Does the work we do interest you? Here’s how we might be able to collaborate…
STRI hosts a rich suite of programs to support fellows and interns. For up to date and complete information, see the general fellowship and general internship opportunities pages at STRI.
Current lab-specific opportunities
Three-month internship “Caribbean Time Machines: Documenting present-day reef life and its fossil record in Bocas del Toro”. To apply follow instructions for the “STRI General Internship Program” with details here: https://stri.si.edu/academic-programs/internships
Deadline 15 October, 2025. Applications after that time will not be reviewed.
Fellowships
If you would like to develop your own research project there are several opportunities you can pursue for funding at STRI depending on where you are in your career and what your goals are. Below are some of the main fellowships, but there are also specialised fellowships for research on deep sea fishes, animal behaviour, resilience and sustainability, genomics, also fellowships focussed on demographic groups such as senior Latin researchers. See the general fellowship opportunities page for up-to-date information.
Short term Fellowships
The Short Term Fellowship program at STRI supports young researchers to conduct a three month research project at STRI. The application has to be written by the fellow in collaboration with one main advisor and one or two co-advisors.
STRI’s short term fellowship program is open to all young researchers looking to kick-start their research ideas. Fellows can be undergraduate, enrolled in a PhD, or very recently secured their PhD.
Predoctoral fellowships
These fellowships offer solid support for students enrolled in a PhD program to develop a significant portion of their research program at STRI. See more here.
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS
We are always looking for postdoctoral researchers interested in conducting innovative and world-class research that aligns with our broad interests.
The Smithsonian and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute offers a variety of different fellowship opportunities for postdocs, including 1-2 year postdocs and the prestigious three-year Coates and Tupper fellowships. If you are interested in collaborating through a postdoctoral fellowship, please contact the lab to discuss opportunities.
Internships
Apart from the opportunity above, the lab is at full capacity until October 2026.
Internship opportunities in other labs at STRI are often posted on STRI’s internship Bulletin Board.
O'Dea Lab 