Field Assistant in Cape Verde, North Africa

Field Assistant in Cape Verde, North Africa
Sept to Dec 2011

We are seeking 1 Voluntary Field Assistant for a field-based project
on mating system evolution in the Republic of Cape Verde. The
assistant is required from 15 September until 15 December 2011. The
position is funded, except the assistant has to cover his/her journey
to (and from) Maio, Cape Verde.

The project
We are investigating mating system and parental care of Kentish plover
Charadrius alexandrinus in Cape Verde by monitoring colour-ringed
individuals. This is an all-year resident population and many
individuals are already ringed from previous years.

The place
The study sites are in Maio Island, Cape Verde, at the Salina Porto
Ingles and nearby lagoons (see the Bradt Guide to Cape Verde Islands).
Accommodation on the islands is in an apartment, with occasional water
and electricity. The island has spectacular wildlife, including
endemic birds, corals and marine mammals; it is a beautiful and
inspiring place to work. However, the island is a small and isolated
place with basic commodities, the weather can be harsh, and a great
deal of walking and cycling are required.

The job
The fieldwork will run from 15 September to mid December 2011. It will
be unsupervised, and will involve ? among other tasks ? searching for
plover nests and marked plovers and their families, taking behavioural
observations and monitoring nest survival. It will also involve
capturing, ringing and bleeding adults and young.

The candidates
This is a voluntary post ? applicants must be willing to pay for their
own transport to Maio. Once in Maio, however, accommodation, basic
food and expenses associated with research will be covered. In
addition, 100 Euro per month may be offered to the deserving
Assistant. Phone calls and internet costs will not be covered.

You will be a keen birder with sharp eyes and plenty of experience in
trapping, handling and ringing birds. Clean driving licence is
essential. You must be personable and happy to engage with locals to
explain the project; some Spanish or Portuguese is helpful. You must
be physically fit, hard-working and meticulous, and have a proven
ability to work independently.

As you will appreciate from its description, the project will involve
many different challenges. A proven ability to collect high-quality
data is essential (i.e. a good degree in a biological subject or
equivalent experience), and you should be prepared to type up your
data in the evenings! You must have a positive attitude and an ability
to look after yourself ? this means cooking your own meals, dealing
with logistics, and most importantly being capable of organising your
own work for a long period of time.

If you like chatting on the phone, or feel the need to text and email
people all the time, this position is not for you. The cost of living
is high, and fancy food is expensive.

Costs
It is possible to fly through Lisbon from the UK that costs about
£700. Internal flights from Praia to Maio should be under £100 one
way, and the Praia-Maio ferry costs about £15.

Interested?
Please send a current CV with an email stating why you feel you are a
strong candidate to me (Professor Tamas Szekely) at
T.Szekely@bath.ac.uk.
Application deadline: 31st July 2011.
Interviews will be carried out as the applications coming in, and an offer will
be made by 6th August 2011.

I will also need the contact details (email and telephone) of two referees.
If you have any questions, please direct them to me at the same email
address, or call me at +31 50 363 8085.

************************************************************************
Professor Tamas Szekely
Professor of Biodiversity
Dept of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
01225 383676 (phone), 01225 386779 (fax), T.Szekely@bath.ac.uk (email)
http://www.bath.ac.uk/bio-sci/biodiversity-lab/index.htm