Post-doctoral Fellowship

Evaluation of the control of ticks by Red-billed Oxpeckers on domesticated and wild stock

12 month position to start May 2014 with the possibility of renewal for a further 12 months.

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) have partnered to offer an exciting position. The position will fall under the School of Life Sciences (UKZN) and forms an integral part of the EWT’s Operation Oxpecker Project. The study area will be in the Limpopo province.

The position will investigate the following:

 *the efficacy of the Red-billed Oxpecker in the control of ticks on domesticated and wild animals

 *the prevalence of wound-feeding of Red-billed Oxpeckers on domesticated stock

 *the influence of dipping on the wound-feeding behaviour of Red-billed Oxpeckers

The candidate will be required to design and implement experiments to test the efficacy of Red-billed Oxpeckers in tick control.

Requirements:

A PhD (awarded in the last 5 years) in a relevant discipline. Candidates must be pro-active, enthusiastic, able to work independently as well as part of a dynamic team, interested in doing excellent research that will make a difference and contribute to the conservation of Red-billed Oxpeckers. They should also have their own transport and be willing to travel extensively, especially within the Limpopo province. Experience in conflict management and fluency in Afrikaans will be added advantages.

Value:

R150 000 p.a. (bursary). The candidate will have access to allocated field equipment and some travel and accommodation expenses will be provided by the Endangered Wildlife Trust.

Application procedure:

Please find attached a cover sheet to accompany each application. Applicants are required to highlight in their application how they see their skills being applied to the above-mentioned research areas and the types of questions they are interested in addressing. The application is to include a full CV (including publication record)

certified copies of ID, Drivers license and academic record, a letter of reference and an example publication.

Please send all documents to [email protected] with “Oxpecker Post-Doc” in the subject line.

For more information or to discuss details of the project, please contact:

Leigh Combrink, EWT

Operation Oxpecker Project Co-ordinator

email: [email protected] or cell: 081 476 9790

Prof. Colleen Downs, UKZN

School of Life Sciences

email: [email protected]

Applications close: 31 March 2014

Please note: The University of KwaZulu-Natal and the Endangered Wildlife Trust reserve the right not to fill this position.