Tropical Avian Field Technician

Type: Temporal/Seasonal Position

Website: www.tarwaterlab.com

Start: ~ May 20, 2024

End: ~ August 25, 2024

Application Deadline: March 12, 2024

One field assistant position available to work on a project in central Panama studying the foraging behavior of resident birds. The project seeks to investigate how species are influenced by their habitat, and how species traits influence the response of individual species to habitat. Fieldwork will involve a lot of hiking, following birds, conducting behavioral observations, resighting color banded birds, and daily data entry and organizational tasks. The field technician will also get exposure to mist netting birds and banding through a long-term netting project. The technician selected for this position will be working very closely with a graduate student and will be interacting with a diverse community of researchers. Fieldwork will be five days a week with weekends off but may be adjusted due to the weather. The selected candidate will be living in Gamboa, Panama and can interact with other researchers performing research at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Gamboa is a small town located 45 minutes outside of Panama City.

Qualifications:  Possess or be working towards a bachelor’s degree in biology, natural resources, wildlife management, ecology, or a related field. Applicants should be passionate about bird behavior and fieldwork, be able to accommodate unexpected change, and have a strong work ethic. Workdays will be long and starting work before sunrise is expected. Applicants should feel comfortable living and working as a team. The fieldwork will be demanding, and being able to maintain a positive attitude and sense of humor is crucial. Applications should be comfortable working in areas with steep terrain, biting insects, venomous snakes and bugs, and hot and humid conditions.  Proficiency in Spanish and English is preferred as the team will have to interact with a diverse community.  Work vehicles have manual transmissions, so having a strong background driving manual is also preferred.

Candidates should have a strong background performing behavioral observations and resighting birds. Ideal candidates will also have experience conducting research in the tropics.

All are welcomed and encouraged to apply. Minorities and members of underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply.

Compensation: Field housing, utilities, and flights will be covered, and technicians will be paid a stipend of $800/month. Housing will have Wi-Fi but the availability of hot showers and A/C might vary. 

To apply please complete this google form:   https://forms.gle/Xh2EbrRjHff6k9ry8 The form will ask you some questions that summarize your experience, and will also ask you to upload a cover letter, CV, and three references in a single PDF. Panamanian citizens are encouraged to apply. Review of applications will continue until positions are filled. If you encounter problems with the form, you may email application materials to Reina Galvan (email:rgalvan@uwyo.edu) with the subject line " Tropical Avian Field Technician Application."  

Additional questions may also be directed to the same email listed above.