dimanche 13 novembre 2016

Looking for a research assistant for fieldwork on tropical frogs in French Guiana

Looking for a volunteer research assistant/intern

Topic: Movement patterns and spatial orientation in Neotropical poison frogs (Dendrobatidae)

Period: Fieldwork in French Guiana from mid January to end of March 2017 

We  are  looking  for  a  field  research  oriented  student  to  join our  research  on  tropical amphibians in  French  Guiana.  We  are  using  telemetry,  experimental  manipulations,  and detailed behavioral observation in the field to study the spatial behavior and the underlying orientation mechanisms of two  locally  abundant  dendrobatid  frogs: Allobates femoralis and Dendrobates tinctorius. The student will join a small team of researchers and students from the University of Vienna and Harvard University for fieldwork in a remote nature reserve Les Nouragues (http://www.nouragues.cnrs.fr/)  in  French  Guiana from mid January  to end  of March 2017.
Strong interest in animal behavior and field research as well as a good physical condition are essential since our research involves long hours of daily fieldwork and long distance walking during rainy season in the tropical rainforest. Good command of English and an interest in spatial and behavioral data analyses are also important.
We will cover the costs of transportation (flight, bus, and boat) and the all inclusive (board and lodging) station fees. We cannot offer a salary but the research intern will be encouraged to  participate  in  all  aspects  of  the  project including  publishing. Tropical  diseases  such  as malaria  and  leishmaniasis  occur  in  the  research  area  and  while several precautions  can  be taken, the applicant should be informed and aware of the risk related to these diseases and working in remote areas.
If  interested,  please  write  to andrius.pasukonis@univie.ac.at for  further  information and provide a contact of one reference person.

Looking forward to hearing from you,
Andrius Pašukonis
Postdoctoral fellow
Harvard University and the University of Vienna

Project related literature:
Pašukonis, A., Trenkwalder, K., Ringler, M., Ringler, E., Mangione, R., Steininger, J., Warrington, I.
& Hödl, W. (2016). The significance of spatial memory for water finding in a tadpole-transporting frog. Animal Behaviour, 116, 89-98.
Pašukonis, A., Warrington, I., Ringler, M., & Hödl, W. (2014). Poison frogs rely on experience to find the way home in the rainforest. Biology letters,10(11), 20140642.