Database/GIS Assistant

Job Announcement for a GIS/data base technicial assistant at the Huinay Scientific Field Station

 

DEADLINE: until we found a qualified person, or 15.2.2014

 

TIME FRAME: 2 years starting ideally mid March 2014 with possible extension

 

Key abilities:

-        GIS and data base experience

-        fluent English

 

 

Computer skills:

-     Database experience would be desirable. Knowledge of, or willingness to learn SQL, Postgresql and PostGIS.

 

-        Knowledge of or willingness to learn a programming language to set up a database frontend. This could be web based or desktop based and there are many possible languages (HTML 5, JavaScript, Python etc). Knowledge of python would be of advantage since an existing database interface could be used.

 

-        System administrative skills (hard ware installation and network configuration in LINUX and Windows) are very desirable.

 

In addition he/she should:

-        be an open, communicative, easy-going and nature-loving person who has no problems or rather enjoys to live in an isolated and rainy place (surrounded by lush forests) and be able to adapt to new situations

-        be self motivating and able to deal with difficulties of living in a small remote place with few people

-        be organized and have organisatorial skills

-        have a general scientific, biological (taxonomical) and ecological background or interest (ideally knowledge of or at least interest in invertebrates).

-        be flexible, patient and should be able to improvise (experience in developing countries or better in South America is of advantage)

-     Spanish knowledge is of advantage

 

 

The technicial assistant will be in charge of maintaining a database containing data collected during field work and other projects of the scientific field station. He is expected to create a frontend (forms) for the database that allows easy data input, quality control and editing which can be used to manage the stations data on a daily basis as well as during expeditions. The database includes geographic data in the PostGis format. The frontend should be able to display this data and enable geographic queries. For this purpose GeoServer could be used. The assistant will further be in charge of maintaining computers and a server at the field station.

He/she will also participate in training and supervising interns (who can help adding data), and, if he/she is an experienced diver (>150-200 dives and experience in cold water) and willing to bring his/her own equipment, can also participate in diving surveys of expeditions if time allows. Other tasks can, among others, involve all daily activities at the station which are generally carried out by two scientific-technical assistants. He/she can and should work quite independent, but follow the guidelines given by the scientific director/managing scientist and ask for feed-back when necessary.

 The selected candidate will get a two week training from the former data base assistant.

 

 

We offer:

-        competitive salary (remark: general health insurance is pretty good in Chile and there is an additional health insurance for work related accidents and diseases)

-        Free lodging and food on the station and free transport from and to Hornopiren on regular boat trips (there arise no expenses during the stay on the station). You can also take the ferry that runs twice a week for approx. 3 US$

-        trip/flight back to the place of origin (if outside of Chile) after termination of the work contract (if you stay for the 2 years)

-        4 days off for every 11 days of work (flexible handling is possible and necessary; but days off cannot be accumulated for more than 1 month) and 15 days of vacation days (Monday through Friday) each year

-        flexible handling of daily work hours

 

You can find more information on the website http://www.huinay.cl

 

We are looking forward to your applications consisting of a cover letter explaining your personal incentive to apply at Huinay Scientific Field Station, and why you think you are qualified for the job, and a CV (not longer than 4 pages). Applications that do not include the asked documents cannot be considered. Please already list 2-3 possible references, which will be necessary for applicants on the short list (these referees should know you personally and mainly describe your abilities to deal with difficult and unknown situations, rather than pure professional abilities); please do not send them now! Please send the application to v.haussermann(ad)gmail.com –

 replace (ad) with @ in the e-mail addresses!

 

It is necessary that the successful applicants apply for their work visas prior to arrival at the station. The successful applicant will be sent copy of the work contract which needs to be signed and returned for confirmation by a legal representative in order for you to apply for a work visa. This process can take up to 8 weeks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Besides the database, there will be various aspects of statistical analysis, the largest project being the following:

Project summary

Zoogeography project (funded by Fondecyt) 

Zoogeography of the Chilean fjord region (42ºS - 56ºS) based on selected taxa with a wide range of ecological, reproductive and dispersal characteristics

 

Despite various publications the zoogeography of the Chilean fjord region between 42° S and 56° S in great portions remains undefined or controversially discussed. One of the main reasons for this situation is the enormous size and remoteness of the region and the resulting logistic difficulties and scarcity of data. Nevertheless, clarity on the biogeography of this marine region is urgently needed for marine coastal spatial planning, resource management and conservation efforts. In addition, the revelation of actual biogeographic patterns can help to reconstruct species migration processes after glaciation and help to predict migration processes and displacements of biogeographic units due to climatic changes. The knowledge of the biogeography of an area also helps to predict the spread of invasive species and this way helps to apply control mechanisms.

 

The data of most of the existing biogeographical studies have been sampled for other purposes. Thus a systematic approach, especially designed and dedicated to address the fundamental biogeographic questions for the area will be much more efficient in detecting the existing patterns and thus being able to formulate the correct questions to understand the underlying processes.

We will be using 59 species from all major phyla which were chosen based on the possibility for in situ identification and their reproductive and dispersal mode to create presence-absence lists from each study site. Anthozoans are conspicuous sessile marine invertebrates which are present in almost all marine habitats; especially in higher latitudes they can be abundant or even dominating. The order includes species with different reproductive modes and dispersal characteristics as well as short and long living species. These features make them an excellent taxonomic group for short as well as long-term monitoring and detection of general zoogeographic patterns and trends. Chilean anthozoans however are among the most neglected groups of benthic invertebrates; very little information is available, especially for Chilean Patagonia. Records and the taxonomic status of many eastern South Pacific species are doubtful and need revision. Taxonomic expertise in Chile is being lost due to the lack of young taxonomists. Therefore main focus will be on anthozoans (an additional 50+ species) of which all species will be recorded, and selected and unknown species collected.

 

In the planned study, species from comparable, steep rocky substrate habitats will be recorded from data-poor regions to address and test hypotheses on the zoogeography of Chilean Patagonia. In particular the two latitudinal faunal breaks that have been hypothesized for the Taitao Peninsula/Golfo de Penas and for the Straits of Magellan and that divide the region into the Northern, Central and Southern Patagonian Zone will be tested on the base of existing data and specifically generated new information. Other fundamental hypothesis that will be tested refer to the longitudinal subdivision of the fjord region into three major units, the inner (continental) fjords, the channel area and the exposed Pacific coast. For this purpose study sites will be placed along east-west (continental coast-Pacific coast) transects that are distributed systematically over the region. Apart from generating important biogeographic information it is expected to significantly contribute to the taxonomic knowledge of the Anthozoa of this region, augment the existing species records and to upgrade the known distribution ranges. Bunodactis and Anthopleura are common intertidal sea anemone species which would be ideal to address biogeographic questions. However, poor knowledge on the existing taxa, old and un-complete descriptions and contradicting information in the literature have led to a lot of confusion about species identities and delimitations within these genera. A PhD thesis within the project will dedicate to the taxonomic revision and biogeographic analysis of these actiniid genera. Our approach will combine traditional with up to date methods including DNA sequencing and microsatellite analysis to adequately train a Chilean student.

 

Information on the Huinay Foundation:

The Huinay Foundation is a private Foundation that is operating a scientific field station in Chilean Patagonia. Huinay Scientific Field Station was inaugurated in 2001 and is situated 100 km south of Puerto Montt, in the fjord Comau; it is the only scientific station in a Chilean fjord. The surroundings are characterized by steep mountains and volcanoes. Almost 6000 mm annual precipitation gives rise to extremely lush vegetation characterized by extra-tropical rain forests.

The small village Huinay with its approx. 25 inhabitants can only be accessed by a 1-1.5 hour boat-trip (speed boat) from Hornopiren. Most infrastructure - except some small shops and a rural hospital in Hornopiren - is located in Puerto Montt, a 3 to 4 h drive or bus trip from Hornopiren.

Knowledge on organisms and ecological functioning of the fjord ecosystems is very poor in Chilean Patagonia especially in the marine environment. The goal of the station is-besides carrying out some own projects- to attract national and international projects which help to fill the existing gaps.

To accomplish this, the field station has basic infrastructure: a dry and a wet laboratory, diving and lodging facilities (8 rooms for up to approx. 16 scientists/assistants/interns).

 

Projects involve all kinds of terrestrial and marine base-line research but main focus is on the marine environment and counseling for the establishment of a network of marine protected areas. In this context we are mainly promoting inventory studies of the fjord ecosystems and we generally organize one expedition to remote areas of the fjord region each year.

We recently finished a major project, a scientific field guide for marine benthic fauna of Chilean Patagonia (see www.PatagoniaMarina.info).

 

We have telephone and internet access via satellite and power supply by a hydroelectric plant. We have two permanent technical-scientific assistants, this job is an additional assistant within the mentioned project. The assistants are supervised and report to two biologists in charge of the scientific operation who are approximately a third of the time on the station, but can be contacted practically at any time. Besides these two scientists (the scientific director and a research coordinator) the permanent staff consists of the two scientific-technical assistants, an administrator, his wife (and assistant), a replacement of the administrator, two boat captains, 1-2 persons in charge for cooking and cleaning, and approx. 3 auxiliary administrative workers. We try to have 1-2 interns at any time at the station who help the scientific-technical assistants. Scientists can visit throughout the year, but mostly come between December and April (in the last years we had approx. 15 groups with a total of 40-50 scientists yearly)

 

 

INTERN POSSIBILITIES:

Interns help in all daily activities of the research assistants and do a mix of computer (e.g. literature and specimen databases), lab (aquaria, stereomicroscope work, assisting visiting scientists) and field/outside work (monthly sampling, giving guided tours to tourists). Divers are welcome but you need to have > 50 dives and dry suit and cold-water experience, plus your own equipment. We are searching for interns starting February, for 6-8 weeks.