Field Course Peru: Genomics in the Jungle

In order to apply for the programme, you need to be at least 18 years old and have sufficient English skills. Furthermore, you should be physically fit – therefore, we need a doctor’s certificate about your state of health and your vaccination record. Moreover, you need to be interested in nature, species conservation, and conservation genetics. It is a plus if you have experience with various genetic laboratory techniques and/or familiarity with DNA barcoding. We expect you to be eager to acquire new knowledge and willing to adapt to your surroundings. You must be open-minded, flexible and a team player. You might need a visa for your journey, depending on the duration of your stay. You should check the foreign department’s website for visa standards or ask the Natucate team directly. Last but not least, you must make sure to have valid travel health insurance before departing to Peru.

Before your departure, we will support you during your preparation and help you choose reliable travel insurance. We will also help you arrange the flights and visa application. Transportation within the programme, as well as the transfer from and to the airport, are also included. Furthermore, your accommodation and food during the programme will be provided. Your accommodation is equipped with sanitary facilities, and you will be provided mosquito nets, pillows/blankets, bedsheets, towels, and safe drinking water. You will have access to electricity (in the evenings) and Wi-Fi. You can always contact us during your stay if you have questions or if there are problems. Moreover, you will be instructed and taught by experienced staff members that you can also talk to at any time.

Our partner organisation does not, under any circumstances, administer medication to programme participants. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that you come with a small, personal first aid kit including but not limited to the following:

• a full course of broad-spectrum antibiotics (ciprofloxacin is recommended)
• anti-diarrheal medication, antacids, rehydration salts and immodium
• antifungal cream and antihistamine cream or pills
• hydrogen peroxide
• plasters, tweezers and thermometer
• at least 2 COVID-19 self-tests

It is advised to be vaccinated against diphtheria, morbilli, mumps and rubella (MMR), and hepatitis A and B. It is required to be vaccinated against typhoid, tetanus, COVID-19 (and boosters), and yellow fever. Please also talk to your doctor about malaria, chigger-related diseases and leishmaniasis, as there is a certain risk for Peru travellers. For current information and warnings regarding your destination, you should check out the homepage of the foreign department. Pages like the CDC also provide more detailed information and advice. Last but not least, you must get travel health insurance before departing to Peru.

You will be spending a lot of time outside – that’s why you should consider packing light, comfortable clothing which can get dirty and, most importantly: dries fast. As you will spend lots of time in the jungle each day, you will need a backpack, water bottle, a wristwatch with timer, insect repellent and binoculars. Furthermore, we advise you to pack a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, a notebook, biodegradable toiletries, and maybe also a pocketknife. You should pack a rain jacket in natural colours, a sturdy pair of rubber boots and some comfortable shoes for the station. Long-sleeved shirts and long pants are the most practical everyday clothes to best protect you from thorns and mosquitos. We suggest packing a laptop, cell phone, an additional quick-dry towel and zip-lock bags to keep your belongings dry. Keep in mind that it can be quite cold sometimes, so be sure to bring some warm clothing (sweatshirt, warm socks, gloves) as well. Since you have to wash your clothes yourself, you should also take some biodegradable detergent with you. Before your departure, you should also get a personal first-aid-kit (as detailed in the previous answer).

This project is offered only once a year, for precisely two weeks.

We will support you during the planning process before your departure to Peru. Nevertheless, you will have to book your flight(s) to Puerto Maldonado International Airport yourself. You must arrive at the exact date that the course begins. Once you arrive, you will be picked up and taken directly to your field station or to a hostel in Puerto Maldonado, where you will stay the first night, depending on the course. After the night at the hostel, you will take a cab to Laberinto. From there, you will go on a boat trip upstream on the Madre de Dios River until you reach the research station. The entire journey from Puerto Maldonado to the field station takes around 7 hours.

In the jungle, you must always pay attention and be aware of possible risks. The group leaders know what to do and when you need to be extra cautious. In general, you don’t have to worry too much. Dangerous or poisonous animals don’t often come too close to humans and generally only react aggressively when attacked. It is still crucial that you listen to instructions and follow the rules.

This course takes place in the classroom, laboratory and out in the forest. Expect a mix of hands-on data sampling, laboratory sequencing analysis and stimulating lectures around topics such as regional biodiversity, DNA barcoding techniques, survey methods, wildlife forensics, wildlife conservation, and introduction to genomics and bioinformatics, among many others. You will be learning how to collect trace DNA, iDNA and eDNA samples from the environment to detect particular species. You will assist biologists and geneticists through the entire process of sample collection, DNA extraction, amplification and sequencing and finally, species identification.

The field course programme is limited to twelve participants.

You will stay at the research station, located in the Amazonian rainforest in Peru. Before and after the course, you might spend one night at a hostel in Puerto. Everything will be explained in the arrival package you will receive after registering for the course. You will sleep in shared dormitories/rooms and use shared bathrooms.

The station has a dining area, classrooms, a laboratory and a library.

You will be provided with three balanced meals daily. You will dine together with the other participants in the stations’ dining area. Usually, there will be a lot of rice, fresh fruits and vegetables, but it depends on the season. Throughout the day, you can always get additional snacks like cookies and crackers as well as coffee, tea or hot chocolate, or bring your own ones if you want to. In case you need to spend one night in Puerto Maldonado before/after the course (as part of the programme), you will receive breakfast in the hostel; but you need to organise all other meals during that time in Puerto Maldonado.

The food is balanced enough to be able to follow a vegetarian diet, and you will generally be offered tofu and soy meat substitutes. A vegan or gluten-free diet is not easy, but it is possible. Please inform us beforehand of any diet you request.

You will be working with a team of international researchers and volunteers. Therefore, English is the primary language spoken on-site.

During the field course programmes, you won’t have much leisure time as each day will be used extensively both for field work and classroom/lab work. However, you usually have some free time in the afternoon or evening.

You can use your leisure time to connect with other participants or relax and recharge your batteries. We recommend taking some books, card/board games or other small recreational items with you. The station also has a library.

There will always be a supervisor on-site who will help you in case of problems and answer your questions. You can also contact the team at Natucate 24/7.

There won’t be a lot of expenses for you during the project, since food, accommodation and transport are taken care of. You might need extra money for meals, transfers, trips before/after the project, additional snacks and beverages or souvenirs. The currency is the Peruvian Sol (Nuevo Sol). You can exchange and withdraw cash easily at the airport. You can also find ATMs in most cities. You should make sure you can withdraw money with your bank card in foreign countries before coming to Peru, and maybe also consider bringing a second for more security. For emergencies, we advise you to take about 200 Soles with you.

In most of the research station, there will be (slow/limited) internet available. Since the internet relies on a satellite connection and lousy weather equals a bad signal as well as limited charge to the solar panels. You can occasionally use your cell phone or laptop to connect with family and friends. Internet doesn’t work all the time and is relatively slow – that’s why you might want to get a Peruvian prepaid card. The mobile network we recommend is called "Claro".

The weather in the Peruvian jungle is usually quite lovely and warm, with temperatures between 12-24 °C, depending on the course site. Between May and July, you might experience cold weather fronts called friajes. During that time, temperatures might drop to 8-12 °C. Pack something warm, especially for the night, since the buildings are only made of wood.

Yes, it is prohibited to consume alcohol during the programme.

After successfully completing the course, you will receive a certificate of participation. You will also receive a personalised report with your final grade and commentary on your course performance. This report may be helpful for future academic or professional applications. Sometimes your university will give you credit for the programme – you should reach out to your university and ask for information.