*Job Type: *Volunteer Position
*Opportunity location: *Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea, Africa
*Closing date:* 31 August 2016
*Start date: *01 November 2016; 5 months commitment.
*Opportunity Description*
The Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program (BBPP) is seeking volunteers to
assist with data collection primarily on the ecology of primates and
nesting sea turtles in our two research camps on the southern beaches of
Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea. BBPP will engage field assistants for a
period of 5 months during the upcoming dry season, beginning in November
and lasting through March. Field assistants are expected to devote at least
40 hrs/week to the project, but due to the nature of the project and living
conditions, hours will likely be considerably more.
Field assistants work under the supervision of BBPP Research Camp Managers,
Dr. Drew Cronin (BBPP Postdoctoral Researcher), and Dr. Mary Katherine
Gonder (BBPP Director). They are encouraged to participate in all aspects
of field research during their stay on Bioko Island and may explore
additional opportunities to participate in educational outreach projects
with local school children as well as training exercises with local
wildlife patrols.
Typical activities include tagging nesting sea turtles and gathering
reproductive output data on leatherback and green turtles. Research is
conducted every night until 5 am. Assistants will walk an average of 10
km/night while patrolling the beaches. Primate surveys will be conducted
during the day for 2 weeks each month along established BBPP transects
together with a trained team of local survey workers. Sampling of primate
and other mammal feces will also be conducted during the day, but will
occur off-trail with the use of a handheld GPS unit. Field assistants are
also required to participate in daily upkeep and maintenance of the camp,
including preparation of meals. Field assistants will also occasionally
assist with and/or participate in a small-scale, local ecotourism project
by aiding in the facilitation of short-term visits to research camps by
tourists and by demonstrating research methods.
Our field sites are in remote areas with no road access. Researchers and
field assistants must hike in and out of the field site(s) (between 5-13 km
depending on camp) when necessary along extremely rough terrain.
Researchers and field assistants will be living in tents, cooking over
fire, and using water from nearby streams. The diet is very limited due to
lack of electricity/refrigerators. There is no internet connection or phone
line. A satellite phone will be available in case of an emergency. The camp
does have generators to charge research equipment, which may be used for
occasional personal items.
This is an unpaid (volunteer) position. However, BBPP will provide housing
(tents), food and local transportation. You are expected to provide
international transportation to and from Malabo, Equatorial Guinea (± $2000
for a round trip flight from US), medical and evacuation insurance,
appropriate immunizations (yellow fever) and medications (anti-malarial
medications). Non-US citizens will need to apply for a visa to enter
Equatorial Guinea. We will try to obtain a letter of invitation through the
local university in Malabo but cannot guarantee a visa.
*Qualifications:*
- Field assistants are expected to be at least 21 years old.
- Field assistants are *REQUIRED* to have:
- B.A. or B.S. in biology, ecology, environmental science, or related
disciplines
- Spanish language proficiency (*minimum conversational*)
- Spanish is the national language of Equatorial Guinea.
- Prior field experience in biology, ecology, environmental science,
or related disciplines.
- Physical fitness and a positive attitude towards physically
exhausting work in a hot and humid climate. All assistants should be
prepared for very demanding and time consuming work.
- Preference will be given to applicants who have experience in remote
locations, developing countries, and/or experience working, camping, or
hiking in wilderness areas.
- A desire to pursue a career in conservation biology/ecology is
preferred.
*Applications:*
Please send a cover letter, CV and contact information for 3 references to
Dana Venditti at dm...@drexel.edu.
****The cover letter and/or CV should clearly detail applicants’ level of
Spanish proficiency.*
--
Drew T. Cronin, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Drexel University
Department of Biology
3245 Chestnut St.
Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building, Rm. 503
Philadelphia, PA 19104
U.S.
Phone:
+1-
215
-
895-6906
E.G. Phone: +240-222-032-801
dt...@drexel.edu
Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program <http://www.bioko.org/>
Central African Biodiversity Alliance <http://www.caballiance.org/>
Gonder Laboratory <http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~mkg62/index.html>
drewtcronin.com <http://drewcronin.weebly.com/>
