Hi folks,

For those interested, I'm forwarding a message about a potential =
Post-doctorate opportunity in New Zealand, for those with the =
wherewithal and moxie to go learn about muttonbirds...

This is kind of an interesting post all on its own.

Jon. Anderson
Olympia, Washington
festuca at olywa.net

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 20 Aug 1996 00:44:40 +0200 (SAST)
From: Henrik Moller <henrik.moller at stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Subject: [SEABIRD:384] Post-Doc - Sooty Shearwater research


UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO
Te Whare Wananga o Otago

Dunedin, New Zealand

POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP IN ZOOLOGY DEPARTMENT

(SEABIRD POPULATION ECOLOGY)


Applications are invited for a two-year postdoctoral position in the
Department of
Zoology. This post is available from 1 October 1996 and the successful
applicant is expected to take up duties as soon as possible after that =
date
(latest possible start date 15 November 1996). The post will be assured
for 2 years, but the overall "Titi Research Project" in which the
Post-doctoral Fellow will work is projected to last 10 years. Extension =
of
the appointment beyond two years will be subject to satisfactory
performance and continued funding for the position.

The person appointed will contribute to the Titi research project which =
is
funded by New Zealand's Foundation for Research Science & Technology. =
This
project involves measuring and monitoring the harvests of Sooty =
Shearwaters
(Puffinus griseus - Procellariiformes) by Maori on islands off the
southern coast of Stewart Island. Maori call this bird "Titi", but it =
is
colloquially known as the "Muttonbird" and the traditional harvest as
"Muttonbirding". The Post-doctoral Fellow will also be expected to
establish titi monitoring sites on the sub-antarctic Snares Island and =
on
Whenua Hou (Codfish Island). Although the primary role of the
Post-doctoral Fellow will be to help design, conduct, analyse and =
publish
the results of the research, she or he will also help in supervision of
graduate research students involved in the Titi research project =
(currently
3 PhD students and 2 Postgraduate Diploma in Wildlife Management =
students).
The research itself will involve an extensive adult and chick banding =
and
release programme, regular monitoring of breeding burrows using a
"burrowscope", and mark & recapture analyses leading to development of a
mathematical model to estimate the impact of harvests on population
abundance. Study of diet from stomach contents of harvested chicks =
will
also be important. A more detailed job description is appended below.

The overall aims of the Titi Research Project are to estimate the
sustainability or otherwise of the titi harvests, to record the =
Traditional
Environmental Knowledge of the Titi harvesters, and to compare the
philosophy and approach of Maori Kaitiakitanga (environmental =
stewardship)
and those from eurocentric conservation philosophies and ecological
science. It is envisaged that the post-doctoral fellow will concentrate
mainly on the population ecology end of this continuum.

Candidates must have a good record of published research in the area of
population ecology and will be expected to assist publishing of of the =
Titi
research.

Salary: Lecturers NZ$40500 per annum.

Further information is available from Dr Henrik Moller, Principal
Investigator for the Titi Research Project (Phone: 64-3-479 7991 work;
64-3-4730024 home; Fax: 64-3-479 7584, e-mail:
henrik.moller at stonebow.otago.ac.nz).

Applicants should send a copy of their curriculum vitae together with
the names, addresses and fax numbers of two referees, to The Director,
Personnel Services, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand
(fax 64-3-4741607; Email to corryl.harper at stonebow.otago.ac.nz) by 20
September 1996. Email transmissions of applications and CVs would be
welcomed. Please if at all possible supply the Email address of your
referees so that we can expedite the selection process. Applications
should be endorsed with the vacancy reference A96/71.

Equal opportunity in employment is University policy.

E tautoko ana Te Whare Wananga o Otago i te kaupapa whakaorite whiwhinga =
mahi.



JOB DESCRIPTION

A post-doctoral fellow is needed to be site supervisor at the field work
areas. This is necessary because the season is prolonged and areas are =
in
remote places (necessitating field parties of 2 or more at a time for
operational safety reasons), there are 12 different sites involved (so =
one
person can not cover them all in the one season for both field work and
supervision), and field workers and ecology students (with relatively
little scientific research experience) will from time to time be
contributing to the research programme. A skilled scientist who has
observed the data collection throughout the season is needed to aid
interpretation and data analysis. Dr Moller will visit the sites at the
outset of each season and whenever new methods or experimental designs =
are
being established, oversee the entire programme, direct the analysis and
interpretation, and participate in field work as much as possible. Both =
Dr
Moller and the post-doctoral fellow are directed overall by the kaitiaki
for the study and harvest (The Rakiura Titi Islands Committee).

The successful applicant would be expected to demonstrate a knowledge of
and/or experience with working with Indigenous Peoples, and an
understanding of the principles contained within the Treaty of Waitangi.

Duties:

* meet with and receive direction from the kaitiaki (Maori
environmental guardians) at regular intervals

* meet with and receive direction from Dr Moller at regular =
intervals

* interact with the titi harvesters and direct the field teams =
while
living on the Rakiura Titi Islands between March and late June each year

* select non-treatment monitoring sites on the Snares islands

* map and tag burrows, establish quadrats, inspect burrows with
burrowscope, repair burrowscope if it fails

* band and measure birds

* oversee data collection and collation of data bases and data =
entry
and checking

* ensure and supervise operational safety of the field teams

* help statistically analyse and interpret research data prepare
scientific papers on the results

* help prepare popular articles for Titi Times about the research

* help advise any student research topics involved in this study

* complete band return records for the Banding Office (as required =
by
the banding permit)

Demonstrated relevant experience and skills required include:

* ability to interact easily and productively with people

* ability to work in remote and rugged field conditions

* first aid and safety skills

* ability to swim

* knowledge of the principles of population ecology

* experience with harvest models an advantage but not essential

* competency in use of computers, statistical analysis and
interpretation, and scientific writing

* work with Maori (or Indigenous Peoples) an advantage but not =
essential


FURTHER INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES


1. General

The University is situated in the City of Dunedin, the main =
centre
of the Province of Otago. With a population of around 100,000, Dunedin =
is a
lively university city with strong artistic, cultural and sporting
traditions. It boasts excellent art galleries, museums, theatres,
restaurants and gardens. Most newcomers find house prices pleasingly =
low.
The city is situated on the shores of the Otago Harbour and its =
immediate
environment includes large inlets, sandy bays and rocky shores with
abundant wildlife, including seals, the world's rarest penguin and an
albatross colony within a few kilometres. Just a few hours away are
glaciers, fiords, mountains and lakes, with all the recreational =
facilities
that these places offer.


2. The Department of Zoology

The Department of Zoology has been expanding steadily since 1988
with the appointment of an additional nine academic staff and further
administrative and technical staff. The atmosphere is lively, friendly =
and
supportive and all in the department are committed to excellence in both
teaching and research.

The department offers programmes leading to the undergraduate
degrees of BSc (3 years) and BSc Honours (4 years) in Zoology.

The department has two full Professors, Professor Colin Townsend (Head =
of
Department) and Professor Carolyn Burns, 12 Senior Lecturers, 7 =
Lecturers,
4 Teaching Fellows and 4 Postdoctoral researchers.

Non-academic staff include three secretarial and administrative staff =
and
19 research and technical staff, five of whom are concerned primarily =
with
teaching laboratory duties. The duties of other technicians include
management of a mechanical and electronic workshop, photographic
dark-rooms, histology suite, radio-isotope laboratory, chemistry
laboratory, computer facilities and assistance with research.



3. Duties

The successful candidate will ultimately be responsible to the Head of
Department,
Professor Colin Townsend, but her/his prime research duties will be
directed by Dr Henrik Moller, Principal Investigator for the Titi =
Research
Project . The successful candidate will be expected to help design and
execute research demanded by the research contract to the Foundation for
Research Science & Technology. Nevertheless the project is in its =
infancy
and there is likely to be considerable scope for the Post-doctoral =
Fellow
to initiate new research initiatives or adjust current priorities by =
mutual
agreement with the Principal Investigator.


4. Equal employment opportunities

The department is committed to diversity in staffing and we encourage
applications from women and other under-represented groups. The =
University
operates childcare centres covering the period birth-eight years. We are
prepared to discuss job-splitting and flexibility of working hours =