Research Fellow

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Fisher Center Research Fellow will work with personnel from Lincoln Park Zoo and Chimp Haven, Inc. as part of a new collaborative endeavor between these two institutions. The Research Fellow will be a full-time employee of Lincoln Park Zoo (Chicago, IL), but based at Chimp Haven (Keithville, LA), where they will study chimpanzee behavior, evaluate education programs, and assist with on-going research efforts run by Chimp Haven staff.

The Research Fellow will be responsible for collecting observational data on, and running non-invasive behavioral research with, the chimpanzees housed at Chimp Haven. Research responsibilities include participating in all aspects of the scientific method: designing studies, preparing protocols, collecting data, analyzing data, writing manuscripts for publication, and preparing oral or poster presentations for staff and conferences.

In conjunction with the Chimp Haven and Lincoln Park Zoo Education departments, the Research Fellow will also be responsible for evaluating educational programs for the public run on Chimp Haven open days. The candidate must be able to work cooperatively with others and must have a friendly and professional attitude and interact in a courteous manner with guests to Chimp Haven and the staff at both facilities.

Funds will be available for the Research Fellow to travel to Lincoln Park Zoo for regular in-person meetings as well as to attend relevant conferences to disseminate research findings. Fisher Center staff from Lincoln Park Zoo will also travel to Chimp Haven on a regular basis to meet with the Research Fellow, however day-to-day on-site supervision will be provided by Chimp Haven’s Director of Behavior, Research and Education, Amy Fultz.

This position is for three years, subject to review after one year, and will be filled as soon as possible. Salary will be commensurate with experience.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Ph.D. in psychology, anthropology, zoology, biology, animal behavior or related field is required. Also required is experience in the behavioral study of primates and experience with literature searches, data entry, summarizing and analyzing data, and writing. The candidate must have knowledge of analyses of behavioral data with statistical analyses packages (e.g., R, SPSS, Systat). They must have experience in, and be comfortable with, giving oral presentations (e.g., at conferences or for public engagement with science) and talking about their research to varied audiences including Zoo and Chimp Haven staff, members of the public, and fellow researchers.

It is preferred that the candidate has experience in the behavioral study of nonhuman primates, preferably chimpanzees and a minimum of two years’ experience collecting behavioral observations.

REQUIREMENTS:
Available to work all necessary hours, including some weekends and holidays. Available to travel to conferences and for regular meetings at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago.

APPLICATION DETAILS:
Applicants should include 1) a cover letter explicitly describing the fit with this position and a possible start date, 2) a curriculum vitae, 3) two letters of recommendation, 4) the Lincoln Park Zoo application for employment form.