Rare Opportunity: Join the Indian Army in Saving Endangered Species at BNHS – MSc Life Sciences Eligible

BNHS Life Sciences Research Job – Applications Invited

Job description for recruitment of Research Fellow

Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) is a leading research organization in India dedicated to the study of biodiversity, conservation, and environmental education. With a rich history spanning over 100 years, BNHS works towards the protection of India’s diverse flora and fauna through research, policy advocacy, and community engagement.

Position: Research Fellow

Number of positions: One (on a contract basis)

Project title: On a war footing: biodiversity monitoring & conservation with the Indian Army

Project Duration: 3 years (2022-2025)

Project funding: The Habitats Trust

Project Location: Union Territory of Ladakh, India

Project background:

India is one of the 17 megadiverse countries in the world, supporting 7.6% of mammals, 12.6% of birds, 6.2% of reptiles, 4.4% of amphibians and 11.7% of fishes and 6% of flowering plants. While protected areas, such as, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, have been the conventional conservation approach, increasingly a landscape-based participatory approach is being undertaken. This is mainly because wildlife including birds and plants, are not restricted to protected areas, but occur across larger landscapes sharing resources with humans.

India has international land and marine boundaries stretching for about 22,000 km2

with ten nations. These bordering areas, while are critical for our national security, also happen to be home to some of the most fascinating, rare and globally threatened wildlife, e.g., snow leopard, Tibetan argali, Ladakh urial, Tibetan antelope, black necked crane, brown bear, Great Indian Bustard, vultures, etc. While State/UT’s forest / wildlife departments are the main custodians of biodiversity, there is an urgent need to engage with and strengthen the other main stakeholder of our bordering regions, the Indian Army. With the largest standing army in the world, there is a huge opportunity for the Indian Army to contribute towards mitigating the nation’s and world’s ecological and environmental crises, such as, biodiversity extinction and declines, climate change and emerging threats, such as, increasing populations of feral dogs as a threat to humans and wildlife.

BNHS is partnering with the Indian Army through a long-term capacity building, biodiversity monitoring and conservation programme at the Central and State/UT levels. The main focus will be to support the army to enhance skills for monitoring and conservation of select endangered biodiversity. This will complement ongoing efforts of the Central and State/UT Governments to strengthen and achieve biodiversity conservation along our ecologically fragile international borders.

Project goal: Long-term biodiversity monitoring & conservation along India’s international
borders in partnership with the Indian Army

Project Objectives

1. Integrating a module on environment, biodiversity, and climate change in the army training memorandum
2. Reviving the eco-cells in each command of the Indian Army and Army Headquarters
3. Conducting regular awareness programs in priority Indian Army border outposts of Ladakh
4. Monitoring wildlife
5. Addressing issues related to free-ranging dogs and garbage
6. Addressing issues related to human-brown bear interactions

Qualifications

Essential Qualification:

• Post Graduate Degree in Life Science / Biology / Environmental Science / Wildlife Science / Zoology with a minimum of 60% marks in M.Sc.

Desirable Qualification:

• Post-M.Sc. one – three years of work experience in the field of wildlife ecology and human-wildlife interaction in the Indian Himalayan region
• Knowledge and applied skill in quantitative ecology (statistical analyses related to distribution assessment, population assessment, etc.), remote sensing, and GIS
• Experience in conducting training, outreach, and awareness programs with the local community and other stakeholders
• Proficiency in local languages (speaking, reading, and writing)
• Experience in writing technical reports and publications in peer-reviewed journals

How to Apply

1. Submit your resume highlighting educational qualification, work experience, publications, relevant awards/achievements.
2. Include a statement of purpose (SoP) of maximum 500 words, emphasizing your relevant skillset and how you can contribute to the project.
3. Include any peer-reviewed publications.
4. Email your resume, SoP, and publications as a single PDF file to [email protected] with a copy to [email protected]. Mention “Research Fellow recruitment, BNHS” as the subject.

Application deadline: 31st December 2023

Keywords: BNHS, Biology research, Life Sciences, Research Fellow, Biodiversity monitoring, Conservation, Indian Army. Please ensure you are subscribed to the Biotecnika Times Newsletter and our YouTube channel to be notified of the latest industry news. Follow us on social media like Twitter, Telegram, Facebook and Instagram. BNHS Life Sciences Research Job – Applications Invited.