OVERVIEW
Whether you are an undergrad who has never set foot in a tropical forest — or a postdoc who has logged hundreds of research dives on coral reefs — there is probably an opportunity for you to advance your academic career in tropical sciences at the Smithsonian in Panama. Every year STRI hosts more than 800 young scholars as students in field courses, interns in staff scientist labs, or fellows investigating their own research questions. Together they form one of the largest and most diverse community of early-career academics anywhere in the tropics.
Options by Academic Level
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS OFFICE
STRI’s Academic Programs office handles applications for fellowships and internships, helps match internship applicants to staff scientists, and facilitates field courses from visiting universities.
Owen McMillan
DEAN OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
On top of running a genetics lab that focuses on speciation in a large genus of tropical butterflies, Owen oversees the Office of Academic Programs. He charts STRI’s long-term vision for internships and fellowships and is an accessible advisor for young scholars, especially in the fields of genetics and evolution.
Adriana Bilgray
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS MANAGER
Adriana is the go-to contact for visiting interns and fellows. She handles administrative issues related to their stays and has an indispensable wealth of knowledge related to thousands of STRI alumni who have participated in STRI’s academic programs over the years.
Paola Gomez
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS COORDINATOR
Paola coordinates internships and STRI-operated initiatives, such as the Research Experiences for Undergraduates program. She is a communications liaison for the promotion of STRI’s academic community and often joins students in the field to help them get the most out of their transformative experiences at the Smithsonian in Panama.
