*PhD / Post Doc Opportunity – cetacean community monitoring and health. *
The Namibian Dolphin Project is a non-profit, research and conservation organization run by a small group of independent scientists in association with the University of Pretoria’s Mammal Research Institute and the Namibia Nature Foundation. Our mission is to research Namibia’s cetaceans to generate data on these populations that can be used for their conservation through sustainable management. see www.namibiandolphinproject.com for project background We are currently looking to expand our team and forge collaborations with researchers working on cetacean monitoring and health assessment. Consequently, we are seeking an experienced PhD student or recent post doctoral graduate (or both) to join our team in Walvis Bay, Namibia. This person would be expected to take a proactive approach in developing and leading research efforts within the framework of our *cetacean community health and monitoring programme* during a large coastal construction project taking place within Walvis Bay. Our core research focuses on a small and potentially threatened population of common bottlenose dolphins (*Tursiops truncatus*) with additional research being done on Heaviside’s dolphin (*Cephalorhynchus heavisidii*), dusky dolphins (*Lagenorhynchus obscurus*) and humpback whales (*Megaptera novaeangliae*). New research will build on photographic, behavioural, acoustic, stranding and tissue datasets collected since 2008, thus scope to develop research questions is wide. Logistical and fieldwork support will be provided but limited funds are available at the moment and the successful candidate will be expected to assist in generating funds through grant applications, sponsorships (etc) to finance further fieldwork and living costs. Although training will be provided, the ideal candidate will have a background in the relevant field skills: photo-identification, biopsy sampling, small boat research, stranding attendance and necropsy and be able to work independently leading field research efforts. The candidate must be reliable, independent and self motivated and have a drivers licence for manual cars and be an experienced boat skipper. This position is open to all nationalities, but those from SADC regions will be preferred. The successful candidate will be expected to relocate to Walvis Bay, Namibia, for a minimum of 2.5 years during this project with some time spent in Cape Town, South Africa. Start Date: from July 2014 onwards. For further information about this opportunity, please contact Dr Simon Elwen or Dr Tess Gridley on nam.dolphin.proj...@gmail.com -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Simon Elwen Ph.D. Research Fellow at the Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria Based in: Walvis Bay - Namibia. Phone: +264 81 421 4968 (mob Namibia) +27 71 139 5951 (Mob SA) Namibian Dolphin Project: www.namibiandolphinproject.com
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