Anthropology Undergraduate Research Opportunity – Fall/Spring 2014

Need applied field method credits? Do you want to pick up some sociocultural research and analysis skills? Are you interested in ecological & environmental anthropology? Conservation? Traditional ecological knowledge? Sub-Saharan Africa? Community sustainability and resilience? Connections between health and the environment? Human response and adaptation to environmental change – including climate change? This research opportunity focuses on ecological and environmental anthropology; providing opportunities to explore the interdisciplinary nature of anthropological research.

The Shaffer Lab is looking for 2-3 undergraduate students interested in working on a research project investigating socio-ecological complexity in a savanna-forest socio-ecological system (SES) in southern Mozambique. We need assistance in processing and analyzing interview texts, fieldnotes, digital images and ecological survey data, including GPS points and botanical transects, that will be collected during the summer 2014 field season. Analysis of this ethnographic, visual, and ecological data will be used to build an emic model of the savanna-forest SES, explore local indicators of environmental change (including climate) and examine local perceptions of environmental risk and uncertainty, as well as socio-ecological sustainability. We are interested in individuals who are willing to work both Fall 2014 and Spring 2015 terms. An opportunity to conduct a small research project in Spring 2015 is possible depending on interest, skill level, and Fall 2014 independent study evaluation. Students will earn 3 credits for ANTH398A: Independent Study, satisfying Anthropology’s applied field methods requirement, while gaining valuable research analysis skills and practical experience working on a research team.

Students will learn how to code interview text and images for analysis and socio-ecological system modeling. Responsibilities include text coding, text analysis, image analysis, ecological survey data entry, and data management. Additional tasks may include short write ups of ongoing work for the public, literature reviews, GIS analysis (depending on skill level), and SES model building. Those selected should expect to work 10 hours per week (with some flexibility), and are required to meet as a team with Dr. Shaffer and Ms. Jordan Tompkins once a week to discuss ongoing work.

Applications are due by Wednesday, 9 April 2014, 5pm EST. Interviews will be scheduled for the week of 14-18 April 2014. Your application should include a resume, a transcript
(unofficial copies are acceptable), and a one page statement about your interests in ecological and environmental anthropology. Please send the requested materials in pdf form via email to lshaffe1@umd.edu with your last name and “Fall 2014 Internship” in the subject line.

Please contact Dr. Jen Shaffer (lshaffe1@umd.edu) or Ms. Jordan Tompkins (jonito@umd.edu) if you have further questions.