Field assistants wanted for study of Greater Ani behavioral ecology for
> six weeks in early 2020!
>
> Two field assistants needed for a six-week study of Greater Ani behavior
> in central Panama. Field research assistants will primarily participate
> in adult capturing efforts over an intensive six-week season. Duties
> will include (but are not limited to) assisting with mist-net set up and
> operation, processing (color-banding, measuring, etc.) adult Greater Anis,
> gear maintenance and repair, data entry and management, and occasionally
> re-sighting banded birds. We are currently looking for:
>
> • Two assistants available to arrive in Panama on January 13, 2020,
> and depart on February 25, 2020. Applications will be accepted until
> positions are filled, but preference will be given to those submitted by
> 18 November.
>
> Location: Barro Colorado Nature Monument, including Barro Colorado
> Island (BCI; central Panama), Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.
> Researchers and assistants will be housed on BCI in Smithsonian
> facilities.
>
> Job description: The Greater Ani (Crotophaga major) is a cooperatively
> breeding Neotropical cuckoo with a unique social system: each breeding
> group consists of up to 10 individuals (typically between 2 and 4 socially
> monogamous pairs, plus 0-2 nonbreeding “helpers”), which construct a
> single nest in which all of the females lay their eggs. The Riehl lab at
> Princeton University has been intensively studying the breeding biology
> of the Greater Ani in the Barro Colorado Nature Monument since 2006.
>
> Our work will occur during the non-breeding season, with the primary goal
> of capturing and color-banding as many adult anis as possible. Although
> preparation and data entry will occur in lab space provided on BCI,
> nearly all capture efforts will be accomplished via boat. Our primary
> means of capturing adult anis is to set mist-nets around group and
> communal roosts so that we can catch birds as they come into roost each
> night. Because Greater Anis roost primarily in aquatic vegetation or
> vegetation overhanging water, most nets need to be placed in water. To
> put it bluntly: you haven’t really mist-netted until you’ve done
> it from a boat. Setting and operating the nets can be quite challenging
> so either extensive previous experience with mist-netting, operating a
> small motorboat in waters similar to those of the Barro Colorado Nature
> Monument (i.e., lots of submerged stumps to navigate around), or both
> would position a field assistant for success in this job.
>
> Dates: Start- 13 January, End- 25 February (~6 weeks)
>
> Salary: Airfare to/from Panama and research-related travel within Panama
> (i.e., getting to/from the airport and the field site) will be covered.
> Room and board are also fully covered during your stay at the field site.
> The BCI field station provides primarily dorm-style housing and three
> meals a day, seven days a week. A small weekly stipend is provided for
> highly qualified applicants.
>
> Deadline: Preference given to applications received on or before 18
> November.
>
> Qualifications: Those with previous field experience, especially those who
> have achieved competency in mist-netting, and a strong interest in bird
> behavior are highly preferred.
> Other important qualifications include:
> 1.    willingness to work long hours in tropical conditions (that means
>      buggy, sweaty, muddy, and often wet),
> 2.    ability to get along well with and be respectful of others in a
>      relatively cramped environment,
> 3.    ability and willingness to work jointly in the field and to
>      work in an area where encounters with venomous invertebrates
>      are a real possibility (there are plenty of bees, wasps, and
>      ants; some venomous snakes but not usually encountered while
>      we’re working),
> 4.    good color vision (essential for distinguishing color-bands),
> 5.    Spanish language competency is helpful but not required,
> 6.    Applicants must have a strong interest in field research as a
>      possible or definite career goal,
> 7.    Field assistants must have a valid passport,
> 8.  Must be able to swim and comfortable working on a boat, and
> 9.  International applicants welcome!
>
> Additional Desired Skills: Experience operating a motorboat of ~5 m in
> length. Greater Anis nest along shorelines of lakes and rivers, and all the
> birds we are attempting to catch live along the waterways of the Barro
> Colorado Nature Monument.
>
> Application instructions:
> Please send the following:
> 1) a cover letter (~1 page) detailing your interests and career goals
>   and how you see this position fitting in with them,
> 2) a resume or CV (please keep to relevant details),
> 3) the names and contact information (email and phone) of 3 references
>   (ideally with some experience with how you work in a research/field
>   context). Please also indicate the nature of your professional
>   relationship to EACH reference (e.g., field supervisor, academic
>   advisor, professor for a class, etc.).
>
> Applications should be directed to: Dr. Joshua B. LaPergola, email: jl101
> AT princeton.edu, with the subject heading “Greater Ani Field
> Assistant_2020_1_[Last name of applicant]_[First initial]”.
>
> —

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