MSU Listserv

From: Joseph Sarvary <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Monday, November 25, 2019 at 11:13 AM
Subject: Primate Behavior Research Intern [Work with Black & Gold Howler Monkeys}

Primate Behavior Research Intern
Organization: Para La Tierra (www.paralatierra.org<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.paralatierra.org__;!ioFpBMP7lJU!hVxY0XixeZuTir40D4Bt9ObKdanLGSfimZ4a9HcaznElVFbmjVT_dzBcqCEN5lgGMA$>)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Location: Pilar, Neembucu, Paraguay


Para La Tierra is searching for talented and hardworking research interns to join our team in Paraguay for 3 to 6 months. Our internship program provides young biologists an opportunity to step out of the classroom and into the field, gaining hands-on experience running a research project of their own design. Based in the center of the Ñeembucú Wetland System, Para La Tierra’s research team has been investigating the behavior, ecology, and social structure of the Black-&-Gold Howler monkey. Our research station offers an incredible opportunity to study these highly adaptable arboreal primates in a variety of different habitats, from riparian forests to the city parks. As tropical forests continue to disappear, it is increasingly important to understand how wild animals can survive alongside human populations. Para La Tierra is interested in understanding how the primates are affected by the urban environment of the city of Pilar, how their behavior varies from that of the groups located outside the city, and what can be done to better protect the wild animals from the negative effects of the near constant human-wildlife interaction.

Primate Behaviour Research Interns are challenged to further our collective understanding of the Howler monkeys found in Ñeembucú. With the help of our expert on-site primatologist, each intern creates their own methodology, collects independent data, analyses their results, and presents their findings. The focus of the study will be completely defined by the intern’s own interests. Previous interns have studied: Parasitology, Human-Wildlife Interactions, Acoustic Behaviour, Social Structure, and much more.

When was the last time that your professor gave you the option to choose what you wanted to study? When was the last time your boss told you to follow your own passion?

At Para La Tierra, we specialize in training young biologists in the skills they need to enter further education or the job market. Based in Paraguay, the ‘heart of South America,’ we are the country’s only year-round research station. Over the past 9 years, we have published over 60 peer-reviewed articles and discovered a few new species for science. Along the way, over 250 interns have helped contribute to the better understanding of Paraguay’s understudied habitats.

Our research base is located in the city of Pilar, a beautiful location in the south of Paraguay, and the gateway to the Ñeembucú Wetland Complex (NWC). The NWC is composed of a mosaic of habitats, including grasslands, marshes and humid Chaco. Deep forests lining the rivers and streams are bursting with wildlife, while river monsters the size of small cars lurk in the murky waters.

Come discover for yourself what Paraguay has to offer.

Our interns finish the program taking away a long list of newly learned skills, a professional reference, and one heck of an experience to share at their next interview. But they also leave behind a great deal. All of our intern projects are directly involved in promoting the conservation of this threatened habitat. The scientific investigations of the area help raise awareness of the ecological importance of Ñeembucu at both the national and international levels. The most successful projects are published in scientific journals, further raising the profile of Paraguay, and many interns make their way onto the author line for the first time in their early careers through their work with Para La Tierra.

Para La Tierra is a not-for-profit conservation organization that protects habitats and species in Paraguay through scientific research, community outreach and environmental education.



The application period is rolling and there are no start or end dates, so the trip can be organized to suit the project and the person. Interns must be available to stay for a minimum of three months.

Applicants must be over 18 years old and have or be working towards a degree in a biology related subject. Conversational English is required. To apply please email your CV to  [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>.

Costs – Because the best things in life aren’t free.
$925 per month for the 1st 2 months and $875 for each subsequent month.

Para La Tierra charges interns to cover costs of room and board. The price includes all living costs during their stay with us. Interns receive three meals a day, a bed in shared accommodation with hot showers and access to WiFi. The fee also covers the use of PLT’s scientific equipment, minor administrative costs associated with the stay, and a small contribution to Para La Tierra's conservation and education projects.

Weekly basis pro rata payments are accepted in special cases. There is a 25% discount for South American nationals.