Field Assistants
Yellow-billed Cuckoo Paid Internship (2)
The Marra lab at Georgetown University is seeking 2 skilled field technicians for a tracking study of Yellow-billed Cuckoo across the eastern US from May 7, 2021 to August 15th, 2021. Fieldwork will involve surveying and catching yellow-billed cuckoos across 3-4 different breeding locations including Texas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania. Two positions are being filled.
(1) Bird Bander Position: Should have experience mist-netting, handling and collecting tissue samples from small birds. Experience with canopy-nets would be helpful but not required for the position. Should also have experience surveying and/or territory mapping birds.
(2) Technician Position: A second position is also being filled that does not require banding experience. Preference will be given to candidate with prior experience surveying and/or territory mapping birds. Both positions will participate in catching yellow-billed cuckoos but only those with previous banding experience will handle birds.
Candidates will be expected to work long hours with early starts six days a week in difficult field conditions. Daily data entry and data proofing will also be a part of the day-to-day work expectations. Field sites are mostly located in edge, brush and riparian habitat within national forests, state game land, wildlife refuges, conservation easements and private land. As such, candidates must be able to handle extensive and strenuous hiking in hot-humid and sunny conditions with a variety of biting insects (mosquitoes, chiggers and ticks) and be able to carry and set up heavy equipment. To be successful in the position, candidate should be flexible, have good inter-personal skills and the ability to work both independently and in a team to accomplish tasks. Applicants must have a valid driver license and will be required to follow a COVID-19 protocol. Shared housing will be provided and may include short camping trips. A field vehicle will be used for day-to-day work. Salary will depend on experience and range from $400-450/week.
To apply please send electronic copies (PDF or MS Documents) of the following: 1) a letter of interest, 2) a resume and, 3) the names and contact information for three work references to Dr. Calandra Stanley (EM: calandra.stanley AT georgetown.edu). Please put “YBCU Technician” or “YBCU Bander” as the subject line of your email application depending on which position you are applying for. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the positions are filled.
