From: Mammalian Biology [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Thorington, Richard
Sent: Monday, December 28, 2009 11:31 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Postdoctoral position in Tropical Wildlife Ecology

 

Post-Doctoral Position Announcement - Tropical Wildlife Ecology and
Conservation

Smithsonian National Zoological Park, Center for Conservation Education and
Sustainability (CCES)

 

Job Description: The Center for Conservation Education and Sustainability
(CCES) at the Smithsonian's National Zoo is seeking a highly motivated
post-doctoral fellow to design and lead a large-scale study of the influence
of roads on wildlife in a coastal rainforest, southwestern Gabon. The study
area's network of mostly unpaved access roads has been developed as a result
of oil development activities in the region. The potential influence of
these roads on wildlife, either directly, through disturbance or habitat
fragmentation, or indirectly through increased access to hunters, is of
concern to the associated oil company, as well as to CCES and other NGOs who
have been engaged in conservation research and biodiversity monitoring in
this region for many years. Mammalian wildlife, particularly primates,
ungulates and larger carnivores, will be a focus of the study but additional
taxa may also be included. This research will factor into a larger,
long-running research and education effort in the region which has focused
on documenting the region's biological diversity, assessing the impact of
extractive-use operations on local flora and fauna, and working with
government and private-sector decision makers to minimize these impacts. 

 

Background: The Center for Conservation Education and Sustainability (CCES)
has over fifteen years of experience integrating biodiversity conservation
into energy development projects and nearly ten years working in Gabon. The
Center's Gabon Biodiversity Program is the principal organization dedicated
to advancing fundamental scientific discovery, capacity building and
understanding of biological diversity in what is known as the Gamba Complex
of Protected Areas (Gamba Complex). The Gamba Complex is an 11,320 km 2 area
which includes two national parks (Loango, Moukalaba-Doudou) and a partially
protected zone (3585km2) between them, known as the industrial corridor,
where selective logging and oil production takes place. Our program is a
partnership with the government of Gabon, Shell Gabon and other stakeholders
and plays an important role in the research, monitoring, conservation and
education programs for the region. 

Qualifications: The successful applicant will have: 1) a PhD in wildlife
ecology, forest ecology, conservation biology or a related discipline, 2)
research experience and publication record in tropical ecology, particularly
using mammalian field survey methods (e.g. camera trapping, line-transects),
3) strong organizational skills, and 4) experience working in remote
tropical areas. A basic to intermediate level of GIS experience as well as
some knowledge of French is preferred. The position is a 1-yr appointment
with potential for extension depending on funding. Position will be based in
Washington DC when field work in Gabon is not ongoing. The successful
applicant should expect to spend multiple months of the year in Gabon.

 

Applicants should email: 1) a letter of interest detailing qualifications
for the position, 2) curriculum vitae and 3) a list of 3 professional
references with contact information (institution, email address, phone
number) to Dr. Joe Kolowski at [log in to unmask] Please include "Gamba
Post-doc application" in the subject line.

 

 

Salary: $42,000/yr.

 

Last date to Apply: January 22, 2010.

 

Website:
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ConservationAndScience/MAB/conservation/centralafr
ica/gabon/default.cfm

 

 

Posted by

Richard W. Thorington, Jr.
Division of Mammals, MRC 108
Smithsonian Institution
P.O. Box 37012
Washington, DC 20013-7012

Street address:
10 St. and Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20560

Squirrels: The Animal Answer Guide
http://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title_pages/8846.html