic (ie: no running water, very basic food, and limited
electricity available only to power field equipment). Research
assistants on this project face and overcome unforeseen challenges,
both large and small, on a daily basis. These include frequent vehicle
break-downs, charging elephants, malfunctioning field equipment, and
work schedules that are dependent upon the constantly shifting
availability of village leaders and local park authorities. Despite the
availability of local translators, the strong language barrier can also
be very challenging. All of these conditions must be reconciled with
the challenge of successfully completing the work, as scheduled, on a
monthly basis. These challenges should not be under-estimated, but it
should also be noted that many volunteers who work on the project find
that they don’t want to leave!
Qualifications:
A particular type of personality is best suited for this type of work,
therefore you must have the following qualities: positive attitude,
flexible, resourceful, personable, intellectually curious,
conscientious, patient, able to work and problem solve independently
but also work as part of a team, … and a sense of humor doesn’t hurt
either!
Required qualifications:
- Interest in wildlife conservation, and education
- Interest in and respect for different cultures
- Fluency in English, both written and spoken
- Comfortable living in remote areas under very basic living
conditions
Strongly preferred:
- Experience traveling or working internationally, preferably in a
developing nation
- Some kind of field research experience
Preferred but not necessary:
- Knowledge of cars, particularly diesel engines
- Some knowledge of Kiswahili
To apply:
Send a resume, the contact information for 3 references, and cover
letter detailing how you meet the qualifications listed above, the
reason you are interested in this position, and the time commitment you
can make (including rough dates of your availability) to:
Sarah Maisonneuve
Email: [email protected]
For more information about the project, see
www.thewildlifeconnection.org. Please also see our facebook page, which
is frequently updated by volunteers currently in the field:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/137043436319549/
--
Graduate Degree Program in Ecology
Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory
Colorado State University
Campus Delivery 1499
Fort Collins , CO 80523
Phone: (970) 491-1604
www.thewildlifeconnection.org
Fax: (970) 491-1965
