Which visitor am I?
Visitor Categories
| Category | Affiliation | Description |
| A1 | STRI/SI Fellow | A formal academic appointment awarded to individuals who are conducting self-directed, mentor-supported research. Must be mentored by an STRI Staff Scientist. Fellows include Post-docs, Predocs, recent graduates, and those who have received a senior Latin American or Sabbatical Fellowship. If not funded by SI/STRI funds, a Fellow must have STRI as their principal affiliation and spend the majority of their fellowship at STRI. |
| A2 | STRI/SI Intern | A formal academic appointment awarded to individuals assigned to a specific project that has clearly defined educational and professional development goals. Interns are funded directly by a STRI Staff Scientist, through SI or STRI's Competitive Internship Program, or other funding sources. Must be mentored by an STRI Staff Scientist, who will be responsible for your expenses. |
| A3 | STRI Volunteer | Non-paid scientific or administrative assistants participating in the STRI/SI Volunteer Program. NOTE: 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, using STRI Facilities. Recent graduates can also be included in this category if their visit arrival date occurs within 3 months after the expiration of their university credential. Non-STRI/SI Postdoc fellows using STRI Facilities must submit a valid fellowship award letter. |
| B2 | Researchers from Latin America (not Panama) or Developing Countries | Researchers (Not a Student or Non-STRI/SI Postdoc fellows) based at a University/Institution in Latin America or a developing country who will use STRI Facilities. NOTE: Determination is made based on the workplace, not the individual’s citizenship. More information. |
| B3 | Other Researchers | Researchers using STRI Facilities (Not a Student or Non STRI/SI Postdoc fellows). Not from a University/Institution in Panama, Latin America, or a developing country. |
| C1 | Visitors who are not using STRI facilities | Any visitor, whether a researcher, student, Panamanian, or Non-STRI/SI Postdoc fellow, who requests a Scientific Permit through STRI but does not need to use STRI Facilities, including STRI Dorms. NOTE: No facility fee will be charged. However, if support is needed (e.g. logistical, emergency), the visitor will be invoiced to reimburse expenses incurred. |
| C2 | Collaborators | Visitors under this category will have limited access to STRI facilities but no services will be provided for research. |
| D | Panamanians | Panamanian citizens using STRI facilities with no official STRI Affiliation as Fellows, Interns, Volunteers, Research Associates, or Collaborators. NOTE: Permanent residents of Panama are not Panamanian citizens. |
| F | Friends and Family | |
| G | Research Associates (RAs) | 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 | |
| H1 | STRI-sponsored Film Crews | Film projects sponsored or organized by a STRI Scientist or a permanent employee. |
| H2 | Non-sponsored Film Crews/Commercial Visitors | Film 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. |
