Volunteer position with sea turtles and primates (Equatorial Guinea)

Job Type: volunteer position
Opportunity location: Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea, Africa
Closing date (if specified): 1 August 2014
Opportunity Description:

Start date: 10 October 2014; 5 months commitment preferred.

We are seeking 12 volunteers to assist with data collection on the nesting
ecology of sea turtles and primate census in our two research camps on
Bioko Island’s southern beaches. Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program
(BBPP) engages field assistants for periods of 5 months during the dry
season, usually beginning in October and lasting through March. Field
assistants are expected to devote at least 40 hrs/week to the project, but
due to the nature of the project and living conditions, hours will likely
be considerably more.

Field assistants work under the supervision of Dr. Honarvar (BBPP Associate
Director) and Dr. Drew Cronin (BBPP Postdoctoral Research Fellow). They are
encouraged to participate in all aspects of field research during their
stay on Bioko Island and may explore additional opportunities to
participate in educational outreach projects with local school children as
well as training exercises with local wildlife patrols. Typical activities
include flipper & PIT-tagging nesting sea turtles and gathering
reproductive output data on leatherback and green turtles. Research is
conducted every night until 5 am. Assistants will walk an average of 10
km/night while patrolling the beaches. The primate surveys will be
conducted during the day where data will be collected within or along
established BBPP transects together with a trained team of local survey
workers. Additional research, such as monitoring of nest temperatures as
well as data entry is conducted during the day. Assistants are also
required to participate in daily upkeep and maintenance of the camp,
including preparation of meals.

Our field sites are in a remote area with no road access. Researches and
field assistants must hike in and out of the field site when necessary
along 17km of extremely rough terrain. We will be living in tents, cooking
over fire, and using water from a nearby stream. We do not have a variety
of different foods due to lack of electricity/refrigerators. There is no
internet connection or phone line. A Satellite phone will be available in
case of an emergency. The camp does have generators to charge research
equipment, which may be used for occasional personal items.

This is an unpaid (volunteer) position. However, BBPP will provide housing
(tents), food and local transportation. You are expected to provide
international transportation to and from Malabo, Equatorial Guinea (± $2000
for a round trip flight from US), medical and evacuation insurance,
appropriate immunizations (yellow fever) and medications (anti-malarial
medications). Non-US citizens will need to apply for a visa to enter
Equatorial Guinea. We will try to obtain a letter of invitation through the
local university in Malabo but cannot guarantee a visa.

Qualifications:
• Field assistants are expected to be at least 21 years old.
• Prior field experience in biology, ecology or related disciplines.
• A desire to pursue a career in conservation biology/ecology is preferred.
• Spanish language ability: Spanish is the national language of Equatorial
Guinea, although many local people also speak some French.
• Experience in remote locations in developing countries and experience
camping and hiking in wilderness areas.
• Physical fitness and a positive attitude towards physically exhausting
work in a hot and humid climate. All assistants should be prepared for very
demanding and time consuming work.

Applications:
Please send a cover letter, CV and contact information for 3 references to
Dr. Honarvar at sh333@drexel.edu and Dr. Cronin at dtc33@drexel.edu
For more information visit us at www.bioko.org

--
Drew T. Cronin, Ph.D.
Drexel University
Department of Biology
3245 Chestnut St.
Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building, Rm. 503
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Office: Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building 503
Phone: (215) 895-6906
dtc33@drexel.edu

Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program - www.bioko.org
Hearn Laboratory - www.drexel.edu/biology/hearn