Research Assistants

The adaptive nature of culture. A cross-cultural analysis of the returns of Local Environmental Knowledge in three indigenous societies

Duration of contract: January 2012- July 2013

Researchers debate the role of culture in shaping human adaptive strategy. Some researchers suggest that the behavioural adaptations that explain the success of our species are partially cultural, i.e., cumulative and transmitted by social learning. Others find that cultural knowledge has often resulted in maladaptive practices, loss of technologies, and societies' collapse. Despite the importance of the debate, we lack empirical and comparative research on the mechanisms through which culture might shape human adaptation. Researchers working on this project will collect data to test a pathway through which cultural knowledge might enhance human adaptive strategy: the individual returns to culturally evolved and environment-specific knowledge. To carry out the study, two candidates are needed to serve as research assistant.

Responsibilities: Research assistant would work closely from personal of the Environmental Sciences and Technology Institute at UAB (http://icta.uab.cat/formacion/doctorat.jsp) who will be collecting data for the project and preparing it for analysis. Research assistant would help in the collection of panel data in a foraging society the Penan (Borneo), mostly by serving as translator. Data collection would include administering surveys on local ecological knowledge, household economics, food consumption, and use of natural resources. Data would be collected during an 18-month period of field work.

Profile: The ideal candidate needs to be fluent in English and Indonesian, be registered as a PhD student in a local university and have a strong background in the social or natural sciences, including courses in statistics and research methods. Candidates should also be comfortable with the idea of living in tropical rain forests (e.g., heat, mosquitoes, monotonous diet) and tolerance for bouts of medical problems common in tropical conditions (e.g., parasites). Candidates should also show interest to learn from other cultures. Previous field experience would be highly valued. Research assistant would be encouraged to pursue their own research plans and collect data for their dissertation.

Contract terms: Research assistants will be hired full time during 18 consecutive month (net monthly salary about 500$). Medical insurance and expenses while in the field associated with the project (i.e., transport) will also be paid for. Field work is scheduled to begin in January 2012.

To apply:

Interested people should contact Victoria Reyes-García (victoria.reyes@uab.cat) by April 15, 2011 to receive full consideration. The application should include a letter of interest, a current cv, and a list of 2-3 professors familiar with the student that might write letters of recommendations (letters will only be asked for short-listed candidates).

This project is funded by a Starting Grant of the European Research Council