Volunteer Opportunities
SEEKING: VOLUNTEER RESEARCH ASSISTANT based in Monterey, CA.
For a 6 month commitment, with possibility to transition into a paid project administration position by 2016.
The project goal: to study ecological solutions for a human parasitic disease in Sub-Saharan Africa
Project details: Schistosomiasis is a debilitating parasitic infection with more than 220 million people affected in the developing world, especially where dams and water projects have greatly expanded freshwater habitat for snails, the parasite's intermediate hosts. Traditional interventions for the control of this disease have relied on repeated drug treatments, which invariably end up in reinfection, as parasite reservoirs remain undisturbed in the aquatic environment. Controlling snail populations offers a logical means towards eliminating the disease, but few environmentally-safe and effective snail control options exist. Our project, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada Foundation, and NSF investigates the viability and cost-effectiveness of a novel biological control approach to reduce or eliminate human schistosomiasis, based on the reintroduction of native crustacean predators (prawns) of snails in small aquaculture facilities. This method might offer a win-win solution by a) amplifying the positive effect of traditional drug treatments, b) possibly eradicating the disease from some areas, and c) offering a source of protein and marketable goods for local villages.
The volunteer will work closely with the project leaders to assist with all aspects of the project and act as liaison among the USA and Senegal components of the research. Extended travel to Senegal (>1-2 months per trip), West Africa will be required and travel costs fully covered. Work in Monterey and Senegal may include: database management, communications, fieldwork, report writing, assisting with publications, and administration/logistics.
For a 6 month commitment, with possibility to transition into a paid project administration position by 2016.
The project goal: to study ecological solutions for a human parasitic disease in Sub-Saharan Africa
Project details: Schistosomiasis is a debilitating parasitic infection with more than 220 million people affected in the developing world, especially where dams and water projects have greatly expanded freshwater habitat for snails, the parasite's intermediate hosts. Traditional interventions for the control of this disease have relied on repeated drug treatments, which invariably end up in reinfection, as parasite reservoirs remain undisturbed in the aquatic environment. Controlling snail populations offers a logical means towards eliminating the disease, but few environmentally-safe and effective snail control options exist. Our project, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada Foundation, and NSF investigates the viability and cost-effectiveness of a novel biological control approach to reduce or eliminate human schistosomiasis, based on the reintroduction of native crustacean predators (prawns) of snails in small aquaculture facilities. This method might offer a win-win solution by a) amplifying the positive effect of traditional drug treatments, b) possibly eradicating the disease from some areas, and c) offering a source of protein and marketable goods for local villages.
The volunteer will work closely with the project leaders to assist with all aspects of the project and act as liaison among the USA and Senegal components of the research. Extended travel to Senegal (>1-2 months per trip), West Africa will be required and travel costs fully covered. Work in Monterey and Senegal may include: database management, communications, fieldwork, report writing, assisting with publications, and administration/logistics.
Job opportunities
An interdisciplinary research opportunity for 4-6 month Project Scientist to study ecological solutions for a human parasitic disease in Sub-Saharan Africa - Summer 2016
An international Research Group, with 3 of 5 PI’s based at UCSB, and collaborators at Stanford University, UC Davis, Kentucky State University, and at a non-profit organization in Senegal have funds, from a recently awarded NSF-CNH grant, to conduct an investigation into the viability and cost-effectiveness of a novel biological control approach to reduce or eliminate human schistosomiasis. Based on the reintroduction of native crustacean predators (prawns) of snails in small aquaculture facilities, results of preliminary field studies, laboratory experiments and modeling projections show how this method might offer a win-win solution by a) amplifying the positive effect of traditional drug treatments, b) possibly eradicating the disease from some areas, and c) offering a source of protein and marketable goods for local villages.
The Project Scientist's role will be highly interdisciplinary, at the interface between human geography, ecology, rural development, and public health, but will primarily focus on interview-based social science research to ask: (1) can environmental re-introduction of native prawns using aquaculture offer sustainable control of schistosomiasis? (2) what are the key social-ecological feedbacks in this system? and (3) what are the relevant circumstances (or barriers) under which entrepreneurs are likely to adopt (or not) prawn aquaculture for disease control?
The selected candidate will help design qualitative research questionnaires and organize survey implementation in Senegal with local and US team collaborators during 4 months in the field, beginning summer 2016. The project has funds to cover salary/stipend and travel expenditures for field work. Qualitative data surveys will focus on questions about household resource use, livelihoods, health, and food security.
The outcomes of the project are likely to lead to improved public health strategies for control and elimination of schistosomiasis in Sub-Saharan Africa, and advances in the fields of ecology, epidemiology, human-environment geography, economics, aquaculture science, and parasite modeling.
Required qualifications:
1. Study and/or research experience in a relevant discipline such as human ecology, geography, social science, biology, aquatic ecology, epidemiology, or public health
2. Fluency in the French language
3. Experience with interview-based research techniques
4. Interest in ecological solutions for improving human public health
5. Experience working internationally, preferably in third world country settings
Desired qualifications:
6. A demonstrated publication record in scientific journals (a plus)
7. Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills
While applications will be solicited yearly for this seasonal position, prior experience in the project in subsequent years will be considered a plus. Subsequent years funding will also be used to assist with survey data analysis.
Pay rate commensurate with experience.
If interested please send a CV and cover letter outlining specific skills and experience in the 5 required qualifications, especially French language proficiency to Cheryl Butner cc David Lopez-Carr.
Thank you and I hope to hear from you soon.
Dr. David Lopez-Carr
Professor, Department of Geography
University of California Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA 93106
http://geog.ucsb.edu/~carr
An international Research Group, with 3 of 5 PI’s based at UCSB, and collaborators at Stanford University, UC Davis, Kentucky State University, and at a non-profit organization in Senegal have funds, from a recently awarded NSF-CNH grant, to conduct an investigation into the viability and cost-effectiveness of a novel biological control approach to reduce or eliminate human schistosomiasis. Based on the reintroduction of native crustacean predators (prawns) of snails in small aquaculture facilities, results of preliminary field studies, laboratory experiments and modeling projections show how this method might offer a win-win solution by a) amplifying the positive effect of traditional drug treatments, b) possibly eradicating the disease from some areas, and c) offering a source of protein and marketable goods for local villages.
The Project Scientist's role will be highly interdisciplinary, at the interface between human geography, ecology, rural development, and public health, but will primarily focus on interview-based social science research to ask: (1) can environmental re-introduction of native prawns using aquaculture offer sustainable control of schistosomiasis? (2) what are the key social-ecological feedbacks in this system? and (3) what are the relevant circumstances (or barriers) under which entrepreneurs are likely to adopt (or not) prawn aquaculture for disease control?
The selected candidate will help design qualitative research questionnaires and organize survey implementation in Senegal with local and US team collaborators during 4 months in the field, beginning summer 2016. The project has funds to cover salary/stipend and travel expenditures for field work. Qualitative data surveys will focus on questions about household resource use, livelihoods, health, and food security.
The outcomes of the project are likely to lead to improved public health strategies for control and elimination of schistosomiasis in Sub-Saharan Africa, and advances in the fields of ecology, epidemiology, human-environment geography, economics, aquaculture science, and parasite modeling.
Required qualifications:
1. Study and/or research experience in a relevant discipline such as human ecology, geography, social science, biology, aquatic ecology, epidemiology, or public health
2. Fluency in the French language
3. Experience with interview-based research techniques
4. Interest in ecological solutions for improving human public health
5. Experience working internationally, preferably in third world country settings
Desired qualifications:
6. A demonstrated publication record in scientific journals (a plus)
7. Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills
While applications will be solicited yearly for this seasonal position, prior experience in the project in subsequent years will be considered a plus. Subsequent years funding will also be used to assist with survey data analysis.
Pay rate commensurate with experience.
If interested please send a CV and cover letter outlining specific skills and experience in the 5 required qualifications, especially French language proficiency to Cheryl Butner cc David Lopez-Carr.
Thank you and I hope to hear from you soon.
Dr. David Lopez-Carr
Professor, Department of Geography
University of California Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA 93106
http://geog.ucsb.edu/~carr
