Positions & News
MULTIPLE FIELD ASSISTANT POSITIONS, STUDYING CAPUCHIN MONKEYS IN COSTA RICA
Field Assistants
Posted Apr 14
We are recruiting several field assistants for the Capuchins at Taboga Project, a long-term project in Costa Rica on the behavior, cognition, communication, endocrinology, and conservation of wild white-faced capuchins (Cebus imitator). All research is conducted at a field station located in the Taboga Forest Reserve in the Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica. Directors of the project are Drs. Thore Bergman and Jacinta Beehner (University of Michigan), and Dr. Marcela Benítez (Emory University).
We are currently looking for research assistants willing to conduct daily behavioral observations in the field in addition to specializing in one of several areas (e.g., cognition, hormones).
The cognition field assistant will have a strong interest and some training in comparative cognition, neuroscience, and/or cognitive studies on animals. In this position, you will get field experience in primate behavioral ecology while conducting experiments on platforms set up throughout the forest. You will be responsible for setting up, monitoring, and taking down interactive experimental apparatuses (e.g., reward valuation boxes, touchscreens), maintaining the equipment, updating the study design and protocols, coding and analyzing videos, maintaining data logs, and overseeing all aspects of data collection. A high comfort level with computers and some programming is preferred.
The hormone field assistant will have interest and some training in hormone mechanisms and biological sampling. In this position, you will get field experience in primate behavioral ecology while collecting biological samples for later hormone extraction and analysis. You will receive training in hormone extraction and assay that are conducted in our on-site field laboratory. You will be responsible for maintaining the laboratory, conducting hormone extractions and enzyme immunoassays.
Qualified applicants will have:
COVID Precautions: You must have a Covid-19 vaccination (and be boosted) to be part of this project. When in the forest, assistants must wear a mask and stay at least 6 m away from the monkeys to avoid transmission of human-borne diseases.
Funding and Compensation: This is a volunteer position, with no formal salary, but we take care of all expenses related to the job (your round trip flight, food, transport, and lodging), and we offer an extra monthly stipend of $200 (over and above food and toiletries). We additionally provide $400 each 6 months for a trip to renew your visa. The project will provide emergency travel health insurance (including evacuation insurance), but the assistant needs to have their own basic healthcare plan. The assistant will be responsible for covering expenses during vacations (3 weeks of vacation time per year) and visa trips (if expenses go beyond the $400 we provide). Costa Rica does not require specific vaccinations to enter the country, but the assistant will be responsible for securing any recommended vaccinations they wish to have. The volunteer will need to provide their own backpack, field clothing, and footwear. We will provide snake gaiters (lower leg coverings), binoculars, and other field gear needed to collect data. We can also offer advice about what items are necessary for living a comfortable daily life in a tropical dry forest.
The project is committed to including assistants as authors on scientific publications and presentations made possible by their contributions in the field. We are committed to creating a safe, inclusive environment at this research site. We encourage applications from members of groups underrepresented in field sciences, including members of visible minorities, racialized groups, and LGBTQ+ communities. We also encourage applications from nationals of primate habitat countries, including Costa Ricans.
Appointment: A one-year commitment is preferred, and longer-term appointments are also possible after the year is up. We are looking for assistants who can start their appointment on or around June 1, 2026 (there is some flexibility here). Applicants who decide to remain for longer than one year, will receive one round-trip flight to their home country for a break in between appointments.
Deadline: Please get your application materials to the email below by May 10th, 2026.
Application: Please email the following materials to Dr. Jacinta Beehner at ([email protected]). The subject heading of the email message should read: “Application for Costa Rican field position”.
We are currently looking for research assistants willing to conduct daily behavioral observations in the field in addition to specializing in one of several areas (e.g., cognition, hormones).
The cognition field assistant will have a strong interest and some training in comparative cognition, neuroscience, and/or cognitive studies on animals. In this position, you will get field experience in primate behavioral ecology while conducting experiments on platforms set up throughout the forest. You will be responsible for setting up, monitoring, and taking down interactive experimental apparatuses (e.g., reward valuation boxes, touchscreens), maintaining the equipment, updating the study design and protocols, coding and analyzing videos, maintaining data logs, and overseeing all aspects of data collection. A high comfort level with computers and some programming is preferred.
The hormone field assistant will have interest and some training in hormone mechanisms and biological sampling. In this position, you will get field experience in primate behavioral ecology while collecting biological samples for later hormone extraction and analysis. You will receive training in hormone extraction and assay that are conducted in our on-site field laboratory. You will be responsible for maintaining the laboratory, conducting hormone extractions and enzyme immunoassays.
Qualified applicants will have:
- A bachelor’s degree in Biology, Zoology, Neuroscience, Biological Anthropology, Psychology, Computer Science or another relevant field.
- High proficiency in English, with additional conversational/fluent Spanish a plus.
- The ability to wake up extremely early (4:30 am), work full days (~ 8 hours) outdoors in hot, humid conditions, with mosquitos, on sometimes steep terrain, and through sometimes brushy forest.
- Flexibility to live and work closely with others.
- Motivation to self-train and learn skills needed.
COVID Precautions: You must have a Covid-19 vaccination (and be boosted) to be part of this project. When in the forest, assistants must wear a mask and stay at least 6 m away from the monkeys to avoid transmission of human-borne diseases.
Funding and Compensation: This is a volunteer position, with no formal salary, but we take care of all expenses related to the job (your round trip flight, food, transport, and lodging), and we offer an extra monthly stipend of $200 (over and above food and toiletries). We additionally provide $400 each 6 months for a trip to renew your visa. The project will provide emergency travel health insurance (including evacuation insurance), but the assistant needs to have their own basic healthcare plan. The assistant will be responsible for covering expenses during vacations (3 weeks of vacation time per year) and visa trips (if expenses go beyond the $400 we provide). Costa Rica does not require specific vaccinations to enter the country, but the assistant will be responsible for securing any recommended vaccinations they wish to have. The volunteer will need to provide their own backpack, field clothing, and footwear. We will provide snake gaiters (lower leg coverings), binoculars, and other field gear needed to collect data. We can also offer advice about what items are necessary for living a comfortable daily life in a tropical dry forest.
The project is committed to including assistants as authors on scientific publications and presentations made possible by their contributions in the field. We are committed to creating a safe, inclusive environment at this research site. We encourage applications from members of groups underrepresented in field sciences, including members of visible minorities, racialized groups, and LGBTQ+ communities. We also encourage applications from nationals of primate habitat countries, including Costa Ricans.
Appointment: A one-year commitment is preferred, and longer-term appointments are also possible after the year is up. We are looking for assistants who can start their appointment on or around June 1, 2026 (there is some flexibility here). Applicants who decide to remain for longer than one year, will receive one round-trip flight to their home country for a break in between appointments.
Deadline: Please get your application materials to the email below by May 10th, 2026.
Application: Please email the following materials to Dr. Jacinta Beehner at ([email protected]). The subject heading of the email message should read: “Application for Costa Rican field position”.
- A letter stating your qualifications for this position, whether you speak Spanish (and your level), how the position fits with your interests and future career goals, when you would be available to come, and whether you can make a one-year commitment.
- A CV or resumé detailing relevant experience.
- An unofficial transcript of college courses taken and the grades received.
- Contact information for at least two references, preferably at least one academic reference as well as one person who has worked closely with you or who has closely supervised your work. No need to send letters at this time. We will request letters if you make it to the second stage in this process.
