Voluntary Research Internship

The Indicators and Assessments Unit at the Zoological Society of London is offering an excellent opportunity to gain experience with one of the UK’s leading conservation research organisations. Successful candidates will have the opportunity to join the group that develops the Living Planet Index.

The Living Planet Index (LPI) is a biodiversity indicator developed by ZSL in partnership with WWF. It enables conservationists and policy-makers to determine whether targets to reduce biodiversity loss, such as those set by the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Millennium Development Goals, are being met. It is based on population trends of vertebrate species and provides a broad scope for population analysis. 

The volunteers will receive training in dealing with large datasets, using online databases and Excel functions, basic MySQL, ArcGIS and QGIS, using R - particularly for running GAMs - and scientific writing and the use of social media to communicate science. Also, they will have the opportunity to network with researchers within and outside ZSL. Additional learning opportunities are available through weekly research seminars, lab meetings and conservation and research talks.

The volunteers will contribute to collecting and entering population time series data into the LPI database; using mapping and statistical techniques to analyse patterns in population trends; and updating the Living Planet Index and Indicators and Assessments Unit websites with the latest news and results.

Given the required training, we ask the volunteers to attend set training days and to commit to a minimum of 20 hours a week for six months. Days and times will be agreed after interviews. These positions are offered on a voluntary basis, although lunch and travel expenses (up to equivalent to a monthly travel card within zones 1-6) will be reimbursed. Potential volunteers must be eligible to work in the UK. 

Applicants will need to apply for this opportunity by sending their CV and covering letter to hr@zsl.org. The deadline for applications is Sunday the 24^th of January 2016.