Concept of ITEC field courses

All ITEC field courses are expected to follow the same format. Our courses are designed to provide an intense learning experiences to students interested in receiving direct field experience in a tropical setting. Summer Session field courses are four weeks in duration; Winter Session is three weeks. The first part of each course is spent conducting group projects or exercises designed to teach field techniques. During this period students develop proposals for their own independent projects. During the second part of each course, students gain valuable hands-on experience carrying out their own individual research project. The course culminates in a symposium at the end of the session where each student orally presents their research to the class. ITEC field courses are limited to maximum of 15 students. All ITEC field courses are presented at the Bocas del Toro Biological Station, Panama.

Type and Place and Period of Employment

All ITEC instructors are contract-based, short-term, full-time positions. All courses are presented at the Bocas del Toro Biological Station in Panama. Summer Sessions are set for the following periods: Session A, 15 May through 9 June; Session B, 15 June through 10 July, and Session C, 15 July through 9 August. Winter Session runs from 20 December through 9 January. Flexibility exists to meet needs of instructors as to when any particular course is presented.

Bocas del Toro Biological Station

Our field facility is located at the north end of Isla Colon (Boca del Drago), Bocas del Toro Province, Republic of Panama. The location of the field station is ideal with lowland rain forest behind the station and coral reefs in front. Infrastructure includes cabins and dormitories that house up to 50 persons, a dining facility, a well-equipped laboratory, extensive list of field equipment, a lecture hall, student computer room, and moderate library. ITEC also maintains a fleet of vehicles and boats for use in field courses.

Qualifications for Instructors

Instructors must have the Ph.D. in hand, an academic appointment, demonstrated teaching experience, and expertise in the specific area of study for which application is made. Preference will be given to those with previous experience teaching field courses.

Compensation

ITEC pays all international and national airfares, all meals and lodging while traveling, all meals and lodging while at the Bocas del Toro Biological Station, and all costs associated with local transportation while at the field station. Senior Faculty and Teaching Assistants also receive a remuneration commensurate with position and enrollment levels. ITEC provides up to two TAs for full course of 15 students. Please contact ITEC for specifics.

Instructors needed for the following courses:

Tropical Plant Ecology An instructor is sought for this four-week Summer Session field course. The instructor will be responsible for designing and executing a college-level field course in plant ecology that emphasizes field research techniques as applied to a tropical lowland rain forest environment. Several distinct ecosystems are available at the field station including lowland rain forest, swamp forest, Raphia-Symphonia swamps, mangrove forests, marshes and beach-side flora. Students will also have the opportunity to compare these ecosystems to Pacific-versant seasonal forest and high elevation cloud forest. Competitive candidates for this position should have ecological research interests, but individuals with a focus in plant physiology, systematics or plant-animal interactions are also encouraged to apply.

Neotropical Ornithology An instructor is sought for this four-week Summer Session field course. The instructor will be responsible for designing and executing a college-level field course in bird ecology that emphasizes field research techniques as applied to a tropical lowland rain forest environment. Opportunities for bird study are excellent at the Bocas del Toro Biological Station. In addition to the usual avifauna one would expect in the region (parrots, raptors, toucans, trogans, tanagers, hummingbirds, antbirds, etc.), there are unusually high densities of golden-collared manakins and three-wattled bellbirds. Pelagic sea birds (brown boobies, frigatebirds, red-billed tropicbirds) are also present and a sea bird breeding colony is located 20 minutes from the field station. Competitive candidates for this position should have ecological research interests, but individuals with a focus on bird behavior or systematics are also encouraged to apply.

Primate Ecology Instructors are needed for a three-week Winter Session and a four-week Summer Session field course. The instructor will be responsible for designing and executing a college-level field course in primate ecology (primatology) that emphasizes field research techniques as applied to a tropical lowland rain forest environment. The Bocas del Toro biological station represents an ideal site for primate study and education. Four species of non-human primates are found at or near the field station, including white-faced capuchins, howling monkeys, night monkeys and spider monkeys. Capuchins and howlers are particularly abundant, are habituated to observers, and easily followed along our trail system. Competitive candidates for these positions will have an ecological research background, but individuals with a focus on behavior, evolution or conservation are also encouraged to apply.

Coral Reef Ecology Instructors are needed for a three-week Winter Session and a four-week Summer Session field course. The instructor will be responsible for designing and executing a college-level field course in coral reef ecology that emphasizes field research techniques as applied to a tropical marine environments. The Bocas del Toro biological station represents an ideal site for marine study and education. Both hard and soft coral reefs abound in the archipelago and there are sea-grass beds and a hard reef directly in front and within wading distance of the field station. A dive boat and some dive equipment are available to the course; students are expected to bring their own equipment. Competitive candidates for these positions will have a background in coral reef ecology, but individuals with a focus on broader aspects of marine biology, animal behavior, or conservation are also encouraged to apply.

ITEC also invites all interested parties who may wish to present a course on another ecological, anthropological, or related life science topic. All applicants should provide the following materials:

1. Letter of Intent describing your interest in applying for one of the teaching positions
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. One Letter of Recommendation

Research Coordinators

The Community Service and Education Program strives to teach conservation ethics to the local community especially with regards to protecting sea turtles, rain forests and other natural resources. This is effected through education programs directed at local and regional schools and via ITEC-sponsored events such as beach and waterfront cleanups, refuse barrel painting and distribution, etc. Working in this program involves a lot of classroom contact with kids as well as travel to remote Indian schools throughout the region.

Another option that many students chose is to enroll in an ITEC ecology course and then stay afterwards to volunteer for one of the programs. In this way you not only to learn a great deal about any area of tropical ecology you chose including how to design and execute an original field research project, but you also become familiar with the station, region and local culture. This will better prepare you for your internship and also provides the opportunity to participate in several different programs during the summer.

Economic Support

ITEC does not have a scholarship program for interns and ITEC internships are unpaid positions. ITEC will provide room and board and all local transportation during your internship, but you have to travel to the station under your own resources. If you are interested in any of these internships, please send your CV (résumé) and application materials to the address below. Applications can be obtained easiest from the ITEC website (see below). If this is not possible for you, please provide a regular mailing address and we will send you applications.