Summer Job Opportunity, 2015: Field Technicians (3 positions) on Southampton Island,
Nunavut, Canada working on project entitled: ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF LESSER SNOW
GEESE AND CACKLING GEESE COMPETITION ON BREEDING ATLANTIC BRANT
Employer:
2 positions - University of Delaware, Dept. of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, Department of
Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, 531 S. College Ave, Rm 250 Townsend
Hall, Newark, DE 19716
1 position – Trent University, Biology Dept., Peterborough, Ontario, K9J 7B8
Salary: $1600 per month
Duration: 3 months: 1 May to 31 July 2015
Job Description:
Three technicians are needed from 1 May to the end of July (3 months) to act as members of a
four person crew on Southampton Island, Nunavut, Canada. The technicians will work as part of
a field crew in the second year of a graduate research project looking to assess the impact of
lesser snow geese and cackling geese competition on Atlantic brant. This study will provide
insight into the limitations expanding populations of snow geese and cackling geese may have on
Atlantic brant nesting success. The technicians will work as part of a team collecting data on the
interactions occurring between these goose species. Primary responsibilities of the technicians
will include: 1) Conducting behavioral observations/scans on designated plots containing nesting
pairs of brant/snow geese/cackling geese, 2) Nest searching for snow geese/cackling geese/brant
nests as well as monitoring behavior of brant nests by means of cameras, 3) Conducting
vegetation surveys to assess the degraded East Bay nesting habitat, 4) Any other project related
activities carried out to assess interspecific competition on the breeding grounds (set-up and
monitoring of fecal plots, water level monitoring, etc.) . The technicians are also expected to
assist with camp set-up and maintenance throughout the duration of the field season.
The field crew will live in a temporary and small field camp located on the East Bay region of
Southampton Island. This camp location is relatively barren in terms of site set-up. All gear will
be flown in along with the crew, and a camp will be made from scratch. Camp life will be rugged
and primitive, with varying weather. The crew will live in tents, with only one tent being utilized
for sleeping as part of bear safety protocol. The technicians will be given transportation from the
University of Delaware and Trent University, respectively, to the field location, as well as free
housing for the two positions in Delaware.
Qualifications:
Candidates must be ready and willing to live in a remote camp with no (excepting minimal
satellite phone) contact to outside sources for the duration of the field season and be capable of
working as part of a team. Experience handling and using firearms is a requirement (Remington
870’s are used for bear protection). Field crew members should expect potential interactions with
polar bears and should be prepared to follow polar bear safety protocol at all times. Applicants
should expect long hours and potentially long hikes through rugged terrain on any given day.
Applicants should also be prepared to work in cold, windy weather, as well as potentially warm,
buggy weather. Physical fitness is a requirement and any applicants should be capable of hiking
10-20 miles per day for the entirety of the field season. Preference will be given to those with
prior nest searching/behavioral scan experience. We are seeking at least one technician with 3 or
more years of remote northern (preferably arctic) experience.
Hiring Process:
To apply, email a letter of interest, resume, and contact information for 3 references. Please
combine all of the materials into one document (Word or PDF), and name the file with your last
name_first name (e.g., Smith_Adam.docx). Application review will begin immediately.
Contact:
Clark Nissley
can@udel.edu