Location: Kiribati – based in the coral atolls of Teraina, Tabuaeran, and Kiritimati
Duration: approximately 6 months
Start Date: candidates available for start in June-July 2013 are preferred.
Terms: Volunteer. Travel costs and basic living expenses paid. Small living stipend provided.
Seeking applications from qualified candidates (BS or higher) to help
manage field activities for a research project aimed at investigating
the ecology of artisanal shark fishing in coral reef ecosystems. Project
is collaborative effort between researchers at Stanford University,
Politecnico di Milano, Istituto Universitario di Studi Superiori, and
the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change.
This is a full-time, approximately six month placement, working
independently at extremely remote field sites on three tropical atolls
in the Northern Line Islands, within the country of Kiribati. Travel to
field sites will be made by local transport (e.g. ferry and sailing
vessel) and as such will be highly unpredictable. Housing will be
arranged in “home stay” style and will be spartan in nature. Work
schedules can be demanding and erratic.
Responsibilities for the position are diverse and include: ride alongs
with local shark fisherman, establishing a mark and recapture shark
tagging program, collecting shark tissue samples for genetic and
isotopic analysis, interviews with fishing communities, and leading
marine education outreach in local schools.
Experience boating, swimming, working at sea, travelling, living in
remote and isolated settings, and interacting with new cultures
required. Background in science is necessary – with preference given to
candidates with training and interest in ecology and fisheries
management. Candidates on trajectories towards graduate study in
ecology or careers in ecological research preferred.
Selections will be made after 28 Feb 2012.
Contact Information:
Interested candidates please provide 1) CV with GPA, 2) one
paragraph statement of interest, 3) names of 3 references and their
contact information (letters to be solicited from short-listed
candidates only).
Send materials to Dr. Douglas McCauley: sharks.kiribati@gmail.com.