Marine Scientist
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Marine Scientist POSITION:
The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) invites qualified applicants for a Marine Scientist position. We are seeking candidates to establish an independent research program in the areas listed below.
STRI is headquartered in the Republic of Panamá, with marine laboratories accessing two oceans and research stations throughout the country. Our flagship marine facility on the Pacific, Naos Island, is currently undergoing a $25 million facility revitalization which will offer state-of-the-art laboratories and resources to facilitate marine research in the tropics. Access to a core multiuser molecular facility, biogeochemistry lab, and high-performance computing facilities are available. The successful candidate will join a vibrant scientific community of 29 scientific staff, and an international cohort of over 1200 visiting scholars, fellows, and interns annually, fostering collaboration and innovation.
Research emphasis could include marine ecology, evolution, physiology, molecular biology, conservation biology, coastal processes, nearshore oceanography, global change biology or biogeochemistry, with a preference for researchers with interest in tropical, nearshore ecosystems with a strong field-based component to their research. Candidates whose research spans multiple disciplines are welcomed. The successful candidate will have outstanding opportunitiesto develop an independent research program, form global collaborations, mentor post-doctoral fellows, graduate students and interns from an international community and collaborate with programs and colleagues at STRI and throughout the Smithsonian.
The position is a full-time, permanent, federally funded position, with 10-15% of time devoted to student engagement and instruction in STRI’s field-based courses.
Applicants must have a Ph.D. in marine science or related field, and show evidence of outstanding research potential, including publication record and extramural funding.
The position is based in Panama and will be hired at the grade 13 OPM 2024 Pay Table (https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2024/general-schedule/). Early-career candidates are encouraged to apply. The selected candidate will receive allowances and differentials according to Department of State Standard Regulations (DSSR) and unique specific policies. Laboratory set-up and relocation expenses are negotiable, and direct support for research is provided on an annual basis based on budget availability.
Interested candidates should submit the following to strisearch@si.edu: cover letter, curriculum vitae, statement of research accomplishments and interests, statement of teaching experience, PDFs of three significant publications. These materials should be submitted as a single PDF file labeled LastName_FirstName.pdf. Applicants should also request letters from three references to be sent to strisearch@si.edu.
Review of applications will begin on 31 January 2026 and will remain open until the position is filled. For more information, please visit: www.stri.si.edu.
Additional queries can be made to search committee chair, Dr. Mark Torchin, torchinm@si.edu
The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To review The Smithsonian's EEO program information, please click the following: https://www.si.edu/oeo
For more information on the position or STRI, please see our webpage: http://www.stri.si.edu/