2 Volunteer lab/field assistants for Taļ chimpanzee project, Ivory Coast
In cooperation with primatologist of the Max Planck Institute for evolutionary Anthropology we are investigating pathogens of wild chimpanzees living in Taļ National Park, Ivory Coast. For our project "Great Ape Health Monitoring" we are looking for a volunteer who enjoys both working in the field and in the laboratory. This work does not include direct work with the chimpanzees but the involvement in more field oriented projects (e.g. catching arthropods) is possible. The field laboratory is situated in Tai National Park, Ivory Coast at one of the research camps, mostly isolated from the rest of the world. However, various other students and assistants live at these camps as well.
Task description:
- Carrying out diagnostic analyses based on PCR techniques, maintenance of the lab
- Collection of vectors in the forest (as a side project to gather experience in field work)
Qualifications/Experiences:
- Background in Biology/ Veterinary Medicine or a related field
- Basic lab experience is required (extraction of DNA, performing PCR)
- Previous experience with field work, especially in tropical forests, is preferred but not required
- Be motivated, independent and responsible
- Be physically fit, and capable of undertaking fieldwork in hot/humid conditions
- Basic knowledge of spoken French
Duration: 8 months minimum
Start: as soon as position is filled
Volunteers will be responsible for food costs. Lodging will be provided by the field project in our research camp in Taļ forest. Flights will be reimbursed after successful work.
Please send your application (CV, list of laboratory techniques used previously, 2 references) to leendertzf [>>> Please replace the brackets with an AT sign! <<<]rki.de
Contact information:
Fabian Leendertz
NG2 - Emerging Zoonoses
Robert Koch Institut
Nordufer 20
13353 Berlin
Phone: 0049 -30-18754 2592
Mathematical Ecologist Ph.D. position on spatial knowledge in human hunter-gatherers
We are looking for a PhD candidate for a project comparing spatial knowledge of human hunter-gatherers with wild chimpanzees.
The project will be carried out in the broader framework of improving our understanding of the natural spatial skills required for foraging in the tropical environment by modern hunter-gatherer and trying to compare them with our long-term project on the spatial knowledge and cognition of the Taï chimpanzees. This project is a joint collaborative project of Christophe Boesch with Barry Hewlett of Vancouver (USA) and Frank Marlowe of Durham University (UK). The candidate will be primarily responsible for integrating track-log data of hunter-gatherer forays with maps of resources and simulate alternative cognitive strategies to test hypotheses related to the extent and detail of spatial knowledge.
Work Schedule:
- Starting in the fall 2011
Qualifications/Requirements:
MSc (or comparable degree) in Mathematics, Ecology or Cognitive Sciences. Excellent working knowledge of or ability to quickly acquire: the theoretical and methodological approaches to spatial analysis and statistics (e.g. home range utility distributions; power distributions, random walks, and Levy flights; general ideas of spatial autocorrelation); create and use agent based models; and developed experience with analyzing and integrating GIS and GPS based data will be favored. Ability to program in a language such as R or Matlab (or comparable).
Salary/funding:
The candidate will be supported by a stipend.
Term of Appointment:
Three to four years
Comments:
Applications including a cover letter stating research experience and interests, detailed curriculum vitae, and the names and e-mail addresses of two referees should be sent electronically. The evaluation process will start immediately and applications will be accepted until position is filled.
Contact Information:
Boesch, Christophe
Deutscher Platz 6
Leipzig 04103
Germany
Website: http://www.eva.mpg.de/primat
E-mail Address: boesch[>>> Please replace the brackets with an AT sign! <<<]eva.mpg.de
Research positions and graduate student positions are occasionally available. Inquiries including a description of research interests and previous experience are welcome.
If you are interested in opportunities for field research, please contact:
Christophe Boesch or
Martha Robbins or
Gottfried Hohmann or
To contact the researcher by e-mail, please compose the address as follows: lastname@eva.mpg.de.
If you are interested in research opportunities in the genetics laboratory, please contact:
Linda Vigilant
If you are interested in one of the specific projects mentioned elsewhere on this web page,
you may contact the relevant researcher directly.
The Leipzig School of Human Origins
An International Max Planck Research School - by the University of Leipzig and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
offers a unique graduate program that combines different disciplines to study the evolutionary history of humans and the great apes.
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