The Alliance for a Sustainable Amazon (ASA), a research-focused non-profit organization working in the southeastern Peruvian Amazon, and Rainforest Expeditions (RE), a science-focused rain forest ecotourism company, are seeking a volunteer field research assistant in Lepidoptera beginning in April, 2018. The successful applicant will be based at Refugio Amazonas, one of Rainforest Expedition’s ecolodges in Madre de Dios, Peru.
POSITION: Volunteer Field Research Assistant LOCATION: Refugio Amazonas, Madre de Dios, Peru POSITION DURATION: Minimum 6 months SCHEDULE: 6 days/week, flexibility in scheduling required POSITION START DATE: April 30, 2018 APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 9, 2018 POSITION DESCRIPTION The assistant will work under the direction of the ASA Science Director and under the direct supervision of RE’s Wired Amazon Project Manager to facilitate ongoing biological research in Lepidoptera at Refugio Amazonas. This is a residency position, meaning that the successful applicant will live on site, full time. The assistant will receive the equivalent of one day off per week, although given the nature of field research and ongoing projects at the field site, time off will be scheduled to ensure that a staff member is always available on site daily to perform essential tasks. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The Lepidoptera assistant will contribute primarily to several ongoing, long term projects focused on Lepidoptera diversity and biology at the field site. Most time will be dedicated to the rearing of caterpillars of several groups of nymphalid butterflies, including the Satyrinae the Ithomiini, as well as Dioptini (Notodontidae), among others. Other projects that the assistant will support include a survey of diurnal Lepidoptera and moths (especially Arctiinae). Example tasks & duties * Daily care of rearing study, including recording data for immature Lepidoptera, finding & changing host plants, vouchering specimens, etc. * Searching for new host plant records along trails and in forest plots * General maintenance and upkeep of butterfly rearing facility & flight cage * General maintenance and upkeep of host plant shade house * Survey (i.e., collecting) of the Lepidoptera of the field site & adjacent areas * Data collection & management REQUIREMENTS * Minimum 6 month commitment required (April – September, 2018) * Minimum bachelor’s degree in natural or environmental sciences or related field * Knowledge of and experience in entomology and/or field Lepidoptera research * At least basic Spanish (preferred) * Experience working/living abroad, especially in the tropics (preferred) * Enthusiasm and strong work ethic * Flexibility in schedule and work environment * Maturity/must live with and work well with others in close setting * Excellent physical condition * Traveler’s insurance (proof required upon acceptance) TRAINING Upon arrival at Refugio Amazonas, the assistant will undergo an intensive training period that will cover basic field research methodologies employed in the project. The assistant will also be trained informally throughout the duration of their term at the field site. The successful applicant can expect to learn a number of skills useful in field research in the tropics, including ideintification of Lepidoptera and other insects, off-trail navigation, collection, management, and analysis of spatial data, methods for collecting adult Lepidoptera and rearing immatures, experimental design, ecological data collection and management, and field laboratory maintenance. COMPENSATION This is an unpaid, volunteer position. However, all room and board is provided on-site at Refugio Amazonas, 7 days per week, for the duration of the appointment. Work-related local transportation, including pickup from the Puerto Maldonado airport (PEM) or bus terminal, is covered. Assistants are responsible for their international flight to Peru (if applicable), including airfare, taxes, airport fees, flight insurance, etc., and domestic air or land travel to Puerto Maldonado. HOW TO APPLY The following are required to apply for this position: 1. A cover letter of interest 2. Current CV/resume with contact information for two references 3. Most recent unofficial university transcript Completed applications should include each of the three required items, and should be submitted as a single PDF document, in the order listed above, by the application deadline (March 9, 2018). Document title should read: “Lepidoptera_assistant_application_lastname”.pdf Send completed applications to: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> with “Lepidoptera assistant application” in the subject line.
