Bat Technicians: Florida Location: Southern Florida Job Category: Temporary/Seasonal Positions Salary: $12/hour Start Date: 1/5/2014 Last Date to Apply: 10/30/2014
We are looking for three biological technicians to work on two bat ecology projects 1)(2 positions) We are conducting an intensive field project examining the influence of fire frequency and burning on the spatial ecology of the Florida bonneted bat. The Florida bonneted bat is likely the least understood bat in North America and it was listed as a federally endangered species last year. Technicians will be working on a number of protected areas throughout south Florida where the bonneted bat is known to occur. The project will employ both acoustic monitoring and radio telemetry to understand the bat’s movements. Job duties will include: Deployment of acoustic monitoring devices, radio telemetry, vegetative sampling, mist netting bats, data entry and analysis of acoustic data. Shared housing will be provided close to field sites, but technicians will be responsible for their own food. The technicians can expect to work nights and long hours in the south Florida heat and some weekend work required. 2)(1 position) We are initiating a bat monitoring program for Everglades National Park. There is little information on the bat communities in the park and we will develop and implement a long term monitoring protocol to understand changes in the bat community over time. A technician will use multiple methodologies to acoustically monitor bat communities in ENP. This will include driving and passive monitoring in different vegetative communities during different seasons. Job duties will include: Deployment of acoustic monitoring devices, driving acoustic surveys, data entry and analysis of acoustic data. There will also be the opportunity to be involved in bat captures and radio telemetry in conjunction with other bat research conducted in the area. Housing will be provided in Everglades Nation Park, but the technician will be responsible for their own food. The technician can expect to work nights and long hours in the south Florida heat and some weekend work required. Qualifications: Applicants should have considerable field experience working with acoustic monitoring and radio-telemetry and a B.S. degree in ecology, fish and wildlife biology, environmental science, biology, or a related field. The positions will require a good deal of travel throughout southern Florida; a valid driver’s license is required, and applicants should be comfortable driving for several hours per day. Experience driving 4WD vehicles in field conditions is preferred. Applicants must have a positive attitude and be comfortable working alone. Field sites will include inhospitable and remote as well as heavily urbanized areas, so applicants must be comfortable working in a wide range of environments. Technicians may have to work long or unusual hours and must be physically fit and comfortable hiking and working in hot, potentially inclement weather. Current rabies vaccinations are preferred but not required. Interested persons should send a resume and contact information for three references to Dr. Liz Braun De Torrez, [email protected], with the subject line ‘Bat technician application’. Applications will be reviewed as they come in, and phone interviews will be conducted with those that make the initial review. The technicians will be selected by the end of November. Contact Person: Elizabeth Braun De Torrez Contact Email: [email protected]
