Research associates Phyllis D. Coley and Thomas A. Kursar focus their current studies on the macro-evolution of chemical defenses in the genus Inga.
The title of Research Associate is used to denote an individual’s formal scholarly affiliation with the Institution. However, Research Associates are not employees of the Smithsonian. A STRI Research Associate may be someone who has demonstrated the qualities of superior achievement expected of an established and independent research scientist.
These qualities of superior achievement include, among others:
- The capacity to identify significant and relevant research questions that are compatible with STRI' s Mission.
- The ability to formulate and carry out the research to answer these questions.
- The ability to exercise superior judgment and discrimination in the interpretation of research results.
- The motivation to present the results of this research for the judgment of others through lectures, publications and papers.
- The recognition of excellence in research through commonly used mechanisms such as citations and peer reviews.
Research Associates are expected to pursue independent research, although collaboration with other scientists is highly desirable. They are expected to take an active interest in the welfare of the Institution by participating in the preparation of research proposals, education programs, communication activities, committees and task forces, and by providing assistance and advice to their colleagues.
STRI Research Associates
| Name | Institutional Affiliation |
| Dr. George Angehr | Museum of Biodiversity, Panama |
| Dr. Mark S. Ashton | Yale University - School of Forestry & Environmental Studies |
| Dr. Jeffrey D. Brawn | University of Illinois-Shelford Vivarium |
| Dr. Phyllis Coley | University of Utah |
| Dr. Lisa Comita | University of California, Santa Barbara |
| Dr. Andrew J. Crawford | Universidad de Los Andes, Colombia |
| Dr. Luis Cubilla | University of Panama |
| Dr. James Dalling * | University of Illinois |
| Dr. Priya Davidar | Pondicherry University, India |
| Dr. Hans de Kroon | Radboud University Nijmegen, Holland |
| Dr. Christopher W. Dick | University of Michigan |
| Dr. John K. Douglass | STRI |
| Dr. Helmut Elsenbeer | University of Potsdam, Germany |
| Dr. Bettina Engelbrecht | University of Bayreuth, Germany |
| Dr. Gonzalo Ferraz | National Institute for Amazonian Research-INPA, Manaus Brazil |
| Dr. William H. Gerwick | Scripps Institution of Oceanography - University of California, Santa Cruz |
| Dr. Gregory Gilbert | University of California, Santa Cruz |
| Dr. Kyle E. Harms | Louisiana State University |
| Dr. Michael Kaspari | University of Oklahoma |
| Dr. Roland W. Kays | New York State Museum |
| Dr. Kaoru Kitajima | University of Florida |
| Dr. Heinrich Krause | Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany |
| Dr. Thomas Kursar | University of Utah |
| Dr. Susan Laurance | James Cook University, Australia |
| Dr. William Laurance | James Cook University, Australia |
| Dr. Karen Lips | Southern Illinois University |
| Dr. Julia Mayo | STRI |
| Dr. Anne B. Meylan | Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission |
| Dr. Peter Meylan | Eckerd College - Florida |
| Dr. Ingrid Parker | University of California, Santa Cruz |
| Dr. Tyson Roberts | n/a |
| Dr. Andrew Ugan | University of Utah |
| Dr. Iván A. Valdespino | Universidad de Panama |
| Dr. Julie L. Velásquez Runk | University of Georgia |
| Dr. Roberta Rubinoff | n/a |
| Dr. Michael Ryan | University of Texas |
| Dr. G. Arturo Sánchez-Azofeifa | University of Alberta, Canada |
| Dr. Jan Sapp | York University, Toronto, Canada |
| Dr. Stefan H. Schnitzer | University of Wisconsin |
| Dr. Henry Stockwell | n/a |
| Dr. Edmund Tanner | University of Cambridge, UK |
| Dr. Fredric V. Vencl | Stony Brook University, NY |
| Dr. Karen Warkentin | Boston University |
| Dr. Martin Wikelski | Princeton University |
| Dr. Douglas C. Woodhams | University of Zürich, Switzerland |
| Dr. Gerhard Zotz | University Oldenburg, Germany |
STRI Associates in Communication
| Name | Institutional Affiliation |
| Andrew Coates | Cresolus |
| Beth Coates | Cresolus |
| Jacalyn Giacalone-Willis | Montclair State University |
| Adriana Sautu | Bio-Museo |
| Jorge Ventocilla | STRI |
| Edwina von Gal | Edwina von Gal & Co. |
| Christian Ziegler | STRI |