Overview A Teaching Assistant (TA) is needed for a six-week field course in tropical rainforest ecology and conservation in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo during June 22-Aug 4, 2016. The course is offered through Wildlands Studies, LLC, a California-based company; the course, however, is taught entirely in the field in Malaysia. Throughout the field course students will explore the ecology of Sabah’s major terrestrial ecosystems, the natural history of key plant and animal taxa, and some of the leading conservation challenges facing the region.
The course begins in the highlands of the Crocker Range, in the western part of Sabah. Here, we will explore how a complex geological and evolutionary history has resulted in an exceptional diversity of montane habitats and an extraordinary variety of specialized tropical plants, insects, and other animals that inhabit them, many of which are endemic to the island. From the highlands we descend into the Danum Valley, in Sabah’s lowland rainforest. Danum Valley today is still dominated by old-growth trees in the family Dipterocarpaceae, which are among the world’s tallest trees. Their large size and high abundance makes clearcutting highly profitable in this region and, as a result, outside of Danum very little primary rainforest remains. Once the rainforest has been cleared African oil palms are usually planted in vast monocultures, and this has emerged as one of the leading threats to Borneo’s biodiversity. After finishing in Danum Valley we will travel overland to the Kinabatangan region where we will continue our field studies of Bornean wildlife and also the palm oil industry that threatens it. We will end the course in Sepilok, home to one of the world’s most successful wildlife rehabilitation projects for endangered Bornean orangutans. Here, we will reflect on what we have learned about the intertwined fates of the Bornean natural and cultural landscapes. Position description The TA will provide academic and logistical support to the course lead instructor. Duties may include, but are not limited to, leading interpretive group hikes and supervising other group activities, record-keeping, and general group oversight. Group activities may include lectures and group discussions led by Wildlands Studies faculty and visiting researchers, group field projects such as insect diversity and sampling, estimation of aboveground biomass, and wildlife monitoring studies. The TA will also assist students in data collection for independent research projects on topics spanning wildlife ecology and biology, botany, entomology, and natural history. The TA is an integral part of the course risk management plan, and thus the applicant should also be prepared to work with the lead instructor to manage a variety of potential emergency situations while in the field. Qualifications Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree in ecology, conservation biology, or a related field. Applicants with research or teaching experience in the tropics, especially in Borneo or Southeast Asia, and/or knowledge of Bornean natural history will be preferred. Applicants should also work well with others in an intimate field setting under intense physical and emotional pressure and be mature and detail-oriented. In general, the TA will be responsible for contributing to a positive learning environment throughout the duration of the field course. Compensation This is an unpaid position. However, all course-related expenses will be covered, including room, board, local transportation, and international round-trip airfare (int’l airfare reimbursed upon course completion). How to apply To apply send a cover letter and a current CV to Dr. Geoff Gallice (course lead instructor) [email protected]
