- Agency
- Belize Jaguar Project-Virginia Tech
- Location
- Belize, Central America
- Job Category
- Volunteer Openings
- Salary
- NA
- Start Date
- 01/14/2023
- Last Date to Apply
- 01/31/2023
- Website
- http://www.mjkelly.info/
- Description
- INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY GREAT EXPERIENCE Please note this experience is volunteer and requires a project fee (see below), which covers room, board, and in-country transport. Additionally, participants must provide own transportation to Belize. We have worked with numerous students to find grant funding and to obtain university credit. We are seeking 5-10 motivated field assistants for our wild cat study in Belize, Central America. This study focuses on jaguars, pumas, and ocelots using non-invasive detection methods and researches long-term demographics of jaguar populations and the impacts of selective/sustainable logging at multiple sites across Belize. Interns will gain extensive field experience setting up large remote camera grids across tropical broadleaf and/or tropical pine forests, conducting habitat surveys in neotropical forest, orienteering with GPS and map and compass, field vehicle maintenance, organizing and entering data and maintaining a database. Job includes EXTENSIVE driving and hiking on dirt roads and trails to remote camera stations and collecting vegetation data surrounding camera stations. Field assistants may be required to carry heavy equipment, and will hike long distances through rough terrain, and bushwhack through thick vegetation. Work will also include shared data entry, camp and vehicle maintenance, and other errands and household chores. Rustic living conditions in a tropical environment (meaning very hot and humid weather, snakes, and biting insects). Field assistants will be living in close living quarters with their co-workers and will be expected to help out with group cooking, cleaning, and other basic field-house chores.
- Qualifications
- Preference given to students in wildlife biology or related field (biology, forestry, natural resources, etc.). No experience is necessary, but the applicant must have a positive and flexible attitude, be enthusiastic and ready to learn, have a strong work ethic and ability to get along with others in tight, close-knit, living conditions. This is an internships position where the technician will need to pay for their plane ticket and a project fee of $1750 per month (1 month minimum required). This project fee covers food, accommodations, and all in-country transport, while in Belize (except for days off or vacation days). The experience is a resume builder for wild cat work. It is much less expensive than a typical study abroad experience. A large number of past students have received funding and/or independent study credit from their host institution to participate. Winter positions available from January 14 to February 12, 2023 and/or February 12 to March 13, 2023. Summer positions available from May 2023 through August 2023 Please e-mail a resume/cv, letter of interest, and list of three references with contact info to Darby McPhail at dkm5ek@virginia.edu; David Lugo (dal0826@vt.edu) and Marcella Kelly at makelly2@vt.edu Application Deadline: Rolling, will be filled continuously.
- Contact Person
- Darby McPhail
- Contact eMail
- dkm5ek@vt.edu
