Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel
Position Description:
We are looking for a volunteer to work on communication in wild olive baboons (Papio anubis) to explore the evolutionary origins of audience-aware communication, a prevalent feature in human language. Our goal is to investigate how olive baboons take others into account during acts of communication. The research is carried out at the Gashaka Primate Project (GPP, www.ucl.ac.uk/gashaka/project) in Northwestern Nigeria. The appointment is for a period of 6 months and will consist of helping with data collection and carrying out playbacks experiments. Work at the field site is physically demanding with temperatures varying between 5º and 40 ºC. Living conditions are very basic, although there is electricity. The study is funded by a SNF grant on audience awareness in primates to Klaus Zuberbühler.
The main responsibilities of this position are:
1) Individually recognizing monkeys
2) Running playback experiments and collecting focal animal and scan sampling data
3) Entering and managing data for subsequent analyses
Qualifications/Experience:
• Background and interest in animal behavior
• Open-minded and independent
• Ability to adapt to living in a foreign culture and work in a team
• Fluent in English
• Previous field experience is plus
Salary/funding:
No salary is provided.
Support provided for internship/volunteer positions (travel, meals, lodging):
We will be able to cover for the accommodation fees at GPP ($300 per month), a return flight ticket to Nigeria and costs for local travel. This will be on a reimbursement basis, after successful completion of fieldwork. The applicant will be responsible for all other costs, including health insurance and vaccinations.
Term of Appointment:
This position is for 6 months, starting beginning of April 2014
Application Deadline:
20th of March 2014
Comments:
To apply please email a one-page cover letter, CV, and 1-2 letters of reference to Yaëlle Bouquet.
Contact Information:
Yaëlle Bouquet
Université de Neuchâtel
Institut de Biologie
Rue Emile-Argand 11
2000 Neuchâtel
Switzerland
Telephone Number:
+41-32 718 24 69
Website:
http://www2.unine.ch/compcog/yaelle_bouquet
E-mail Address:
yaelle.bouquet@unine.ch
