Might be of interest.
For YETI
Debabrata Phukon
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Virendra Mathur <vmvirendra85@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, Feb 24, 2021, 7:25 PM
Subject: Volunteer Research Assistant: Movement Ecology of Himalayan Langurs
To: YETI <meet.yeti@xxxxxxxxx>, <meetyeti@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Dear Team YETI*,*
I would request you to help me in circulating the following announcement
about volunteer research assistants position for fieldwork in the Himalayas
with the members at Young Ecologists Talk & Interact.
Thank You.
Sincerely,
Virendra Mathur
- PhD Student
Dr. Julie Teichroeb Lab
University of Toronto
* ____________________________________________________________*
*Hiring Organization: *University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
*Project Background: *We are seeking two volunteer research assistants to
aid in a study of *the movement ecology of Himalayan langurs (Semnopithecus
schistaceus) in a human modified landscape in the Garhwal Himalayas.* This
project forms a part of the Central Himalayan Langur project which has been
running for 6 years now. The project currently monitors a single social
group of Central Himalayan Langurs (*Semnopithecus schistaceus*) and previous
research <https://www.himaninautiyal.com/research.html> with this group has
provided information on their feeding ecology, sleeping site selection, and
genetic relatedness. Another major focus of our research has been to foster
the conservation of the Himalayan habitat that this troop shares with
humans, through community outreach activities
<https://www.himaninautiyal.com/conservation-activities.html> and raising
awareness through popular science articles
<https://www.himaninautiyal.com/introduction.html> about the study group.
The primary focus of the field season in 2021 will be to study the movement
ecology of this Central Himalayan Langur population around this human
modified landscape and tests of their spatial cognitive abilities, about
which we know nothing for langurs or other leaf-eating primates. (Suggested
Reading: Ken Sayers 2013 Article
<https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3644559/>). This project will
also continue the outreach and educational activities with the local
community this year.
Applicants who are interested in this opportunity as a spring board to help
them pursue a post-grad degree (MSc. or PhD) in Behavioural Ecology,
Anthropology, Evolutionary Psychology or any related field are especially
encouraged to apply. This project is also a great opportunity for those
wanting to document the wilderness of high-altitude Himalayas through their
photography skills while also learning about the behaviour and ecology of a
species and the scientific methodology used to document the observations in
the wild.
*Position Description:* Volunteer Research Assistants will be working as a
part of a team including forest department officials, local field
assistants, and will be responsible for:
a) Collecting GPS data on range use according to a defined procedure.
b) Collecting langur behavioural data (group scans, habituation data).
c) Ensuring that daily, weekly, and monthly reports are done
consistently.
d) Daily accounting and weekly reporting.
Assistants are expected to spend the complete duration of the project in
the field. All applicants are responsible for their own field equipment
(hiking shoes, bush clothes, rain gear, and a pair of binoculars). It is
important to remember that we will ask for the shortlisted assistants to
show the results of their COVID screening test undertaken not more than 72
hours before arriving at the field site, or if they have vaccinated, to
show the proof of the same. It is also recommended (not mandatory) that you
take a health insurance plan before arriving at the field site. Please note
that the project adheres to gender equality and will not tolerate any form
of sexual harassment. The assistants are expected to be respectful to the
local communities and acknowledge their rights to the land on which we will
be carrying our fieldwork. The research assistants, upon substantial
contribution towards the project, will have an opportunity to contribute to
manuscript preparation and submission.
*Qualifications/Experience:*
- Minimum of an ongoing or completed bachelor’s degree in biology,
zoology, wildlife sciences, anthropology or any other related field
- As a part of capacity building, applications from motivated
students from the local Garhwali community are preferable as well as those
who wish to pursue careers in wildlife sciences, zoology, animal behaviour,
environmental sciences etc.
- The most important trait in a field assistant is a strong work
ethic and the ability to make a firm commitment for the duration of the
project.
- A previous field experience in Himalayan terrain will be
preferable.
- Candidates with experience in data collection and data entry,
preferably with a behavioural research project, will be preferred.
- Must be able to live and work independently and as part of a team.
- Good physical fitness is essential as most of the day will be
spent hiking after the study groups. Our normal work schedule will involve
following the monkeys on a regular basis (about 10-12h a day; 5 days a
week).
- *It is also highly desirable for applicants to have done some
reading in primatology (not just copy paste knowledge from google searches,
but journal articles, books, popular science articles, including some from
this project) before applying.*
*Study Site:* This study will be conducted in and around Mandal village at
the southern outer fringe of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary (KWS). KWS
harbours a great diversity of floral and faunal diversity, some of which
are endemic to this part and endangered in their habitat. The field site is
located 13kms from the nearest town of Gopeshwar and is accessible by an
all-weather road. The field site is a popular birding spot in Mandal-Chopta
valley as well as the gateway to some famous pilgrimage sites in India.
*Living conditions:* Very basic living conditions with shared
accommodation. Basic food depending on the supply. At the basecamp at
Mandal village, there is good internet and cellular network connectivity
for Airtel. Electricity is usually available unless there is a major fault
in the supply line during the rainy season. Mandal village has a small
market where basic utilities and medical help are available. An ambulance
is always stationed in the village in case of medical emergency.
*Support provided for assistant positions (travel, meals, lodging):* This
is not a salaried position. The project will cover all the costs associated
with local travel, accommodation, and food at the field site. A suitable
stipend might be discussed after successful completion of the project
duration by the volunteer.
<#m_7963805829536365155_m_-93751527370183603__msocom_2>
*Term of Appointment:* This position starts on May 1, 2021 and continues
till August 15, 2021. Depending on the availability of funds, this position
can be extended beyond August 2021.
*Application Deadline:* March 20, 2021. We would appreciate potential
volunteers sending applications as soon as possible without waiting for the
deadline, so that the selected volunteer research assistants can be
provided with necessary instructions regarding travel and packing for the
fieldwork. Review of applications will begin immediately, and the positions
will remain open until filled. Short-listed applicants will be contacted to
schedule phone/Skype interviews as soon as possible.
*Comments:* Interested candidates should send the completely filled
volunteer research assistant application form *attached *with the email
along with their updated CV. Please rename the application form and your CV
in the following format before sending them – “FIRST NAME_LAST NAME_AP” for
application form, and “FIRST NAME_LAST NAME_CV” for CV. Please do not send
repeated inquiries. Please send the filled application form and CV to
principal investigator of the project Virendra Mathur (
vmvirendra85@xxxxxxxxx) and CC the same to project collaborator Himani
Nautiyal (himani.nautiyal08@xxxxxxxxx)
*Contact Information: *
Virendra Mathur
<vmvirendra85@xxxxxxxxx?subject=CHL2021%20-%20Volunteer%20Research%20Assistant>
(PhD Student, Julie Teichroeb Lab <http://julieteichroeb.com/>, Department
of Anthropology, University of Toronto)
____________________________________________________________
Attachment:
Volunteer Research Assistant Form_2021.docx
Description: application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document
