The British Antarctic Survey (BAS), part of the Natural Environment Research Council, aims to undertake a world-class programme of scientific research, and to sustain for the UK an active and influential regional presence and a leadership role in Antarctic affairs.
At Bird Island, South Georgia, two field assistants will be recruited to help carry out fieldwork on seabirds and seals. Bird Island is small (6 km in length) and forms part of the South Gerogia archipelago where it is buffeted by both prevailing westerlies and cold winds from Antarctica. It has a high annual rainfall and variable snow cover during winter. In summer tens of thousands of seals and hundreds of thousands of seabirds breed there (including 3 species of penguins and 4 species of albatrosses). Up to 10 staff (ferried in and out by ship) live in a modern research station with a satellite link to the outside world and comfortable accommodation.
The two successful applicants will work and live on Bird Island continuously between September or November 2011 and April 2014. They will each be partly responsible for one element of a monitoring program (seals, penguins or flying birds). The learning curve is very steep and so all candidates must have previous experience of handling appropriate wild animals, but BAS will provide a finishing school (at Bird Island) to hone these skills.
Fieldwork in the breeding season at Bird Island will be very intensive with long hours of fieldwork and data preparation afterwards, so it is important to be well organised. Data are collated using databases and by submitting reports, observing strict deadlines at frequent intervals. These results underpin key research into regional and global change processes based on seabird and seal life histories, reproductive success, behaviour and diet.
The two successful applicants will remain on Bird Island continuously for approximately 30 months, where they will live with 2 other residents and up to 6 summer only visitors. Whilst everyone is assigned duties to keep the research station running (including cooking and cleaning), the residents have extra responsibilities (after essential pre-deployment training), such as helping to provide IT, communications, medical and dental cover.
The position of zoological field assistant offers a unique opportunity for highly motivated and disciplined individuals with relevant fieldwork skills and a keen interest in wildlife, who will adapt well to small island living in a challenging sub-Antarctic environment.
Qualifications: Degree in biology or zoology desirable; experience of remote, unsupervised fieldwork and animal handling skills (i.e. of appropriate wild animals in their natural habitat). Applicants must be competent and efficient in managing, analysing and reporting large data sets. Meticulous time management, attention to detail and effective communication are important attributes. Candidates should also be able to mix well in a small and vibrant science community.
Duration: Initial period of 18 months
Salary: £21,037 - £28,934
On-line application forms and further information are available on our website at www.antarctica.ac.uk/employment.
These are also available from the Human Resources Section, British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET. Tel: (01223) 221508. Please quote reference: BAS 24/11
Closing date for receipt of application forms is 1st May 2011. Interviews are scheduled to be held w/c 23rd May 2011
