Opportunity: This is a great opportunity for anybody who wants to get more
experience in field work relating to evolution, ecology and behavior before
starting an MsC or PhD project.
Project: We study the evolutionary and ecological reasons as well as
physiological mechanisms of group living, paternal care, communal nesting
and social flexibility in the striped mouse. As this species is diurnal and
the habitat is open, direct behavioral observations in the field are
possible.
What kind of people are needed? Biology/zoology/veterinary students are
preferred as candidates. Applicants must have an interest in working in the
field and with animals. Hard working conditions will await applicants, as
the study species gets up with sunrise (between 5 and 6 o` clock), and stops
its activity with dusk (19 o` clock). Work during nights might also be
necessary. Work in the field will be done for 5 days a week. Applicants must
be able to manage extreme temperatures (below 0 at night in winter,
sometimes over 40°C during summer days). Applicants must both be prepared to
live for long periods in the loneliness of the field and to be part of a
small social group.
Work of field assistants: Trapping, marking and radio-tracking of striped
mice; direct behavioral observations in the field. Volunteers are also
expected to help with maintenance of the research station (water pump, solar
power, etc.)
Confirmation letter: Students get a letter of confirmation about their work
and can prepare a report of their own small project to get credit points
from their university for their bachelor or masters studies.
Costs: Students have to arrange their transport to the field site
themselves. Per month, an amount of Rand 1000 (around 150 US$, 110 Euro)
must be paid for accommodation at the research station. For students with
their own undergraduate project, a fee of Rand 1250 (approx. 190 US$, 140
Euro) per month applies. Students must buy their own food etc in Springbok
(costs of about R 2250, approx. 340 US$ or 250 Euro/month). Including extras
(going out for dinner; shopping), you should expect costs of about 550 US$,
450 Euros per month. Students get an invitation letter which they can use to
apply for funding in their home country (eg. DAAD in Germany, SANW in
Switzerland).
Place: The field site is in the Goegap Nature Reserve near Springbok in the
North-West of South Africa. The vegetation consists of Succulent Karoo,
which has been recognized as one of 25 hotspots of biodiversity. It is a
desert to semi-desert with rain mainly in winter (June to September).
When and how long: At the moment we are looking for volunteers for the
period July / August to November / December. Volunteers are expected to stay
at least 2 months, but longer periods of up to 6months are preferred.
How to apply? Send a short motivation letter stating why and for which
period you are interested and your CV via email to
More information under
Contact via e-mail: carsten.schradin@ieu.uzh.ch
Dr. Carsten Schradin
Research Assistant, Department of Animal Behavior,
University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
Tel: +41 - (0)44 635 5486
Honorary Researcher at the School of Animal, Plant and Environmental
Sciences,
University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.
