Fieldwork with Rhesus Macaques on Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico.

We are looking for volunteers to help assist with a behavioral endocrinology project on free-ranging rhesus macaques on Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico (see http://ucm.rcm.upr.edu/cayosan.html). The project is being undertaken in the lab of Prof. Dario Maestripieri, University of Chicago (see lab webpage http://primate.uchicago.edu), and volunteers will be working directly alongside me, Dr James Higham, on a daily basis (see my webpage http://primate.uchicago.edu/james.htm for information about me and my research interests).

Volunteers will be expected to work on Cayo Santiago from 7:00 – 14:30 for 5 or 6 days a week, and may also be required to undertake data entry and/or processing in the later afternoon and early evenings. While on Cayo Santiago, duties will include learning to recognize group members, behavioral data collection, and the collection of fecal and urine samples for endocrine analysis.

These positions are ideal for graduate students or recent graduates looking to gain experience of fieldwork and of data collection. You will be trained in a number of field techniques, and I am also happy to explain in detail the laboratory procedures that will ultimately take place on samples collected. A number of projects from different researchers based at institutions around the world will take place on Cayo Santiago over the course of the volunteerships, offering opportunities for volunteers to meet other researchers and other students from a range of universities, and in a range of fields.

We may be able to provide some support for candidates, depending on their experience. However volunteers may have to contribute some or all of the following expenses: return travel to the field site, medical insurance, field clothes and personal expenses, food, and housing. Shared accommodation can be often be found very cheaply in Punta Santiago (e.g. $200 per month).

Start dates around 1st March 09. 6 months preferable. Candidates will not be considered for periods of less than 4 months.

Please email a brief cover letter outlining their interests, experience, and why they wish to undertake work on the project. They should attach a CV which includes references, at least one of which should be an academic reference from a college/university tutor or supervisor.