Field Assistant

Field Assistants Required

Columbian ground squirrels

Sheep River Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada

We are looking for up to 4 volunteers to assist with fieldwork beginning April 07, 2010. End date is negotiable, but preference will be given to applicants who can stay until Aug 15, 2010. The project investigates the evolutionary ecology of Columbian ground squirrels. As a member of the study, assistants will be involved with monitoring the phenology (when animals emerge from hibernation), reproduction and survival of individuals. Fieldwork will involve live-trapping and handling of animals, behavioural observation and assistance with the measurement of physiological (metabolism) traits on free-ranging animals. This is an excellent opportunity to gain experience working with a collaborative research team on a long-term study of a wild mammal. Opportunities exist for side-projects for interested and motivated applicants. All fieldwork is carried out in the spectacular Rocky Mountains of western Alberta, Canada, home to some of the most majestic wildlife in North America.

We will be staying at the University of Calgary’s R.B. Miller research station in Sheep River Provincial Park, Alberta (http://bgs.ucalgary.ca/facilities/facilities). You will interact with other researchers working with ground squirrels on a diversity of projects in behavioural and population ecology. Additionally, the field station is home to a number of other researchers working on a variety of projects, ranging from insects to large mammals.

Food, accommodation and travel costs within western Canada are provided. Applicants from outside of western Canada are welcomed. In this case, the equivalent of airfare within western Canada will be provided to help offset travel costs.

Training will be provided and no experience is necessary, but candidates should have an interest in a number of the following (the more the better!): ecology, evolutionary biology, wildlife, field biology, and animal behaviour. Periods of time will be spent camping and, as such, successful applicants need to enjoy the outdoors, be up-beat, positive, responsible and work well as a member of a team.

If you wish to apply for a post then please send a CV with a cover letter and contact details of three references (with e-mail address), by email to Jeff Lane (contact info below), by February 28, 2010.

Contact: Dr. Jeffrey Lane

E-mail: Jeff.Lane@ed.ac.uk

Institute of Evolutionary Biology

Kings Buildings

University of Edinburgh

Edinburgh

EH9 3JT