[Taxacom] job announcement: for a GIS/data base technicial assistant in Chilean Patagonia----------We are also looking for interns

[Vreni Häussermann]

>
> The employer is the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso (
> www.pucv.cl), but the work will be carried out at Huinay Scientific Field
> Station within a 3-year project we earned, called “*A rapid assessment
> project for mid-scale biogeographic pattern analysis for the development of
> a MPA network plan in the Chilean Patagonian Fjord Region and action for its
> implementation*”.
>
>
>
> The Huinay Foundation is a private Foundation that is operating a
> scientific field station in Chilean Patagonia. Huinay Scientific Field
> Station was inaugurated in 2001 and is situated 100 km south of Puerto
> Montt, in the fjord Comau; it is the only scientific station in a Chilean
> fjord. The surroundings are characterized by steep mountains and volcanoes.
> Almost 6000 mm annual precipitation gives rise to extremely lush vegetation
> characterized by extra-tropical rain forests.
>
> The small village Huinay with its approx. 25 inhabitants can only be
> accessed by a 1-1.5 hour boat-trip (speed boat) from Hornopiren. Most
> infrastructure - except some small shops and a rural hospital in Hornopiren
> - is located in Puerto Montt, a 3 to 4 h drive or bus trip from Hornopiren.
>
> Knowledge on organisms and ecological functioning of the fjord ecosystems
> is very poor in Chilean Patagonia especially in the marine environment. The
> goal of the station is-besides carrying out some own projects- to attract
> national and international projects which help to fill the existing gaps.
>
> To accomplish this, the field station has basic infrastructure: a dry and a
> wet laboratory, diving and lodging facilities (8 rooms for up to 16
> scientists/assistants/interns).
>
>
>
> Projects involve all kinds of terrestrial and marine base-line research but
> main focus is on the marine environment and counseling for the establishment
> of a network of marine protected areas. In this context we are mainly
> promoting inventory studies of the fjord ecosystems and we generally
> organize one expedition to remote areas of the fjord region each year.
>
> We recently finished a major project, a scientific field guide for marine
> benthic fauna of Chilean Patagonia (see www.PatagoniaMarina.info).
>
>
>
> We have telephone and internet access via satellite and power supply by a
> hydroelectric plant. We have two permanent technical-scientific assistants,
> this job is an additional assistant within the mentioned project. The
> assistants are supervised and report to two biologists in charge of the
> scientific operation who are approximately a third of the time on the
> station, but can be contacted practically at any time. Besides these two
> scientists (the scientific director and a research coordinator) the
> permanent staff consists of the two scientific-technical assistants, an
> administrator, his wife (and assistant), a replacement of the administrator,
> two boat captains, 1-2 persons in charge for cooking and cleaning, and
> approx. 3 auxiliary administrative workers. We try to have 1-2 interns at
> any time at the station who help the scientific-technical assistants.
> Scientists can visit throughout the year, but mostly come between December
> and April (in the last years we had approx. 15 groups with a total of 40-50
> scientists yearly)
>
>
>
> We are looking for an *GIS/data base technicial assistant* for 3 years,
> beginning in March, 2011.
>
> *Key abilities:*
>
> -        GIS and data base experience
>
> -        fluent English
>
> -        good Spanish knowledge
>
>
>
> In addition he/she should:
>
> -        be an open, communicative, easy-going and nature-loving person
> who has no problems or rather enjoys to live in an isolated and rainy place
> (surrounded by lush forests) and be able to adapt to new situations
>
> -        be self motivating and able to deal with difficulties of living
> in a small remote place with few people
>
> -        be organized and have organisatorial skills
>
> -        have a general scientific, biological (taxonomical) and
> ecological background or interest (ideally knowledge of or at least interest
> in invertebrates).
>
> -        be flexible, patient and should be able to improvise (experience
> in developing countries or better in South America is of advantage)
>
>
>
> -Experience in using MARXAN would be very welcome. System administrative
> skills (hard ware installation and network configuration) are of big
> advantage.
>
> -
>
> The technicial assistant will be in charge of database work and GIS mapping
> (adding older and newly sampled data mainly on species locations, in a
> database), be able to run or willing to learn how to run a MARXAN analysis
> (a MARXAN training workshop will be held next August) with the aim to
> propose a network of marine protected areas. He/she will also participate in
> the development of a travelling exhibition on marine biodiversity which will
> be developed and presented within the project; training and supervising
> interns (who can help adding data) etc. He/she can and should work quite
> independent, but follow the guidelines given by the scientific
> director/managing scientist and ask for feed-back when necessary.
>
>
>
> Besides the database work, the technicial assistant can assist the two
> technical-scientific assistants in their work. This way in average approx.
> half a day should be spent on database work (with more intense database
> phases after data collections), GIS and MARXAN work, and the rest in other
> tasks. Other tasks can, among others, involve all daily activities at the
> station including monthly sampling, lab and field work (also diving if the
> applicant has >200 dives, experience with dry-suit diving in cold water, and
> own equipment), caring of diving and lab equipment and aquaria, and taking
> care of visiting scientists.
>
>
>
> *Project summary:*
>
> Fast economic development and in particular salmon farming have
> considerable impact on the marine environment in the Chilean fjord region.
> Extreme deficiencies in our understanding of the marine ecosystems even on
> the most basic taxonomic and biogeographic levels make sustainable
> development difficult. Irreparable large-scale management mistakes are
> highly probable. The creation of a network of MPAs provides the most
> realistic measure to prevent major ecosystem degradation. But to date there
> is only one marine reserve of considerable size and most MPA proposals have
> been made on the basis of political feasibility or personal preferences.
>
> Planned Project: With an innovative approach MARXAN will be used
> “reversely” to detect the most problematic data gaps by simulating
> improvement of data sets and evaluating their influence on the resulting
> patterns. The results will be used to selectively carry out biogeographic
> expeditions and studies on proxies.  In this context an innovative method
> for rapid and reliable benthic assessment will be applied. All data will be
> GIS geo-referenced and publicly-distributed. A MARZONE analysis will be used
> to identify priority sites for an MPA network in the Patagonian fjord
> region. Key information will be disseminated to, and discussed with decision
> makers, NGOs and the general public.
>
>
>
> *Goals:*
>
>    - Filling knowledge gaps that impeded establishment of MPAs or that
>    were used as arguments against the establishment of MPAs
>    - Increase awareness and appreciation of fjord biodiversity and the
>    importance of sustainable management, conservation and in particular MPAs
>    - Get MPAs to be an inherent part of spatial planning
>
> * *
>
> *Activities: *
>
>    - Compilation of existing data
>    - Data gap analysis through innovative approach
>    - Generation of identified key data
>    - Workshop on decision support tools in Chile
>    - Data analysis and identification of priority sites for a MPA network
>    - Communication of results to: Decision makers, NGOs, wider public,
>    stakeholders, spatial planning boards; presentation and publication of
>    results on topical meetings and in peer-review journals
>
> * *
>
> *Outcomes:*
>
>    - Improved understanding of marine biogeographic patterns in Chilean
>    Patagonia as basis for systematic conservation planning
>    - Data and material for improvement of existing ID-tools and data bases
>    - Raise of acceptance and application of decision support tools
>    - Creation of an optimized MPA network plan
>    - Increased awareness of decision makers and broad public of unique
>    Chilean fjord biodiversity values
>    - Increased acceptance of MPAs as a management tool among stakeholders
>    and local communities
>
>
>
> We offer:
>
> -        480.000 CLP/ month (1000 US$) for the first 6 months and 580.000
> CLP/month (1200 US$) from month 7 onward -10% tax -7% health insurance -3%
> retirement ensurance, the latter one can partially be reimbursed for
> foreigners when leaving the country (remark: general health insurance is
> pretty good in Chile and there is an additional health insurance for work
> related accidents and diseases)
>
> -        Free lodging and food on the station and free transport from and
> to Hornopiren on regular boat trips (there arise no expenses during the stay
> on the station). You can also take the ferry that runs twice a week for
> approx. 3 US$
>
> -        trip/flight back to the place of origin (if outside of Chile)
> after termination of the work contract (if you stay for the 3 years) –
> minimum would be one year
>
> -        4 days off for every 11 days of work (flexible handling is
> possible and necessary; but days off cannot be accumulated for more than 1
> month) and 15 days of vacation days (Monday through Friday) each year
>
> -        flexible handling of daily work hours
>
>
>
> You can find more information on the website http://www.huinay.cl
>
>
>
> We are looking forward to your applications consisting of a cover letter
> explaining your personal incentive to apply at Huinay Scientific Field
> Station, and why you think you are qualified for the job, and a CV (not
> longer than 4 pages). Applications that do not include the asked documents
> cannot be considered. Please already list 2-3 possible references, which
> will be necessary for applicants on the short list (these referees should
> know you personally and mainly describe your abilities to deal with
> difficult and unknown situations, rather than pure professional abilities);
> please do not send them now! Please send the application to
> v.haussermann(ad) <research at huinay.cl>gmail.com –
>
>  replace (ad) with @ in the e-mail addresses!
>
>
>
> It is necessary that the successful applicants apply for their work visas
> prior to arrival at the station. The successful applicant will be sent copy
> of the work contract which need to be signed and returned for confirmation
> by a legal representative in order for you to apply for a work visa. This
> process can take up to 8 weeks.
>
>
>
> *DEADLINE: until we found a qualified person, or 1.2.2011 *
>
> * *
>
> *INTERNS:*
>
> Interns help in all daily activities of the research assistants and do a
> mix of computer (e.g. literature and specimen databases), lab (aquaria,
> stereomicroscope work, assisting visiting scientists) and field/outside work
> (monthly sampling, giving guided tours to tourists)*. *Divers are welcome
> but you need to have > 50 dives and dry suit and cold-water experience, plus
> your own equipment. We are searching for interns starting February, for 6-8
> weeks.
>
>
>
-- 
!!NEW RELEASE!!  Marine Benthic Fauna of Chilean Patagonia - illustrated
identification guide
http://www.PatagoniaMarina.info

Dr. Vreni Häussermann
Director of the Huinay Scientific Field Station
Websites: http://vreni.anthozoa.info/homepagevreni/, www.anthozoa.com,
www.fjord-research.net
Field of work: taxonomy and biogeography of Chilean Anthozoa, especially sea
anemones
Present address: Casilla 1150, Puerto Montt
Phone: 0056-65-280368