Sub-Antarctic Biocultural Conservation Program

Earn BIOL or PHIL credit for a Study Abroad course to Chile! If interested, please contact chile@unt.edu and we will place you on a email list so you will get updates as trip arrangements are made. Please provide your full name, email address, and UNT ID number.

The Sub-Antarctic Biocultural Conservation Program is an interdisciplinary program with BIOL and PHIL. If interested in the Tracing Darwin’s Path (TDP) course, please call 940-369-8211 or drop by the Program Office in EESAT 310A. We can place you on an email list when final course arrangements are made, you will be the first to know!

Our program has rolling enrollment, and we continually recruit Study Abroad students for our Tracing Darwin's Path Study Abroad course in Puerto Williams, Chile. The Wintermester 2013-2014 course dates are tentatively set from Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013 – Monday, Jan. 12, 2014.

The course is open to

any UNT undergraduate or graduate student
from any discipline
Course is held in Wintermester 2013 (register / credit in Spring 2014), BIOL 4054 / PHIL 4054 or BIOL 5055 / PHIL 6781 course.

You do not need to be a

BIOL or PHIL major
nor speak Spanish; though Spanish would be useful

Committing to the course by Summer 2013 could ensure you receive an international education scholarship of US$475 (amount TDB) AND an airfare grant of US$425 (amount TBD); both available on a first come, first serve basis when you apply.

Please call 940-369-8211 or drop by EESAT 310A to obtain information about the upcoming Tracing Darwin's Path Wintermester course 2013-2014.

Thank you.

Post Doc Position available in Chile

UNT actively recruits new talent for its clusters. UNT has hired and will continue to hire a significant number of senior and junior faculty in coming years through capacity building exercises at the departmental level as well as through the research clusters and additional strategic areas. Making significant investments in our faculty and research programs will substantially expand UNT's research enterprise and creative endeavors.

POST-DOCTORAL POSITION AVAILABLE AT THE INSTITUTE OF ECOLOGY AND BIODIVERSITY IN CHILE

1) Strengthening the implementation of a long-term ornithological research program at Omora Park site in the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve, with main focus on the Magellanic Woodpecker.
2) Supporting the Master in Conservation Sciences Program at Universidad de Magallanes.

POSITION: Post-doctoral Fellow

TOPIC: Conservation biology, woodpecker, and other forest avian research.

LOCATION: Puerto Williams, Chilean Antarctic Province (Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve), Chile.

CONTRACTING INSTITUTION: Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB).

ASSOCIATED INSTITUTIONS: Universidad de Magallanes, University of North Texas, Universidad de Santiago, and Universidad de Chile.

APPOINTMENT: One year contract – with possible one year renewal and/or permanent contract with Universidad de Magallanes.

GROSS SALARY: Monthly approx. USD $3,200 (1.5 million Chilean pesos).

POTENTIAL PROJECTIONS: Become part of the Sub-Antarctic Biocultural Conservation Program and interactions with centers of research excellence in Chile and internationally.

BEGINNING OF ACTIVITIES: As early as June 2013.

NATIONALITY: None specified.

CONTEXT OF THE POSITION:

The Omora Ethnobotanical Park is a long-term socio-ecological research site, coordinated by the University of Magallanes in conjunction with the Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB-Chile) and the University of North Texas. Omora Park constitutes a research,education, and conservation center for the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve (CHBR). It is the southernmost site of the Chilean Long Term Socio-Ecological Research Network (LTSER), and hosts the longest long-term mist-netting program in South-American temperate and sub-Antarctic forests. This post-doctoral fellow will work closely with the long-term research program on the Magellanic woodpecker (Campephilus magellanicus), and the current FONDECYT grant on this species’ behavior, ecology, and conservation.

The context of this position will provide the selected post-doctoral fellow with a unique opportunity to participate in a project that allows for constant collaboration with world-class researchers and academic institutions. In addition, IEB is a part of a few selected Centers of Scientific Excellence in Chile with an international focus, supported by the Millennium Scientific Initiative (Chilean Ministry of Economy) and Basal Financing Program (Chilean Science Commission, CONICYT).

The post-doctoral position entails a one-year term with the possibility of a subsequent one-year renewal and/or a permanent contract with Universidad de Magallanes, pending successful completion.

JOB DESCRIPTION:
The post-doctoral fellow selected for this position will collaborate in one or more of the following areas:

i) Primarily, conduct and publish research on forest ornithology in general, and on the Magellanic woodpecker specifically, as supported by a FONDECYT grant.

ii) Expand research outcomes to broader approaches of biological conservation and educational initiatives led by the Omora Park in the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve.

General research objective:
Develop studies that address the ecology of sub-Antarctic forest bird assemblages (e.g., migration, diet, population dynamics, morphometry, etc.) with emphasis on the Magellanic woodpecker, and its behavior and ecology. Strengthen the ongoing research related to avian ecology, building up on the Omora Park’s status as the longest running forest bird monitoring program in southern South America. We would also expect that the selected post-doctoral fellow will contribute significantly to consolidate the conservation and education teams of the Omora Park in the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve as international and interdisciplinary.

i) The selected fellow should also fulfill research-related responsibilities (70% dedication) with emphasis in one of the following two lines:

A: Examine the relationship between Woodpecker spatial behavior and resource availability at different spatial scales (i.e., selection of trees and patches, insect food availability, movement patterns, GIS and telemetry related techniques).

B: Build up upon the long-term monitoring and research of forest passerines to address questions on migration patterns (using geolocators and bird-banding), seasonal food habits (considering both insects and fruits availability, and selection patterns), breeding ecology (nest survival, spatio-temporal comparisons, clutch size, etc.), long-tern population dynamics (longevity, survival analyses, abundances, etc.).

ii) The selected fellow should also fulfill the following education and outreach-related responsibilities (30% dedication):

1. Link research with projects and initiatives in the area of ecotourism and conservation (e.g., flag-ship species, impact of bird-watching).
2. Collaborate with international graduate field courses (UMAG-University of North Texas) with an interdisciplinary and bio-cultural conservation focus.
3. Provide site-based oversight of the development of associated projects (student projects, monitoring programs, and data bases).
4. Help supervise volunteers and students from national and international programs and institutions.
5. Participate in the development of environmental education programs for the local community.
6. Collaborate with the graduate masters of science program at UMAG, entitled “Management and Conservation of Sub-Antarctic Natural Resources.”

The expected results of this position are:
a. Joint publications about the Woodpecker long-term studies in the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve and/or avian ecology, resulting from the Omora Park’s longest running forest bird monitoring program in southern South America.
b. Strengthened site-based research team-work and development of associated projects (academic, student projects, monitoring programs, data bases, mentoring of students, field courses, applied activities in conservation and/or ecotourism).
c. Strengthened academic collaborations within the Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, and associated institutions, primarily with Universidad de Magallanes, University of North Texas, Universidad de Santiago, and Universidad de Chile.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Ph.D. with emphasis on ornithology, conservation and/or ecological field studies.
Proven ability to publish collaboratively and to work in interdisciplinary projects linked with the public and private sectors.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE:

Proficiency in English and basic Spanish is required as well as good communication skills.
Demonstrated ability in development and management of field studies.
Experience working in conservation at Latin American field sites and willingness to interact with the local community.
Experience leading teams and motivating groups of people to achieve goals and manage complex projects and budgets.
Proven ability in interpersonal communication and conflict resolution.
Willingness to participate in diverse programs organized by the Omora Park.

SKILLS:

Resolve situations involving multiple researchers and projects.
Anticipate, diagnose, and resolve complex issues that require creative solutions.
Interpret regulations and rules, evaluate information and modify processes to adapt them to changing situations.
Manage and prioritize multiple tasks.
Work under pressure in a remote place and often in extreme weather conditions.
Capacity to build cooperative relationships with diverse groups, including the local community, government authorities, members of the board of directors, and the general public.

REQUIREMENTS:

Driver’s license (international or Chilean).
Physical condition that permits working under variable climatic conditions in a remote site.
Be able to work in difficult terrain and with a certain level of risk.
Willingness to travel.
Work occasionally on weekends and extra hours.

OPPORTUNITIES:

The Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve is considered one of the world’s last pristine wilderness areas, which is currently threatened by an increase in connectivity and business opportunities related to tourism. The post-doctoral fellow will have the opportunity to participate directly in this initiative of global significance and world-class quality. The selected candidate, for example, will contribute to the Scientific Advisory Committee of the biosphere reserve, will develop and participate in basic and applied science projects that support the holistic use and management of the sub-Antarctic archipelago, and will aid in the socialization of these results to the broader community.

In addition, this location’s relevance to the globe is as significant as that of the Galapagos Islands in terms of science, history, and conservation. Being selected for this position offers a unique opportunity for the post-doctoral fellow to develop professionally and personally in association with five Centers for Scientific Excellence in Chile, supported by the Millennium Scientific Initiative (Chile’s Ministry of Economy) and the Bicentennial and Basal Financing Programs (Chilean Scientific Commission).

The home base for this position is Puerto Williams, the capital of the Chilean Antarctic Province, located on the north coast of Navarino Island (55°S). It has a population of 2,200 inhabitants and whereas it has all basic services, it is still considered remote (accessible by a 1.5 hour plane ride; 5 flights per week). The island is provisioned weekly by a ferry from Punta Arenas, the regional capital and the location of the main campus of the University of Magallanes. The region is known for its extraordinary beauty and the world’s cleanest air and water. Heating of homes on the island is done with wood stoves, and housing conditions are basic, but comfortable.

For couples, there are opportunities for the partner to participate in ecotourism and/or educational activities conducted by Omora Ethnobotanical Park.

Omora Park is a long-term socio-ecological research site of the Chilean LTSER Network. Therefore, this position will consider spending some time at research labs in Santiago (e.g. USACH, UCH), and other associated research centers (e.g., University of North Texas).

SEND CV, COVER LETTER AND 2 LETTERS OF REFERENCE TO:
PI - Dr. Jaime Jiménez (Jaime.Jimenez@unt.edu): telephone: 1-940-369-5346,
with copies to: Dr. Ricardo Rozzi (Ricardo.Rozzi@unt.edu), Dr. Rodrigo Vásquez (rvasquez@uchile.cl), & Dr. Pablo Vergara (Pablo.Vergara@usach.cl).

Are you interested in 2013-2014 Tracing Darwin’s Path to Chile?