lundi 2 septembre 2013

Volunteer field assistant for Great Ape Health Monitoring

Hiring Organization:
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology

Date Posted:
2013-08-27

Position Description:
In cooperation with vets of the Robert Koch Institute we are investigating pathogens of wild chimpanzees living in Taï 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 for onsite diagnostics (necropsy samples collected by our field vet), maintenance of the lab
• Collection of arthropod vectors in the forest for a specific project

Qualifications/Experience:
• 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

Salary/funding:
Volunteer position

Support provided for internship/volunteer positions (travel, meals, lodging):
Most daily expenses will be covered through the project. Lodging will be provided by the field project in our research camp in Taï forest. Flights will be reimbursed after successful work.

Term of Appointment:
min. 8 months

Application Deadline:
as soon as position is filled

Comments:
Please send your application (CV, list of laboratory techniques used previously, 2 references) to leendertzf@rki.de

Contact Information:
Deutscher Platz 6
Leipzig 04103
Germany

Telephone Number:
+49 341 3550 204

Fax Number:
+49 341 3550 299

Website:

E-mail Address: