ECOSARA Biological Research Assistants

  Paraguay

Encarnacion

Term: Fall, Spring, Summer, Throughout the year, Winter 
Dates: all year

Description: ECOSARA internships are aimed specifically at current biology students and recently qualified young scientists looking for field work experience in the Neotropics. This category was established in an effort to help with the development and progress of young field scientists and to hone their project design and management skills. Interns will act as the right-hand man or woman of staff members, essentially project assistants. Internships differ from volunteerships in the following ways:

- they receive a job description that details their responsibilities

- those that successfully complete the internship will receive an academic job reference from ECOSARA

- they must commit to a minimum stay of three months (longer if they wish)

- they will receive training in project development and management, and fieldwork techniques

- they must design and perform their own research project using volunteers

- they are expected to publish the results of their work and give a presentation to volunteers and staff at the end of their internship

- they must comply with a daily work schedule

- they are expected to show leadership qualities

Internships are on an application basis and only a small number will be accepted each year to ensure that they receive the attention necessary for their development. Potential interns must be willing to work as part of a group in occasionally difficult field conditions, be willing to learn, be enthusiastic about the subject matter, understand and agree with the aims and objectives of ECOSARA and be able to follow instructions. Unsuccessful intern applicants will be invited to volunteer should they wish to.

We hope that you will agree that this is a great opportunity for you to get a taste of fieldwork in the Neotropics. We believe that it is the duty of every scientist to assist in the development of the next generation of field workers and hope that their experience at ECOSARA enables all of our interns to progress towards successful careers in their chosen fields.

Highlights: Paraguay is one of the most little-visited and under-studied countries in South America, yet it is also amongst the most friendly, safe and traditional. It is the only country in Latin America with an indigenous language as its official language and the influence of the Guarani is apparent in everyday life. Paraguay is for the adventure traveler who likes to experience something a bit different and get themselves as far off the "beaten track" as it is possible to be!

The Atlantic Forest of southern South America is one of the five most rapidly disappearing habitat types on earth. This, coupled with an extraordinary degree of endemism amongst the species that inhabit it led Conservation International to describe the conservation of this unique habitat as of "critical importance for global biodiversity". An extraordinary variety of wildlife inhabit the area around the research station, including the rarely-seen Jaguar, aquatic Capybara, resident troops of monkeys and over 400 species of birds - you'll rise each morning to the chattering of parakeets, jays and toucanets that make a daily raid on the orchard in the garden of the accommodation. San Rafael "National Park" at c70,000ha is the largest remaining block of pristine Atlantic forest remaining in Paraguay, but also its most threatened. This glorious and unique habitat will be your office during the course of your stay and you will be contributing directly to the continued conservation of one of the world's most precious natural treasures.

This internship offers you the chance to launch your scientific career with the guidance of professional scientists with bags of field experience. You will learn new skills, gain valuable field experience in the Neotropics and be able to publish your findings as well as assisting with the writing and preparation of books and educational material. ECOSARA is always careful to credit fully the involvement of every intern.

Whilst you are in Paraguay you may be interested in doing a Spanish course. With advance notice ECOSARA is happy to make the arrangements for volunteers wanting to learn or improve their Spanish with the Master Key Professional Language Institute in Encarnación. Courses are available for all levels, consist of 8 x 1.5 hour classes at weekends over the course of your stay and are taught by experienced language teachers licensed by the Paraguayan government department responsible for education, the Ministerio de Educación y Cultura (MEC).

Qualifications:
1. A degree or equivalent in biological or earth sciences, or evidence that you are currently studying for such a qualification.
2. A recent character reference.
3. An up-to-date CV
4. Enthusiasm for conservation and a willingness to help conserve San Rafael National Park.

Cost in US$: $750 per calendar month

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Paraguay Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups of small groups

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Resume

Post Services Include:

• Job and Internship Network

ECOSARA's Mission Statement: ECOSARA is a non-profit scientific, conservation and volunteer research station in the heart of the Paraguayan Atlantif forest. ECOSARA's mission is to assist in the conservation of Parque Nacional San Rafael through the study of its biodiversity and highlight the local and international importance of the reserve by widespread dissemination of its findings. It is staffed by professionals and assisted by a constant stream of ecologically-minded volunteers with one stated aim- to help save one of the world's most important but little known Atlantic Forest Reserves, the San Rafael National Park in southern Paraguay.

Year Founded: 2007