Field Assistant Opportunity: Stream Research in Costa Rica

Time Period: Early September to Early December 2007

Location
Palo Verde National Park, Costa Rica. The region is dominated by
tropical dry forests in the parks and foothills then agriculture
in the adjacent lowlands. The region is extremely seasonal with a
dry season from November to mid-May and wet season from mid-May to
early-November. Birds and wildlife are abundant in the parks and
agricultural fields. The field station has rooms with bunk-beds,
a laboratory with wireless internet, a public computer room, and a
cafeteria. The nearest town and access to the rest of the region
is a 40-minute drive over dirt-roads to the town of Bagaces.
Visit the Organization for Tropical Studies website for more
information about the local ecology and field station.

Job Description
Fieldwork involves sampling small streams for aquatic insects and
fish, as well as taking physical and chemical measurements.
Fieldwork will occur near the Organization for Tropical Studies
Palo Verde field station and span portions of the wet and dry
season. Lab work involves sorting aquatic insects out of field
samples using a microscope and will occur at the University of
Costa Rica in San Jose. The schedule will continuously alternate
between a couple weeks of field work at Palo Verde and then a
couple weeks of lab work in San Jose.

Requirements
-General physical fitness and the ability to carry equipment of
moderate weight (ie. Nets, coolers, and scientific instruments)
-Flexibility traveling between the field station and San Jose
-Ability to work long days in hot/humid and wet conditions
-Tolerance of mosquitoes: Mosquitoes are prevalent during some
periods of the wet season (September & October are the wettest
months), so mosquito jacket/protective clothing is highly
recommended and effective
-Knowledge of Spanish is recommended, but not required
-Ability to work independently at times
-Adaptable and patient in new environments and situations
-Good sense of humor

Funding
Palo Verde field station fees will be covered, which includes food
and lodging. Plus, there is a possibility lodging can be covered
in San Jose and/or a small stipend can be provided. Airfare is
the responsibility of the assistant.

If interested, please email a cover letter, resume, and 3
references to: smoellen@ufl.edu
Please label the email header: Costa Rica Field Assistant, Fall
2007.

Suzanne Moellendorf
Ph.D. Student, Environmental Engineering Sciences
University of Florida
smoellen@ufl.edu