mardi 29 janvier 2008

Study marmot behavior and ecology

Several field assistants needed for a field study of yellow-bellied marmot behavior and ecology.
Work begins on 16 April in CrestedcButte, Colorado and goes through 10 September.
We're looking forcpeople who can commit to at least 2 months, preferably more, and wecare especially looking for people who can start work in the earlyc(mid-April to July).cEarly season applicants must be prepared to ski or hike in and workon cross-country skis or snow shoes in and around the 9,500 foot RockyMountain Biological Laboratory (www.rmbl.org). Days are long and workis physically demanding; you must be willing to hike and work in this spectacularly beautiful sub-alpine valley.
You will be expected to trap, mark and observe marmots, collect biological samples (blood,feces, hair), and regularly enter data into spreadsheets. A vehicle is a bonus, but not required. The ideal person will learn quickly, and be able to work both independently and as a member of aclose-knit team.This is a great opportunity to obtain field experience before graduate school.
Previous volunteers have obtained course credit, engaged in independent study, conducted honors research that formed the basis of senior theses back at their home institutions, or collected data that became part of masters work at their home institution.
We have up to two REU positions (the first is through the RMBL and applications for this close 15 February); the second is pending. We may have funds to pay expenses for 1 or 2 volunteers. We may be ableto provide free housing for early-season volunteers. Otherwise, volunteers are expected to pay RMBL station fees, housing and food (for most, this works out to about $25/day).
Interested?
Contact Dan Blumstein (marmots@ucla.edu; 310-267-4746) for more details.
Positions open until filled.--
Daniel T. Blumstein
Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
621 Charles E. Young Drive South
University of California
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1606
Phone: (310) 267-4746
Fax: (310) 206-3987
Animal Behavior @ UCLA: http://www.animalbehavior.ucla.edu
JWatcher--Free software for studying behavior: http://www.jwatcher.ucla.edu