Hiring Veterinarian at the Tai Chimpanzee Project - including PhD option
Roman Wittig
VETERINARY POSITIONS WITH WILD APES
INCLUDING A PHD OPTION:
We are looking for veterinarian or pathologists, with a strong interest in animal pathology and wildlife health, for the following position:
Veterinary position (2 years fix term) at the Taï Chimpanzee Project in Ivory Coast with an option to collect data for a PhD in wildlife health / pathogens (additional 1 + 1 year) with supervisor PD Dr. Fabian Leendertz (Neues Helmholtz-Institut für One Health & Robert Koch Institute).
The veterinary position is part of a larger interdisciplinary Max-Planck project investigating the Evolution of Brain Connectivity (EBC) in hominoids. EBC seeks further understanding of the brains of chimpanzees and other non-human primates, especially the communication, tool use and social cognition pathways. Using the comparative approach and our understanding of chimpanzee and monkey behavior, results will assist our understanding of the evolution of structures and functions of the human brain.
Responsibilities:
· Necropsies of deceased primates (mostly apes) including brain extraction, fixation, storage and shipment to Germany.
· Health surveillance on primates and other mammals, collection of fecal and urine samples for pathogen analysis
· Focal following of habituated chimpanzees including the collection of behavioural data.
· Being part of the management group responsible for the running of the field site (responsible for health and hygiene rules, organization of health monitor, lab organization, etc.)
Qualifications and Requirements
The field work requires good physical condition, resilience against stress, the ability to work independently and some management work. Good oral French and English language skills are required. A veterinary degree or a degree in animal pathology is conditional.
A preparation course in the protocols of the brain project and necropsy procedures will be given at the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin (4 – 6 weeks for people applying for a PhD and 2 weeks for assistants).
Salary and Funding
· Tai veterinary position: 50% vet position (ca. 1300 € / month)
Start and Term of Appointments
· TCP veterinary position WITH PhD option: Starting September 2021
Comments
Applications including a cover letter, stating research experience and interest, detailed curriculum vitae, and the names and e-mail addresses of three referees should be sent electronically to taichim...@eva.mpg.de. Application deadline is 1 July 2021 or until position is filled thereafter.
Contact Information
Roman Wittig (wit...@eva.mpg.de), Fabian Leendertz (Leend...@rki.de)
-- Dr. Roman M Wittig Director, Taï Chimpanzee Project, Côte d'Ivoire Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Deutscher Platz 6 - 04103 Leipzig - Germany phone +49 341 3550-204 (or -215) fax +49 341 3550299 https://www.eva.mpg.de/ecology/staff/wittig.html twitter: @TaiChimpProject www.taichimps.org