Job Type: full-time temporary position
Opportunity location: Masai Mara National Reserve
Closing date (if specified): 5 Nov 2010
Opportunity Description:
We seek highly motivated undergraduates to participate in a carnivore research program in Kenya funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). If you will not currently be enrolled in a university or college when the program takes place (1June2011), then you are ineligible.
The program will support a few undergraduate students for 8 weeks in June-August, 2011. Students will participate in on-going research on mammalian carnivores, including spotted hyenas, lions, cheetahs, jackals, mongooses, and other small carnivores.
The focus of this research will be the behavioral ecology and conservation biology of these species. Travel costs (airline tickets, room, board, Kenyan visa) will be covered by NSF funds, and students will also receive a stipend of $2500.
****QUALIFICATIONS****
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens
- CURRENT enrollment in an undergraduate program in Biology or other related discipline
- Strong writing & analytical skills
- A desire to conduct publishable research
- Willingness to live in a tented research camp in the African bush for up to 8 weeks
- Positive attitude and interest in learning about other cultures
****APPLICATION****
If you are interested in participating in this research program, please email David Green (Graduate Program Assistant) at GreenD31@msu.edu a single PDF file that includes the following documents by 5 Nov, 2010:
1) A cover letter describing what you hope to get from this IRES program, what particular strengths you offer to this research program, your career plans, and any special considerations such as financial need, membership in groups currently under-represented in science, etc.
2) Your curriculum vitae (CV).
3) An official scanned transcript from your current college or university.
4) Names and contact information of two faculty members able to comment on your academic performance to date. Please also ask these two faculty members to send Dr. Kay Holekamp confidential letters of recommendation on your behalf via email (holekamp@msu.edu) by 5 November, 2010.
Please include the following title in your email heading and PDF: IRES,Lastname,Firstname.
Decisions regarding selection of applicants will be made by mid-December, 2010.
For additional information about the ongoing research program that you will be joining, please visit the website of Dr. Kay Holekamp at http://hyenas.zoology.msu.edu/ & our research blog at http://msuhyenas.blogspot.com/.
For more info, contact:
David Green
Graduate Program Assistant
greend31@msu.edu