Careers at Virginia Tech

The Whitehead Lab at Virginia Tech is seeking a 6-month research technician to support tropical field research in Panama. The technician will be based in Panama and manage data collection activities for a project investigating how fruit chemistry influences the foraging preferences of seed-dispersing birds (palm tanagers) and bats (short-tailed fruit bats). Fieldwork will be forty hours per week and will include mist-netting for birds and bats, maintaining animals in flight cages, preparing experimental animal diets in the lab, behavioral observations, and camera-trapping in the field to obtain fruit removal rates. Data entry, data management, and regular communication with US-based team members will also be required. The technician will work closely with local field technicians in Panama and must be proficient in conversational Spanish. They will be provided field housing in Gamboa, Panama, where they will also have opportunities to attend scientific talks and meet other researchers associated with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. See more about research in the Whitehead Lab on our website (www.speciesinteractions.com).

This position is ideal for recent graduates with undergraduate or M.S. degrees in the fields of Ecology, Animal Behavior, Evolution, Conservation Biology, Wildlife Management, or a related field with some field experience. Applicants must be responsible, have attention to detail, attention to safety, good communication skills, and a strong work ethic. This is a remote field setting, with conditions of high humidity, rugged terrain, snakes, and many biting insects. Because the project involves both birds and bats, work hours will shift over the course of the project and may be either early in the morning or late in the evening. We aim for eight-hour work days and two consecutive days off per week for each team member. However, this will inevitably vary over the course of the project. The applicant must be flexible with their schedule and be prepared to prioritize the needs of live animals and maintain patience and humor during challenging field days. Applicants should be comfortable working alone and in a team. The Whitehead Lab aims to support diverse and inclusive research teams and applicants from underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

Field work will begin Sept. 24, 2024 and continue for 6 months. Pay will be $15/hr (~$2400/month) plus shared field housing in Gamboa and one round-trip flight to Panama.

-B.S. or B.A. in biology, ecology, wildlife management, or a related discipline
-prior field experience with animals, including animal handling
-strong proficiency in basic computer programs including the Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive) and Zoom
-excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
-ability to follow detailed written protocols
-excellent interpersonal skills and willingness to work in a team environment
-ability to hike in rugged, muddy terrain and carry up to 50lbs of field equipment
-advanced proficiency in conversational Spanish
-recent rabies vaccine or titer required prior to start of field work

-M.S. in biology, ecology, wildlife management, or a related discipline
-field experience in tropical ecosystems
-experience with passerine birds, including mist-netting or flight cage studies
-experience with bats, including mist-netting or flight cage studies
-experience or interest in chemical ecology
-knowledge of statistics and data analysis in R
-driver’s license and experience driving manual transmission in muddy, off-road conditions
-fluency in Spanish

3

Restricted

$15.00

August 15, 2024

Please include a brief cover letter that includes date of availability (ideally, we are looking for someone to start Sept. 24, 2024), a brief description of why you are interested in this position, and any further information that may speak to your qualifications as outlined in the announcement. You will also be asked to include your CV and names and contact information for three references. Priority deadline for applications: August 15th 2024. Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Please email swhitehead@vt.edu with any questions.

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

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