Assistant for Biomonitoring project in DRC
Leonard Fruth
The LuiKotale Bonobo Project (LKBP) offers a position to assist in an ongoing biomonitoring project. The main task is placement and control of camera traps on transects. The field site comprises 1.400 km2 and is located in a remote forest outside Salonga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Because of the remoteness of the site, living conditions can be physically and mentally challenging. The forest is often dense and swampy and assistants are sometimes exposed to severe weather and tropical diseases. The research camp has no running water, electricity, phone coverage, or internet access and communication to people outside the project area is limited to short emails. Satellite phones are available in the event of emergency. Assistants live in tents and mostly eat simple foods (e.g., beans, manioc and rice). Candidates will be trained by research staff currently working at the site and will work together with other field assistants. Please carefully consider whether you will able to cope with these conditions for an extended period of time before applying for this position.
Qualifications/Experience:
Candidates demonstrate strong organizational skills and proficiency with French
and English language. Candidates are expected to combine an interest in forest
ecology with the technical skills for maintaining camera trap devices and data
management. Due to the challenging physical and social environment, candidates
must be (a) physically fit; (b) resistant to psychological stress; (c)
self-motivated and (d) able to work with minimal supervision while out in the
field. Tolerance towards different social customs and beliefs is an important
requirement. Please note that the LKBP adheres strictly to gender equality and
will not tolerate any form of sexual harassment. Previous experience using
Microsoft Excel and navigating with a compass and GPS unit are important requirements.
Salary/Funding:
300 Euro/month during training and 500 Euro/month thereafter
Support provided
for internship/volunteer positions (travel, meals, lodging):
- food (mix of mainly local food and some western food items)
- lodging (in tents) at the field site
- airfare for one domestic flight from Kinshasa to the field site and back*
- expenses for long-term visa*
- contribution to an international return flight of up to 800 Euro*
*reimbursement ONLY AFTER
SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE APPOINTMENT
Please note that people joining the research team in the field are required to
have a health insurance that covers expenses for evacuation by charter plane in
a case of emergency. Expenses for the health insurance cannot be covered by the
project.
Term of Appointment: 6 months starting in April/May 2023
Comments:
Applications include an updated CV, a letter of motivation that shows how the
candidate meets the essential qualifications outlined above, and references of at least three
people (or their contact information). Applications should be send to Dr.
Gottfried Hohmann (hoh...@eva.mpg.de)
and to Barbara Fruth (bfr...@ab.mpg.de).
Information about the research and conservation activities at LuiKotale is
available at
https://www.ab.mpg.de/342195/prof-dr-barbara-fruth
https://www.eva.mpg.de/primat/research-groups/bonobos/luikotale-study-site.html