[meetyeti] JRF Position at RAMBLE, Banni

From: Abi Tamim Vanak <avanak@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <meetyeti@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 13:05:35 +0530
JRF Position Available: Research and Monitoring in the Banni LandscapE
(RAMBLE) (www.bannigrassland.org <http://www.bannigrassland.org> )
 
We are looking for a JRF for a project investigating the structure and
dynamics of faunal and floral communities in the Banni grassland ecosystem,
Gujarat. The Banni, in western India, is Asia¹s largest tropical grassland
and home to a rich array of biodiversity. It is also a unique bio-cultural
landscape with a 450-year old history of pastoralism.  The Banni today faces
a host of challenges including an extreme and variable climate, and the
invasion of grasslands by Prosopis juliflora.
 
Understanding and predicting the response of the Banni Grasslands to
invasions and future changes in climate requires detailed data on spatial
and temporal patterns of abundance, distribution and diversity of taxa.  The
JRF will be responsible for coordinating and collecting data for long-term
monitoring programs for multiple taxa across the Banni landscape.  This will
include setting up and monitoring of vegetation plots, establishing
experiments to look at the effects of herbivory and Prosopis invasion on
plant and animal communities, and the monitoring of carnivore communities
using camera traps and track plots.  In addition, he/she will also be
responsible for liaising with multiple institutions and stakeholders
including the Forest Department, Banni Breeders Association, as well as
local communities. Finally, he/she will also be required to help with the
running of the newly established field station.
 
The work is part of a larger multi-institutional initiative investigating
the patterns and processes underlying complex ecological and social dynamics
in arid pastoral ecosystems. The project is jointly implemented by the
Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology & the Environment, Bangalore (ATREE),
National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore (NCBS-TIFR), Sahajeevan,
Bhuj & Ambedkar University, New Delhi.
 
The JRF will be expected to spend a considerable amount of time in the
field, often under trying logistical conditions.  Minimum qualifications
include:
1)  A Master¹s degree in the life sciences,

2)  Good plant identification skills, and basic statistical and data
management skills. GIS skills are desirable.

3)  Previous field experience desirable

4)  Ability to drive a 2-wheeler and 4-wheeler with valid driver¹s license

5)  Fluency in English and Hindi. Ability to converse in Gujarati/Kutchhi is
a definite plus.

Salary will be commensurate with experience. The position is initially for
one year, but renewable for an additional year. The JRF will be associated
with ATREE-Bangalore, but based at the RAMBLE field station in Hodka Banni,
near Bhuj, and will be required to travel periodically to Bangalore & New
Delhi to interact with the principal investigators of the project.
Interested candidates should send their CV and names and contacts of two
referees to banniresearch@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:avanak@xxxxxxxxx> .  We will
start reviewing applications on 30th March 2014 and continue until a
suitable candidate is found.

---------------------------------------------
Abi Tamim Vanak, Ph.D.
Fellow, National Environmental Sciences Program,
Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India
&
Fellow, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation
Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore
Tel: (91) 80 23635555 Ext 312
Fax: (91) 80 23530070
Email: avanak@xxxxxxxxx; abivanak@xxxxxxxxx
Web: http://www.atree.org/abi-tamim-vanak

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[meetyeti] JRF Position at RAMBLE, Banni

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