SEEKING EXPERIENCED FIELD ASSISTANTS for research on tropical dolphins around Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia
Fieldwork dates: Commences 29th April for 6 months (2 x 3 month periods, ending 30th October 2015). Application deadline: 1st of April Project title: Population size, habitat use and social structure of Australian humpback dolphins (Sousa sahulensis) around the North West Cape, Western Australia. Institution: Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Lab; Flinders University; South Australia www.cebel.org.au<http://www.cebel.org.au> and Murdoch University Cetacean Research Unit, Western Australia www.mucru.org<http://www.mucru.org> Overview: We are seeking experienced field assistants to assist with boat-based photo-ID and biopsy sampling of humpback and bottlenose dolphins around the North West Cape in north-western Australia for 6 months (2 x separate 3 month periods) from 29th April to 30th October 2015. * Commitment to a full 3 month/12 week period, either late April-July or July-October is preferred, however a minimum commitment of 2 months will be considered. Those able to commit for a full 3 month period will be given preference. The North West Cape Dolphin Research Project aims to collect baseline information on the abundance, habitat use and social structure of the recently described Australian humpback dolphin (Sousa sahulensis) around the North West Cape to improve the scientific basis for their conservation and management. The project commenced in 2013 and is funded by the Australian Marine Mammal Centre and the Winifred Violet Scott Charitable Trust. This is an opportunity to gain experience in field techniques for small cetacean research and contribute to a project with very high conservation and management value. Furthermore, it provides assistants the opportunity to conduct research in a truly unique natural setting along the World Heritage Listed Ningaloo Coast, home to one of the longest near-shore reefs in the world, Ningaloo Reef. The region is highly abundant with marine life, including seasonal visits from whale sharks (April-July), humpback whales (June-November) and manta rays (June-October). From our experience in previous field seasons the diversity and abundance of marine life is truly breath taking. It really is a spectacular research setting! Location: We will be based in the town of Exmouth on the tropical North West Cape of Western Australia. Assistants will be staying in a spacious house within walking distance of the Exmouth town centre. Field and house duties: assisting research leader with loading/unloading equipment and boat launching and retrieval, searching for dolphins, driving the boat, taking photos for photo-identification, data collection, equipment cleaning and basic maintenance, data entry (incl. fin matching), a fair share in communal cooking and housekeeping duties, and generally working hard and having a great time in a beautiful and unique part of the Australian coastline. Expectations: Field assistants need to be available full-time, including weekends, and be prepared for early morning departures (6-7AM), long days (8-10 hours) on the water for multiple consecutive days, and lengthy days transcribing data. Expect up to a week between days off. Expect to spend sometimes several days stranded on land. If the weather isn't right we won't be conducting the surveys and will have to wait it out. Expect to see plenty of dolphins, a ridiculous amount of whales, a phenomenal amount of sea turtles, as well as dugongs, manta rays, sharks, and crystal clear waters over beautiful tropical reefs. Most of all, expect to learn a lot while having an awesome time. Prerequisites: * Enrolled in or completed a degree in marine science, biology, animal behaviour, life sciences or a related field (highly desirable); * Experience in working on and driving a small boat (essential); * Experience in photo-ID survey techniques (highly desirable); * Experience in field research on small cetaceans (highly desirable); * No history of debilitating seasickness (essential); * Be team-oriented, patient, clean, and have an enthusiastic and proactive attitude to hard work, long hours and collecting data on the natural environment (essential); * Proficient use of Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access (highly desirable); * Fluent in English (highly desirable) Expenses: This is an unpaid position. However, accommodation in Exmouth is provided at no cost to assistants, and staple food supplies will be covered by the project. Assistants are responsible for their own travel costs to/from Exmouth (direct flights available from Perth), some food, and personal expenses. If you would like the opportunity to be part of 'Team Sousa' please send a CV (max. 3 pages), a 1-page cover letter outlining your relevant experience against the above prerequisites, and contact details of two relevant referees to Daniella Hanf (daniellamh...@yahoo.com<mailto:daniellamh...@yahoo.com>) by 1st of April. Short-listed candidates will be contacted shortly after this to schedule an interview. If you would like to find out more about the North West Cape Dolphin Research Project (NWCDRP), including field assistant testimonials, please check out the field blogs from the 2013 and 2014 field season at http://www.cebel.org.au/field-blog/north-west-cape-dolphin-project or check out the NWCDRP albums on the CEBEL Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CEBELresearch<http://www.facebook.com/CEBELresearch>. All the best, Guido ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Guido J. Parra, PhD Senior Lecturer, Research leader Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Lab (CEBEL) Flinders University, School of Biological Sciences Sturt Road, Bedford Park 5042 SA, Adelaide GPO Box 2100 Adelaide, SA 5001 Australia * +61 8 8201 3565|0437639843|* guido.pa...@flinders.edu.au<mailto:guido.pa...@flinders.edu.au> * Lab: www.cebel.org.au<http://www.cebel.org.au/> * Staff: http://www.flinders.edu.au/people/guido.parra [cid:image001.png@01CFE173.45F115B0]<http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Guido_Parra>[cid:image004.jpg@01CFE174.22F1ED90]<https://www.facebook.com/CEBELresearch> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ P Please consider the environment before printing this email CRICOS Registered Provider. The Flinders University of South Australia|CRICOS provider Number: 00114A
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