Which visitor am I?
Visitor Categories
| Category | Affiliation | Description |
| A1 | STRI/SI Fellow | A formal academic appointment awarded by STRI Academic Programs to individuals conducting self-directed research with the support of a STRI Staff Scientist as a mentor. STRI/SI Fellows can include post-docs, pre-docs, recent graduates, and recipients of senior Latin American or Sabbatical Fellowships. If not funded by SI/STRI, fellows must have STRI as their principal affiliation and spend most of their fellowship at STRI. |
| A2 | STRI/SI Intern | A formal academic appointment awarded by STRI Academic Programs to individuals assigned to a specific project with defined educational and professional development goals. STRI/SI Interns are funded by a STRI Staff Scientist, through SI or STRI’s Competitive Internship Program, or other sources. All interns must be mentored by a STRI Staff Scientist, who will be responsible for their expenses. |
| A3 | STRI Volunteer | Non-paid scientific or administrative assistants appointed by STRI VSO. Volunteers can only be hosted by STRI permanent employees. |
| A4 | Special Agreements by the Director’s Office | Special appointment made by the Director’s Office under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). |
| B1 | Students and Postdocs who are not STRI/SI Fellows | Students with a valid university credential and Non-STRI/SI postdoctoral fellows who will use STRI facilities. Recent graduates are also eligible if their visit occurs within three months of the expiration of their university credential. |
| B2 | Researchers from Latin America (not Panama) or Developing Countries | Researchers (excluding students and non-STRI/SI Postdoc fellows) who are based at a University or Institution in Latin America or a developing country who will use STRI facilities.
NOTE: Determination is based on the workplace, not the individual’s citizenship. More information. |
| B3 | Other Researchers | Visitors who intend to use STRI facilities for research but are not students or non-STRI/SI postdoctoral fellows and are not based at a university or institution in Panama, Latin America, or any developing country. |
| C1 | Visitors who are not using STRI facilities | All visitors, whether a researcher, student, Panamanian, or Non-STRI/SI Postdoc fellow, whose only use of STRI resources includes permit requests or stays in the STRI dormitories. Access to all other STRI facilities or support resources is not included.
NOTE: Visitors in this category will not incur a facility fee. However, if support is required (e.g., logistical assistance, emergency response), the visitor will be invoiced to cover any associated expenses. |
| C2 | Collaborators | Collaborator status must be requested by a STRI Staff Scientist and approved by the Director’s Office. They will have limited access to STRI facilities, and no research services will be provided. |
| D | Panamanians | Panamanian citizens who will use STRI facilities but have no official STRI Affiliation as Fellows, Interns, Volunteers, Research Associates, or Collaborators.
NOTE: Permanent residents of Panama are not considered to be Panamanian citizens. |
| F | Friends and Family | Not applicable yet |
| G | Research Associates (RAs) | STRI Research Associates have a formal scholarly affiliation with the Smithsonian Institution. Appointments are made through a formal application process.
NOTE: Research Associates are not employees of the Smithsonian. See https://stri.si.edu/people/research-associates |
| E1 | STRI-sponsored Courses or Workshops | Academic activities directed, organized, or sponsored by a STRI Scientist or a permanent employee. |
| E2 | Non-STRI sponsored Courses or Workshops | Non-sponsored activities that use STRI facilities. |
| EX | Exploratory Visits | Not applicable yet |
| H1 | STRI-sponsored Film Crews | Film or media projects sponsored or organized by a STRI Staff Scientist or another permanent employee. |
| H2 | Non-sponsored Film Crews/Commercial Visitors | Film or media projects that use STRI facilities for commercial purposes. |
| SI | STRI/SI Employees | All STRI or SI employees; including Affiliate Staff Scientists. |
| X | Contractors | User providing services/goods through the Smithsonian's Office of Contracting and Personal Property Management (OCON&PPM) or the Procurement Department. |
