Bioluminescent Mushroom Researcher in Brazil

IPBio is looking for a long-term volunteer/s (minimum 3 month stay but preferably 6 months) to assist in our bioluminescent mushroom program.

About IPBio: The Biodiversity Research Institute (IPBio) is a place where research meets conservation. IPBio is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that develops and supports projects in environmental education and scientific research on biodiversity, ecology as well as on the behavior of species of fauna and flora of Brazilian ecosystems.

Read the volunteer package: https://cutt.ly/IPBioAtlanticPack42

Watch our Volunteer Videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/obbioadm/playlists

Role and Context: There are approximately 105 known species of bioluminescent mushrooms in the world, and Iporanga is home to 26 of them, making it the region with the highest concentration of bioluminescent mushrooms globally. In 2010, IPBio partnered with Professor Cassius Stevani from the University of São Paulo (USP)—the highest-ranked university in Brazil. Professor Stevani is a renowned chemist specializing in bioluminescence and even led the BBC Planet Earth II team in filming the segment on bioluminescent mushrooms. At his lab, he focuses on the chemistry and molecular biology of bioluminescence, while IPBio serves as the field branch of his operations. IPBio’s work centers on discovering new species and conducting field ecology research, collecting samples that are then sent to the USP laboratory. While IPBio maintains a low-tech field lab, we are equipped with essential tools such as an autoclave and a laminar flow chamber to support our research activities. Beyond leading efforts to identify new species of bioluminescent fungi, IPBio also aims to develop a protocol for cultivating these mushrooms under controlled laboratory conditions. Our cultivation program experiments with substrate compositions, sterilization methods, inoculation techniques, and fruiting procedures to optimize growth. Our goals are both scientific and socio-economic. We aim to establish a Museum of Bioluminescence, which will require the ability to cultivate mushrooms year-round, as they naturally appear only in hot and humid seasons. Such an initiative would not only advance scientific understanding but also promote eco-friendly job opportunities in tourism—offering sustainable alternatives to environmentally harmful practices like hunting or deforestation. In addition to maintaining a culture bank, conducting species discovery, and advancing the cultivation project, IPBio also pursues several other lines of research to further our understanding of Brazil’s incredible biodiversity. Generally, all mushroom research assistants will participate in the research above, but you may also be placed into another existing line of research as well. There are sometimes multiple mushroom assistants so you might not be able to pick the one you most like if its already taken. Moreover, some projects are related to other non-bioluminescent groups of fungi such as lichen, cordyceps, general mushrooms and/or more.

Life at IPBio:

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.

Accomodation and Living:

Volunteers will stay at the Darwin Guest House, situated on the reserve itself, which accommodates up to 12 people in 8 rooms. Two rooms are collective rooms and 6 rooms are single rooms. All rooms have air conditioning, closet space and electricity outlets. Individual rooms have a desk with a chair. The house has 3 bathrooms with hot showers, a washing machine and has a fully equipped kitchen where volunteers can cook. A cleaning lady provides basic cleaning services for public areas and will provide fresh bed linen once a week. However, it is also the volunteer’s responsibility to maintain and clean the house; we take this very seriously. Shops are located in the town of Iporanga 6km away from the reserve, which you can walk to or get a taxi, where there are various shops where you can by all the supplies you will need from groceries to toiletries. There is an organic small herb and vegetable patch volunteers can use in the gardens.

Requirements: You must speak either English or Portuguese at an intermediate level. You must be over 18.