Join the ARCAmazon team as our resident tropical mycology coordinator at the Las Piedras Amazon Center! Work on our 4460-hectare (11,000 acre) reserve in one of the last frontier forests in the Peruvian Amazon. Undertake your individual tropical mycology research while guiding young professionals in tropical field methodology.
Job Description: • Design, plan, and undertake an individual research project. • Add to our species list, educate young researchers, and contribute to our existing long-term monitoring on site. • Help develop our edible mushroom cultivation project. Conduct tissue cultures, create spawn, and identify ideal substrate material with the potential to replicate in local communities. •Continue inventory of species onsite; record morphological characteristics of fungi and photograph to contribute to our rapid color guide. • Conduct trail maintenance, give presentations, guide, logistics and communication between town, and quarterly reporting. • Run one of our volunteer programs in order to share our knowledge with the larger community and introduce students to mycology research. • Volunteer care • Work days are divided between fieldwork (actively walking the trails and collecting data), data entry and analysis, and camp work. • Coordinators are expected to work 8 hours a day, 6 days a week. Four free days offsite are given per month. Who we are: ARCAmazon is a Peruvian non-profit focused on land conservation, research, and education. Our mission is to increase the value of the Amazon, to conserve and protect it, and to connect people with rainforest. We bring people together at our site to collaborate on social, environmental and economic-focused projects that generate win- win outcomes for humans and the environment. Our research helps us refine our conservation strategies and learn more about the complex relationships between humans and rainforests. Current research is focused around themes ranging from biodiversity to ethnobotany, socio- economics to sustainable business, agro-forestry to permaculture and conservation. ARCAmazon believes in the importance of sharing data with land owners, policy makers, NGOs and businesses, to help encourage all parties to take a stake in protecting this critical part of the planet. Location: Most of your time will be spent at our field site (Las Piedras Amazon Center) nestled within our 4400-hectare reserve and situated along the Piedras River. LPAC is located 3 hours from the nearest city, and a 15-minute boat ride from the nearest community. Room and board is provided, with 3 filling meals a day and a bed with sheets and mosquito net. Onsite we have electricity for about 4 hours a day. There is no cell service or internet. Sleeping arrangements are on shared platforms. Requirements: Experience with field techniques such as fungal ID, using a dichotomous key, cultivation, laboratory work, the scientific method, etc. Knowledge of tropical ecosystems and the fungi present in the Peruvian Amazon. Bachelor degree in biological sciences, Masters preferred. At least 1 year of field work. Self-motivated and proactive individual with a passion for conservation, research, and sharing their knowledge with others. CPR/First Aide (Preferred). Spanish fluency is a plus. Peru-based scientists are highly encouraged to apply! Minimum commitment: 6 months with potential to extend Start Date: June 2018 Compensation: A small monthly stipend with the potential to increase after 3 months. Room and board are provided throughout the length of the program. Transportation from Puerto Maldonado airport and to and from the field-site are covered. Contact: Please send us a letter of interest along with your CV to [email protected]. Please use “MycologyCoordinator_YourName” in the subject of your inquiry email.
