DIARIO NATURA ANIMAL

Location: University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

Description: Seeking a highly motivated undergraduate student with a particular interest in systematic biology to take part in an NSF-funded research project on the systematics of Neotropical butterflies. The project will take place at the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, Florida Museum of Natural History, one of the world's largest and most active centers for Lepidoptera taxonomic research and among the world's four most important Lepidoptera collections. The student will gain experience in taxonomic methods, Lepidoptera collections curation, comparative morphological and molecular study, phylogenetic analysis and potential co-authorship in a resulting publication. The project will involve microscope work, work in a molecular systematics laboratory and work in the museum's specimen collections. The student will spend the equivalent of 8 weeks full-time working on the project between June-December 2012, with hours somewhat flexible, and will receive a stipend. The student must be a citizen or permanent resident of the USA and enrolled as an undergraduate student at a US institution throughout the period of the project (although not necessarily registered for classes).

For application details and further information visit: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/butterflies/neotropica/reu2012.html or contact Dr. Keith Willmott (352 273 2012, kwillmott@flmnh.ufl.edu).

Qualifications:  The student must be a citizen or permanent resident of the USA and enrolled as an undergraduate student at a US institution throughout the period of the project (although not necessarily registered for classes). Applicants must have a basic understanding of biological nomenclature, an interest in evolutionary biology and sufficient manual dexterity to handle fragile museum specimens. A proven interest in systematic biology is a distinct advantage.

Start Date: 06/27/2012

Last Date to Apply: 05/25/2012

Contact Person Dr. Keith Willmott Contact Phone: 352 273 2012 Contact eMail: kwillmott@flmnh.ufl.edu

PROAVES Colombia requiere hombre o mujer para trabajar como Asistente de Conservación en la Fundación ProAves.

Formación académica: Biólogo o ecólogo recién egresado. Tener conocimientos en: Manejo de GPS. Cartografía. Google Earth. Manejo de reservas o áreas protegidas. Planes de manejo y conservación.

Funciones: Facilidad en trabajo de campo. Georeferenciacion de áreas protegidas. Revisión de planes de manejo y conservación de áreas protegidas o especies de fauna y flora. Señalización temática de áreas protegidas. Manejo o experiencia en áreas protegidas y reservas. Observación de aves y fauna y flora en general. Disponibilidad para viajar por toda Colombia.

Las personas interesadas enviar sus hojas de vida y carta de intención a los siguientes correos electrónicos: mparada@proaves.org - lfbarrera@proaves.org Plazo para envío de hojas de vida: Jueves 31 de mayo de 2012.

Title: Fenwicks Antpitta Telemetry
Agency: Fundación ProAves
Location: Colibrí de sol reserve

Job Description: Fundación ProAves, conscious of the urgent need to generate scientific data about the CR Fenwicks Antpitta, will initiate a telemetry project starting in June of 2012. The objective of the project will be to generate crucial data necessary for the production of conservation strategies to protect this endemic species and its habitat.

Fundación ProAves is seeking an English speaking biologist (with Spanish skills) with experience in radio-telemetry to work alongside a Colombian biologist and act as lead investigator and mentor during the 2 month project.

Qualifications: Potential candidates must have prior field experience with telemetry, and a demonstrated ability to complete projects without constant supervision. Experience with the use of radio telemetry required, with preference for candidates with a keen interest in birds, preferably with a biological degree or near completion of a degree. Ability to live and work in often different climatic conditions.

Salary: Unpaid (housing and food provided)
Last Date to apply: August 1, 2012
Website: http://www.proaves.org/
Contact: Nate Skinner
E-mail: nskinner@proaves.org(Preferred)
Phone: 571-320-3229

Organization: Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium (AZA Member)
Location: Pittsburgh, PA, United States

The Pittsburgh Zoo, a dynamic, fast paced and progressive organization, is seeking an energetic, experienced professional to be part of our Zoo team as our Director of Science and Conservation. The Zoo currently houses over 6,000 animals, with a major research focus on African elephants, African painted dogs, polar bears, and numerous aquatic species.

Responsibilities/ Duties:

Oversees and administers all research programs at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium and the Zoo’s International Conservation Center (ICC). Plans, coordinates and directs the work of the research and conservation department including Zoo and ICC based research and conservation efforts, in situ and ex situ projects and other research efforts. Supervises the research team including field conservation biologists, interns and students.

Qualifications:

PhD in Reproductive Sciences, Biological, or Conservation is required. Four years’ experience with national and international conservation initiatives or a related field, including supervisory experience. Must maintain a current PA driver’s license.

Submit resume to:

Zoological Society of Pittsburgh

Human Resources Department

One Wild Place

Pittsburgh, PA 15206

EOE

Or email to HR@pittsburghzoo.org

Organization: Vancouver Aquarium (AZA Member)
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Marine Mammal Training Internship Program Description

The Vancouver Aquarium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, is accepting resumes for a fall internship (Aug 27th to Dec 23, 2012) in the marine mammal department. This internship is designed to introduce practical experience in husbandry skills and the basics of training in combination with the many skills that are associated with being an excellent marine mammal trainer. This goal will be accomplished by working closely with our marine mammal staff under the supervision of a mentor. Regular evaluations, both formal and informal will allow for a productive and fun learning experience. This is an unpaid 40 hours per week, three to four month position. During the placement period you will experience all aspects of marine mammal care, including but not limited to, facility cleaning, diet preparation, public presentations, interactive programs, and animal training/husbandry sessions.

Essential Responsibilities

During the early stages, interns will spend a large portion of their time cleaning exhibits and preparing animal diets. Daily animal observations, training tutorials, record keeping, participating in the department’s enrichment program and observing and assisting in the training of the Aquariums marine mammal collection will help complete the day. All interns will be required to complete and present a formal presentation to the marine mammal department prior to the end of their term.

Requirements

Applicants must be currently enrolled in a community college or university, or a recent graduate and intending to pursue a career in marine mammal care and training. Must be a highly motivated self-starter. No previous marine mammal experience is necessary for the position.

Accommodation

All candidates are expected to find their own accommodations in Vancouver. For more information on accommodation and maps, please find resources like the “Student Guide for Living in Vancouver” on our intern webpage http://www.vanaqua.org/volunteer/volunteer-wex.html.

Application Deadline and Number of Positions

Four unpaid internship placements are available for each time slot. Applications are due by May 28th, 2012. Please note these dates are subject to change.

How to apply

Send resume, letter of interest, and one reference letter to marinemammalinterns@vanaqua.org or by mail to the attention of Marine Mammal Department, Marine Mammal Training Internship, Vancouver Aquarium, PO Box 3232, Vancouver BC V6B3X8. Your letter of interest should include your availability, what experience you have, what you hope to gain from the placement, how you heard about the placement and your career goals. Successful applicants will be contacted.

Title: Field Assistant

Agency: Virginia Tech

Location: Belize, Central America

Job Description: Volunteer opportunity to study wild cats! Gain great experience now. We are seeking 2-3 motivated field assistants on our wild cat study in Belize, Central America. This study focuses on jaguars, pumas, and ocelots using
non-invasive detection methods. Volunteers will gain extensive field experience working on a multi-faceted wildlife conservation project in a beautiful tropical country. Non-invasive methods include setting up large remote camera grids across a tropical broadleaf forest and in community lands. The study is examining the impact of timber extraction on jaguar populations by surveying an area with sustainable logging and an unlogged area. In addition, the team will assist in surveying community lands outside the protected areas to determine the extent of human wildlife interactions and potential for conflict and conflict mitigation.

Job will involve long working hours, and rustic living conditions (possibly camping) in a tropical environment (hot, humid weather, and biting insects, snakes). Field workers will sometimes need to carry heavy equipment, hike long distances through rough terrain and bushwhack through thick vegetation. There may also after hours work involving shared data entry and camp maintenance/running errands.

This is a complete volunteer position, meaning that technician will need to pay for their plane tickets and a project fee of $1500 per month (1 month minimum required). This project fees pays for food, accommodations and transport, while in Belize. Positions available for May 5-June 4 and July 1- August 21 2012.

Qualifications: Student in a related field (biology, wildlife science, ecology etc.). No experience necessary but the applicant must have a positive and flexible attitude, and be enthusiastic. Ability to drive a standard transmission is a plus.

Salary: Volunteer must pay project fee
Last Date to apply: August 21, 2012
Website: http://www.mjkelly.info
Contact: Marcella Kelly
E-mail: makelly2@vt.edu(Preferred)
Phone: 540-231-1734

Title: Summer Research Intern
Agency: University of Illinois - New Mexico State Univ.

Job Description: Intern will work as part of a research team investigating how animal biodiversity is responding to large-scale restoration efforts in the Chihuahuan Desert aimed at restoring grassland habitat for wildlife (Restore New Mexico project). Intern will develop an independent research project related to how shrub-control treatments affect habitat structure and nesting success for songbirds. Research could focus on estimating nest predation rates, and identification of important nest predators, in paired grassland and shrubland sites. Focal species include black-throated sparrows and Cassin's sparrows.

Position is funded the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program at NSF in association with the Jornada LTER site. The intern will be employed by New Mexico State University. This is a great opportunity for a motivated student to gain valuable research experience in the Land of Enchantment.

Qualifications: Current undergraduate (or spring 2012 graduate) in B.S. program in the biological sciences or natural resources management. Genuine interest in applied ecology and biodiversity restoration. Previous research experience in field ecology helpful. Experience with songbirds in the southwestern US is not necessary. Ability to work independently and as part of a small team is required.

To apply: Send the following via email to Dr. Robert Schooley at the University of Illinois; Cover letter, Resume, Names and contact information for two professional references.

Start date: 1 June 2012, End date: 31 July 2012 (some flexibility).

Salary: $2000/month + $600 for housing
Last Date to apply: April 15, 2012
Contact: Dr. Robert L. Schooley
E-mail: schooley@illinois.edu(Preferred)
Phone: 217-244-2729

Office Intern with Monkey Time

Hiring Organization: Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary

Position Description: The office intern lives on-site and work the same hours as the intern caregivers (generally sunrise to sunset). For office internships minimum length is 8 weeks; longer internships are preferred.

Duties include: Day-to-day social networking tasks (posting, managing friends, creating content etc.) for Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other social media spaces.
Assist office staff with filing, copying, data entry, mailings, packing/shipping, phones, and other office tasks as needed.
Participate in special projects such as creating newsletters, email campaigns, or writing grants, or organizing special events.
Clean the office (including floors, kitchen and bathrooms).
Run errands
Provide assistance as needed for the Executive Director and staff (i.e. "gopher" jobs)

Qualifications/Experience: Extensive experience with social media, especially Facebook, Twitter and YouTube Strong computer skills, including file management and troubleshooting.
Commitment to animal advocacy.
Experience with Microsoft Office and Outlook.
Excellent verbal and written communication

Salary/funding: Unpaid internship. Internship fees when living on-site are $75 / week, which includes room and board.

Support provided for internship/volunteer positions (travel, meals, lodging):
Internship fees when living on-site are $75 / week, which includes room and board.

Application Deadline: on-going

Contact Information:
Kari Bagnall
13915 N State Road 121
GAINESVILLE, FL 32653
USA

Telephone Number:386-462-7779

Fax Number:214-292-8630

http://www.junglefriends.org

E-mail Address:
kari@junglefriends.org

Volunteer Assistant for tufted capuchin project

Hiring Organization:
Para La Tierra

Position Description:
Para la Tierra has recently launched a new long term study on the Paraguayan tufted capuchin (Cebus apella paraguayanus). Located within the Atlantic forest at the Laguna Blanca wildlife reserve these populations are poorly studied and understood. The project aims to establish long term research into the behaviour, ecology, and genetics of this species.

Para la Tierra seeks volunteers to assist in the preliminary stages of the project. Presently the capuchins are not fully habituated or radio collared. Volunteers will be expected to assist in all parts of the project. Duties will include trail cutting, trail marking, GPS work, map making, daily searches for the monkeys, and collection of basic data. Volunteers will be expected to work 5-6 days per week and between 6-10 hours per day. This position will provide an excellent opportunity to gain valuable experience in living and working at a field research site as well as in the study of wild primates. Successful volunteers in these primary stages of the project will be prioritised when fully funded behavioural assistantships become available later in the year.

Qualifications/Experience:
Essential requirements
1. Interest in natural habitats and animal behaviour
2. Hard working
3. High level of enthusiasm, commitment, and motivation
4. Above average level of physical fitness
5. Ability to work both independently and within a team of local and European/US researchers

Desired but not essential

1. Experience in working on a field research project
2. Some level of foreign travel or living/work experience within a developing country and ideally the tropics
3. A university level qualification in animal behaviour, zoology, anthropology or other relevant discipline
4. Prepared to make a minimum commitment of 2 months
5. Competent in Spanish (verbal)

Additionally volunteers must have a tolerance towards local customs and beliefs and be comfortable with other conditions and risks that are simply part of tropical fieldwork, such as limited healthcare and rare confrontations with potentially dangerous plants or animals.

Salary/funding:
This is a volunteer position and as such no wage or stipend is currently available. The volunteer is responsible for their return flight to Paraguay, visas, which will need extending after 3 months for an additional 3 months, comprehensive travel and medical insurance, field site fees ($850 per month), and all field clothing.

Support provided for internship/volunteer positions (travel, meals, lodging):
Comfortable accommodation (shared rooms and bathrooms, hot showers), 3 meals per day, laundry, wireless internet, free access to leisure activities within the reserve (horse riding, kayaking), transportation from local town to field site.

Term of Appointment:
Open but preference will be given to candidates who can commit for a minimum of 2 months

Application Deadline:
Rolling applications

Comments:
Candidates should send a cover letter, CV, and contact details for 2 references.

Contact Information:
Karina Atkinson
Santa Rosa
Paraguay

Telephone Number:+59585260074

http://www.paralatierra.org

E-mail Address:
paralatierra@ymail.com

Agency: McMaster University

Job Description: VOLUNTEER FIELD RESEARCH ASSISTANTS NEEDED for research on alarm calling and breeding biology of the SMOOTH-BILLED ANI (Crotophaga ani), a joint-nesting species in the cuckoo family. This affords a valuable opportunity to learn field biology skills. Two to three field assistants are needed to work in Southwestern Puerto Rico for approximately three months between mid-September 2012 and late-December or early-January 2013. Dates are flexible, but a three month minimum commitment is required.

Successful applicants must provide their own airfare to San Juan, P.R. Travel within Puerto Rico, food and basic shared accommodations will be provided.


DUTIES: Sighting colour-banded birds, locating nests, mist netting and trapping birds for sampling, checking nests, setting up video recording equipment, and data entry. Participation in bio-acoustic experiments will involve performing and documenting audio playback to groups of birds in the field. Assistants will be required to work early mornings and long days outside in sun and heat and must be available seven days per week, although there will usually be some regular time off. Days off may be coordinated among the field team and some opportunity for recreational travel in Puerto Rico will be scheduled, time and data collection permitting.

Qualifications: Previous field experience, particularly with birds, is an asset but not required. Good physical health, a love of the outdoors and (dry) tropical environments, attention to detail, readiness to learn, problem solving skills and self-motivation are valuable assets.

To apply: Cover letter, resume, contact info, and a minimum of two references, if possible, who can attest to your qualifications to LEANNE GRIEVES at McMaster University.

Last Date to apply: May 30, 2012
Contact: LEANNE GRIEVES
E-mail: lagrieves@gmail.com

Agency: USFWS Hopper Mountain NWRC

Location: Southern CA: Ventura, Santa Barbara, Kern, San Lou

Job Description: The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) California Condor Recovery Program is now accepting applications for our volunteer internship program. This is 4-6 month commitment during which time volunteer interns will receive a living allowance of $35 per day of work while working on and around one of two wildlife refuges central to condor activity in Southern CA.

This USFWS volunteer opportunity focuses on the management of the free flying population of California Condors in Southern California. Selected applicants will track this population throughout its range using radio telemetry and by ground-truthing GPS transmitter data. Volunteers will observe condor behavior at feeding sites, roosts and nests. Often times, these observations make use of observational protocols and a predefined ethogram. Those selected will also be involved in the operation and establishment of supplemental feeding sites which are used to monitor and trap condors. They will also assist in the handling of condors.

Field work requires: the ability to work independently or as a team; work and sometimes camp in remote areas during inclement weather or harsh environmental conditions; travel via ATV, 4WD vehicle, or by foot in steep mountainous terrain; carry 50lb carcasses to feeding sites; keep detailed field notes; follow data collection protocols for the collection and entry of accurate and consistent data; and assist in routine office work.

The California Condor Recovery Program is one of the longest standing endangered species recovery programs in the world. The program has relied on a variety of governmental and non governmental partnerships to successfully bring this species back from the brink of extinction to the road of recovery. Interns will have the opportunity to meet and work with many of these program partners throughout their 4 to 6 month full-time commitment. The standard work schedule consists of ten consecutive days of work, and four consecutive days off in a two week period. Lodging is provided on refuge in a remote location during the work shift. Lodging is not provided during days off. No pets allowed.

SEEKING TO FILL TWO POSITIONS TO START MID APRIL. send cover letter, resume, three professional references, and period of availability to the listed email. Complete applications will be considered as they are received.

Qualifications: valid drivers license; bachelors degree (or pursuing) in wildlife management, natural resources, or related field. Preferable: experience in remote field locations; 4WD vehicle experience; ability to drive standard transmission; ATV driving experience.

Candidates must able to: work as a member of a team; work in extreme weather conditions in remote areas; live in a communal setting, occasionally camp; use radio telemetry to locate and track radio-tagged condors; lift 50 lb carcasses into vehicles and hike them out into remote areas; construct and maintain trails, maintain condor release/holding facilities and other structures; assist in the handling of condors; operate 4WD vehicles and ATV's; keep accurate records; follow data collection protocols.

Salary: $35 per work day
Last Date to apply: April 16, 2012
Website: http://www.fws.gov/hoppermountain/
Contact: Geoff Grisdale
E-mail: geoffrey_grisdale@fws.gov(Preferred)
Phone: 805-451-0084