I welcome thoughtful inquiries from prospective postdocs, interns, and graduate students interested in joining the lab.
General inquiries can be directed to mullerh@si.edu or mullerlandaulab@gmail.com
Applications currently open for the research manager position! See below for more info.
Technical positions
Research manager. Seeking a detail-oriented individual with strong quantitative, organizational, and communications skills to support tropical forest research in Panama. Responsibilities include processing of drone-collected imagery using photogrammetry software and Python scripts, conducting reproducible data QA/QC using R, preparing data forms for data collection with ArcGIS FieldMaps or QMaps, producing data publications and reports, assisting and training lab members in completing tasks in R and Python, managing budgets and purchasing, maintaining the lab web page, assisting with recruiting and appointing or hiring new lab members, and handling various lab organizational tasks. The position is based in Gamboa, Panama with initial funding through 2028. The ideal candidate will have excellent attention to detail, experience in data processing and QA/QC, excellent technical coding skills (especially R, Python), experience with GIS software, strong oral and written English communication skills, Spanish communication skills, and demonstrated ability to work in a team. Full job posting at https://stri-sites.si.edu/recruiter/users/jobs.php?id=466. For further information, contact Helene Muller-Landau, mullerh@si.edu; informal inquiries are welcome.
Postdocs
Smithsonian funding
Potential sources of Smithsonian funding for additional postdocs in the lab are the competitively awarded Smithsonian postdoctoral fellowships, including the GEO-TREES postdoctoral fellowship program (deadline 21 January 2026), STRI’s 3-year Coates and Tupper postdoctoral fellowships (deadline June 15), the standard 1-year Smithsonian postdoctoral fellowships (deadline October 15), which can be extended to two years by a Secretary’s Distinguished Research Fellowship, and others. These fellowships are intended to support postdoctoral scholars working on projects of their own design, projects described in the fellowship proposals. Prospective applicants need to identify a Smithsonian staff scientist who could serve as an advisor (and potentially one or more coadvisors as well), and are encouraged to contact those scientists well in advance of the deadlines to discuss their interests and receive feedback on their ideas. I welcome such inquiries.
Non-Smithsonian funding
A variety of other fellowships can also support postdocs at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, with eligibility often specific to the citizenship of the applicant. For example, for US citizens, options include the NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology, Ford Foundation fellowships, Fullbright fellowships for research and teaching, and Simons Postdoctoral Fellowships in Plant Biology. European researchers can apply for Marie Curie global postdoctoral fellowships. For researchers who obtained their PhDs in the Netherlands, there are the Rubcion fellowships for up to 2 years of postdoctoral support. Many countries have similar programs to competitively fund international postdoctoral fellowships for their top young scientists. I welcome inquiries from prospective postdocs who have identified potential funding sources and are interested in discussing possible research projects.
Interns
Several of the current research projects in my lab provide opportunities for interns to contribute: quantifying landscape-level variation in tropical forest structure, function, and composition and their change over time, automated species classification of tropical plants, evaluating the climate sensitivity of tropical tree growth, and GEOTREES terrestrial laser scanning. Internships typically extend for 9-12 months, with flexible start dates. All interns have the opportunity to gain experience in tropical forest field data collection, data management and data cleaning using R and GitHub, statistical analyses and figure preparation using the R programming language, reviewing scientific literature, scientific discussions in English, working in a team with lab members and collaborators from diverse backgrounds, preparation of scientific presentations, preparation of data publications, and the scholarly publishing process. The ideal candidates have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, strong quantitative skills including programming experience, strong English oral and written communication skills, at least basic Spanish oral communication skills, and the ability and motivation to lead or co-lead a scholarly publication.
The positions are particularly well suited for candidates seeking more research experience prior to graduate school. Each internship is compensated with a modest stipend sufficient to cover living expenses in Panama (US$1250/month), as well as roundtrip travel to Panama in the case of non-Panamanian candidates. Higher stipends are possible in the case of exceptional candidates that have higher financial need due to student loans, health care needs, or family obligations.
To apply, email your curriculum vitae, a cover letter in English succinctly describing your qualifications and why you are interested in this internship, a scientific writing sample (e.g., undergraduate thesis, term paper, lab report; this can be in English or Spanish), a commented sample of code you have written (preferably in R or Python), and an unofficial copy of your undergraduate transcript to mullerlandaulab@gmail.com. Relevant standardized or national test scores (e.g., GRE, SAT, ACT for US students, A-levels for UK students, etc.) will also be considered if submitted. Applications are considered on a rolling basis
Graduate students
The Smithsonian Institution is not a degree-granting institution. However, STRI hosts many graduate students based at universities around the world who come to Panama to do their field research, and STRI fellowships provide funding to many of these students. STRI scientists often co-advise these graduate students, and may serve on dissertation committees. I welcome inquiries from graduate students with related research interests.
Quantitative Forest Ecology 