Job Opportunity: CSC-P Research Assistant – Spring 2013

Position Description

Dr. Joshua Fisher is seeking a student research assistant to support a new initiative aimed at improving forest management and reducing social conflict in the Peruvian Amazon. The Conflict-Sensitive Conservation in Peru (CSC-P) project is working with conservation organizations in Peru to examine the drivers of social conflict in and around forest concessions in the Amazon and identify opportunities for designing forest management strategies that mitigate conflict. The CSC-P project is also working with partner organizations to develop strategies to improve working relationships between forest managers and affected stakeholders including indigenous groups, local communities, and extractive industries.

Duties

The research assistant will support the CSC-P project by liaising with program officers from partner organizations to collect baseline data on current conservation concession management strategies; current socio-economic conditions in traditional Amazonian communities; and livelihoods programs in the project area. The research assistant will also assist with translation, transcription, interpretation, and report preparation.

Minimum Qualifications

• Knowledge of/experience working in one or more of the following areas:
  • Conservation and livelihoods programming
  • Conflict resolution methods and techniques
  • Natural resource management
  • Indigenous rights issues in Peru
• Experience conducting interviews with program officers and field staff to
• collect data
• Excellent quantitative data management skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Task-oriented, with ability to work independently as well as on a team
• Experience translating and Spanish-English and English-Spanish interpreting
• Fluency in Spanish (written and verbal) is required
• Must be enrolled as either half-time or full-time Columbia student

Compensation

Hourly rate will be commensurate with experience, and is subject to Columbia University guidelines

Time Requirements

10-15 hours/week; ideal start date in early January

Application

Qualified candidates should submit a letter of interest and a CV in English and Spanish via email to: jf2788@columbia.edu