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Employment in Antarctica
Opportunity Categories:
Opportunities
to work in Antarctica fall into the following categories:
Support
Worker:
This category is what most people are interested
in and qualified for. Because of the far flung and difficult environment
of Antarctica, the program has many people in support roles. These
people operate stations, laboratories, machinery, helicopters, and research
ships, build or renovate facilities, maintain vehicles, outfit field parties,
and manage camps. Many trades and levels of skill are involved.
See: Complete
Listing of Support Worker Positions
Contractors
to the Foundation hire individuals and award subcontracts for performance
of support tasks. Click
here for a list of Contractors.
Scientists:
Eligibility generally is limited to U.S. Scientists with advanced degrees,
who initiate proposals that are submitted by their employing organizations.
Graduate students are not encouraged to submit research proposals, but
are welcome as members of research teams.
Scientists
Assistant:
The scientist who submits a successful proposal typically is authorized
to assemble a research team to help implement his or her project in the
field. Preference is given to graduate and undergraduate students in the
pertinent scientific discipline.
Active
or Reserve Duty Military:
The New York Air National Guard operates LC-130 (ski-equipped) airplanes
in the Antarctic Program. The Coast Guard operates icebreakers in Antarctica
to escort supply ships and to support science. Employment with these organizations
generally is limited to active duty and reserve service personnel. Direct
inquiries to an Air Force recruiter or the Coast Guard, Department of
Transportation, Washington, DC 20590.
Artist
or Writer:
To enable interpretation and presentation of the Nation's Antarctic heritage,
the Foundation's Antarctic Artists & Writers Program considers requests
from particularly well qualified writers, historians, artists, and other
scholars in the liberal arts to work in Antarctica. This is a limited
opportunity that provides field support but no direct award of funds.
The successful candidate will be well-established and working full-time
in the appropriate field and will have a means of presenting his or her
work to the public. Ask the Polar Information Program (703-292-8031 or
dfriscic@nsf.gov) for USAP Information
Series No. 31, Antarctic Artists & Writers Program.
Public
information representative:
Each year the Foundation endeavors to host in Antarctica a small number
of members of the press and radio or television crews to observe and report
on U.S. activities. Selection is based on ability to understand and present
scientific subjects, written commitment from employing organization, and
expected size of audience. For information on applications for participation
during the 2002-2003 field season, please read the OLPA media advisory.
Contact: Media and Public Information Section (703-292-8070 or pwest@nsf.gov),
NSF.
Excluded
categories:
Because some types of activities are not considered to contribute to the
U.S. mission for Antarctica, NSF will not consider or approve applications
for participation in the program in these categories: private expeditions
by mountain climbers or adventurers, visits to promote commercial products,
photography (except as in one of the above categories), "space-available"
passage on support aircraft flights, and sightseeing or other superficial
visits. The support organizations are also bound by this National policy.
The Government does not provide support to private expeditions, but does
not discourage citizens from participating in such expeditions if they
are self-sufficient and meet environmental standards.
Persons selected
to work in the Antarctic must pass strict physical and dental examinations
whose standards are specified by USAP. Prospective winterers must pass
a psychological examination as well.
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