Research assistants at Pacuare Reserve, Costa Rica Volunteer Opportunity

*About Ecology Project International: *

EPI is an international non-profit organization dedicated to addressing

critical conservation issues through field-based partnerships between local

experts and high school students. We engage adolescent youth from local

communities and visiting youth from other regions in applied hands-on

science and conservation as they learn about and help protect threatened

species and habitats. Through EPI=E2=80=99s programs in five countries throughout

the U.S. and Latin America, teens are inspired and empowered to engage in

conservation efforts at home and worldwide to become the next generation of

conservation leaders. More information can be found at

www.ecologyproject.org

*About Pacuare Reserve: *

Established in 1989 by a United Kingdom charity, and transferred to Ecology

Project International (EPI) in 2016, its 800 hectares of tropical

rainforest on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica have a high density of

wildlife and its 6km (4 miles) of beach provides the most important nesting

site in the country for the giant leatherback turtles and is home to the

only truly accessible breeding colony of Agami herons in the Caribbean and

northern South America. More information can be found at

www.pacuarereserve.org <https://ank891.wixsite.com/pacuare>

*Job Summary: *

Research Assistants (RA) will be trained in sea turtle monitoring

techniques and will work under the supervision of the Research

Coordinators. RAs will work mainly with adult Leatherback turtles, adult

Green turtles, and Leatherback hatchling.  Some Hawksbills may arrive to

the beach but it=E2=80=99s not very common.  The primary responsibilities of the

RAs will include leading night beach censuses, conducting morning beach

surveys, tagging and collecting data and relocating and excavating nests.

Monitoring activities are carried out along 6 km of nesting beach. RAs will

be in charge of leading volunteers and/or groups of students while on the

beach, explaining the beach protocol and supervising them on the process of

data collection. RAs are expected to participate in other activities

carried out by the Reserve like personal research projects, environmental

education activities, talks and workshops with students and volunteers,

beach cleaning, recycling projects, or other needs of the station. RAs are

expected to work long hours throughout day and/or night, often with little

sleep. Beach censuses require walking on soft sand and occasionally under

the rain, therefore, a good physical condition is a requirement for the RA

position.

*Qualifications: *

*Required:*

=C2=B7       Graduates of or close to graduating in Biology, Environmental

science or a related field

=C2=B7       Able to communicate both in Spanish and in English

=C2=B7       In good physical condition and able to walk long hours on soft

sand, sometimes under difficult conditions

=C2=B7       Be motivated to work in a remote environment under difficult

conditions (rain, mosquitoes=E2=80=A6) with irregular sleeping hours and restricted

electricity availability.

=C2=B7       Be open-minded, flexible and keep a positive attitude to unexpected

situations and be willing to live and work with a small group of people

*Preferred: *

=C2=B7       Previous experiences working with sea turtles

=C2=B7       Previous experience working and living in Costa Rica, specially in

the Caribbean coast

=C2=B7       Previous experience working in a multicultural team, since RAs come

from different nationalities and they will be working with the local staff

*Schedule and Location:*

February 20 to July 31, 2018. Pacuare Reserve, North Caribbean coast, Costa

Rica

*Compensation:*

RA Positions are voluntary and selected candidates are expected to plan and

finance their own travel to and from the Reserve. RAs will receive 3 meals

a day and basic shared accommodations for the duration of their time

working for Pacuare Reserve.

*Questions can be directed to:*

Roc=C3=ADo Valent=C3=ADn-Gamazo, *rocio.valentin-gamazo@ecologyproject.org

<rocio.valentin-gamazo@ecologyproject.org>*

*To apply*:

Application period closes November 5th; they will be reviewed when

received. Applications can only be submitted electronically. Please, submit

the following information in the next page:

<https://ecologyproject.submittable.com/submit/9e954a04-91f5-4c16-9f91-b59bd04cecb9/research-assistant-pacuare-reserve>

https://ecologyproject.submittable.com/submit/9e954a04-91f5-4c16-9f91-b59bd04cecb9/research-assistant-pacuare-reserve

-A CV or resume with pertinent information

-A cover letter explaining why you are interested in the Research Assistant

position, details of any relevant experiences and a statement of your level

of proficiency in English and Spanish

-Name and email contact of one to three professional references