Review

IPBio is looking for a long-term volunteer who would focus on searching for new species of bioluminescent mushrooms; photographing them and finding the conditions that allows us to cultivate them in the lab.

Full description

The position entails active searching during both day and night, photographing mushrooms in the forest and at the research center, filming the development process, and testing various substrate compositions, temperatures and other factors that are conducive to the development of the mushrooms in the lab. Bioluminescent mushrooms are only abundant during the summer when the humid conditions are favorable to their development. IPBio wishes to develop a protocol which allows us to grow them in the lab under controlled conditions so they are readily available all year long. This would allow: researchers to study them over longer periods; students on school trips to visualize the mushrooms during their winter trips (when they do not grow naturally) and potentially have an impact on tourism in Iporanga through initiatives such as the development of a “Museum of Bioluminescence”.

Who do you need?

Language skills

English

Additional information

I. You must be over 18 years of age II. You must be able to speak either English or Portuguese at a high level III. Your minimum stay must be 2 weeks

What to do

Additional information

Volunteers work from 9am to 4pm during week days with an hour lunch break. Our town is called the Cave Capital of Brazil so volunteers often visit our state parks to explore the caves. Hike into the dense forest and visits to waterfalls are also common activities. Bouy cross, big balloons, are used to drift down the rivers, some of the river route are 3 hours long! After work volunteers can swim on the reserve deck, organize dinners, watch movies, read and go wildlife watching. On the weekend we often have a barbeque or organize dinner at a restaurant. Often there are social events or parties in the community that volunteers can go to. For more information, read our volunteer package on: http://ipbio.org.br/wp-content/uploads/Volunteer-Package-IPBio-Celine-FINAL17-final.pdf

Conditions

More information about conditions

Volunteers at IPBio are required to pay 550 reais per week (Jan 2018 Exchange Rate = 170 US dollars a week). Volunteers are expected to pay in reais and therefore the exchange rate above is only an approximation. This fee covers the volunteer’s accommodation, internet access and project costs.

Additional conditions

Additional information