D. Ross Robertson Research Award Fellowship for Field Studies on Neotropical Deep-Reef fishes
Supports early-career researchers in field studies on the biology of Neotropical deep-reef fishes (40–300 m), with an emphasis on collaboration and advancing scientific understanding.
Funder: Smithsonian Institution
Due Dates (Anticipated): September 2026 | November 2026
Funding Amounts: Up to $40,000 total for one or more awards; funds support fieldwork costs (travel, living expenses) for up to 12 months.
Summary: Supports field research on the biology of Neotropical deep-reef fishes (40–300 m depth), open to early-career researchers in the region.
Key Information: No requirement to use STRI facilities or conduct research in Panama; collaborative proposals with Smithsonian units are encouraged.
Description
This fellowship supports early-career researchers (PhD students and recent PhDs) conducting field research on any aspect of the biology of living reef-fishes found at depths of 40–300 meters throughout the Neotropics. The award is designed to advance scientific understanding of deep-reef fish biology and encourages collaborative research involving the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) and the Division of Fishes at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History (NMNH). Use of STRI facilities or research in Panama is not required, offering flexibility in fieldwork location across the Neotropical region.
