> Goodday! > > Thank you for reading this message. I am looking for 2 field assistants for > this summer's fieldwork, trapping and sampling small rodents for the project: > "The potential impact of the oral sylvatic plague vaccine on the prairie > ecosystem." which is part of my PhD research. > > The volunteer positions are available from approximately: > - 17th of June til 13th of August: Utah-South Dakota Crew > - 15th of July til 15th of August: Montana Crew > > Please read the position description below. I am looking forward to hearing > from you, > Kind regards, > Bieneke Bron
Short facts: - You can be part of the crew working on sites in: o Utah - South Dakota crew: June 17th – August 13th or o Montana crew: July 15th – August 15th - Species we expect to work with: deermice, grasshopper mice, thirteen-lined ground squirrels etc. - What would you do: set and check traps, anesthetize, bleed and sample small rodents in the field, camp and work intense weeks on amazing locations. - Volunteer position: no salary, however lodging and a $20 per diem will be provided > The project: This summer efficacy trials of the oral sylvatic plague vaccine > for prairie dogs will start in several US states. Baits (vaccine laden or > placebo) will be distributed on paired sites (prairie dog colonies). In > addition to the prairie dog trapping (done by the local collaborators), small > rodent species that potentially consume the baits will be trapped and sampled > too, in order to assess the impact of the vaccine on these non target species. > > Position Description: Field assistants are expected to set 2 x 100 traps in > the evening (crew of 4), check the traps for nocturnal animals at sunrise and > reset these traps for diurnal animal trapping. Captured animals will be > brought to a central location, they will be identified, anesthetized, > eartagged and sampled (blood, hair&whiskers and fleas) by the field > assistants. Afterwards animals will be released at the location of capture. > In between trapping data entry, trap cleaning and other preparations will > need to be done. Thus you can expect to work long intense days in teams of 2 > (crew of 4) , while camping at remote amazing locations. > > Qualifications: Previous fieldwork, rodent trapping and rodent bleeding > experience is preferred but not required. Undergraduate or graduate qualified > field course and lab experience is preferred. > > Applicants should be > > Highly motivated and willing to work in a team > In good physical and mental condition > Comfortable being away from family and friends for a prolonged time > Positive and able to get up early in the morning > Not scared of small rodents or blood (a sense of humor is appreciated > too) > Reward: no salary is available for this position. However you will receive > lodging and $20,- per diem. Travel to the site is not reimbursed. Most > efficient travel options will be discussed. > > Interested? Please send me your letter of motivation with your resume including relevant field- and animal work experience. Any questions, feel free to email me too: [email protected]. Bieneke Bron DVM, PhD student Comparative Biomedical Science at the University of Wisconsin and National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, Wisconsin.
