Does the work we do interest you? Here’s how we might be able to collaborate…

Internship

Applications are invited for a fully-funded 6-12 month research internship at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Panama, starting 1 October 2026.

The intern will join the O’Dea Lab , where we use modern and fossil fish otoliths (ear stones) to reconstruct how tropical fish communities have changed across centuries and millennia.

The intern will be embedded in an active international research team working across both Pacific and Caribbean tropical American systems.

Day-to-day work will include picking and curating fossil specimens, microscopy, imaging, morphometric analysis, and data collection and management. There will be opportunities to learn fish taxonomy, participate in fieldwork and fish dissections, engage in data analysis with full support. 

For the right candidate, the internship can extend into stable isotope and growth-ring analyses, with the possibility of contributing to published papers.

We are looking for someone broadly curious about ecology and paleoecology, comfortable with careful and laborious laboratory work, and ready to commit full-time to the project. Enthusiasm matters more than a specific background.

Airfare and stipend are covered, and the position is open to applicants from any country. 

To apply, please complete this form

Deadline: 9am, Monday 6 July 2026.

For further information, contact Aaron O’Dea (odeaa@si.edu).

Lab Manager position

Applications for Laboratory Manager will be accepted effectively. More information and application form.

Location of position: Naos Marine Laboratories, Panama City, Panamá.

Type of position: Indefinite

Opening Date: June 18, 2026 (the application review period will begin on July 2)

Who May Apply: Panamanian citizens, non-nationals with valid work permit, and non-nationals with the ability to secure valid work permit.

Any questions, please reach out to me at odeaa@si.edu

STRI opportunities for research fellowships and internships

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.

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. There is also the Bridge to Science Internship program with annual openings https://stri.si.edu/academic-programs/internships