Overview

Smithsonian Staff Scientists are excited to have RaMP-UP Fellows participants join their projects. Below are abstracts of the 2025 projects that RaMP-UP Fellows could join and the skills that the projects are looking for in applicants.

#1 Behavior of Bats

Navigating the shifting skies: How do acoustic specialists respond to an increasingly light and noisy world?

Project abstract: With substantial increases in urbanization across the globe, natural habitats are becoming fragmented and lost at a rapid rate. Those that remain suffer a wide variety of pollutants, including sensory pollutants in the form of increased noise and light levels. Through behavioral experiments with bats in captivity, we investigate the role of increased noise and light on the foraging success and social interactions of tropical bats. We also observe the natural behavior of these bats in the wild through infrared video recordings and ultrasonic microphones. RaMP-UP fellows will join a large, diverse research team and will learn a wide range of skills including how to 1) capture and identify bats in the tropical rainforest; 2) design and conduct controlled experiments in a flight cage; 3) record and analyze video and acoustic data.

Requested skills: Ability to work at night (and sleep during the day!); ability to work with groups of people from diverse backgrounds; curiosity in learning new concepts and addressing novel questions; commitment to community engagement and science engagement.

#2 Reproduction of Tropical Trees

Temperature effects on reproduction of tropical trees: pollen, pollen tubes, and seed production

Project abstract: As temperatures are predicted to increase significantly during the current century, it will be important to understand how elevated temperatures will affect basic functions of tropical trees that enable the forests to perform the important biodiversity and carbon cycle services. In this project, the goal is to establish how key processes of plant sexual reproduction are affected by temperature, including pollen germination, pollen tube growth, and the production of viable seeds. The fellow on this project will investigate how species differ in the sensitivity to temperature of their pollen, and will help develop and test a flower warming system to be installed in the forest canopy. The fellow will acquire or strengthen skills in field experimentation, microscopy, basic data analysis, plant ecophysiology, and tropical forest ecology.

Requested skills: Basic understanding of plant/forest ecology; willingness to work outdoors under challenging conditions, including in the heat on the canopy crane (i.e., no fear of heights); interest in tinkering with electronics would be a bonus, but is not required; and ability and interest to work with people from diverse backgrounds.

#3 Ancient Zoonotic Diseases

Integrating bioarchaeology, zooarchaeology, and historical ecology into a One Health approach to reconstruct ancient disease-scapes in the Isthmo-Colombian Area

Project abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the impact of infectious diseases, especially those that spill over from animals to humans. Human activities and environmental changes play a major role in these spillovers, making it important to take a "One Health" approach that connects human, animal, and environmental health. However, social sciences like anthropology and archaeology are often overlooked in these studies, even though they are key to understanding the human side of disease spread. This project will use data from ancient sites in Central Panama to study how zoonotic diseases have affected humans over time, incorporating archaeology, ethnography, and epidemiology.

Requested skills: Basic knowledge of anthropology, archaeology, and/or public health and epidemiology; basic knowledge of Excel or similar software package; some knowledge of statistical and quantitative methods is preferred but not required; critical thinking and attention to details; ability to work with groups of people from diverse backgrounds; and commitment to science communication and public outreach.

#4 Coral Reef Biodiversity

Coral reef biodiversity: commonness, rarity, and species coexistence

Project abstract: Understanding why some ecosystems have many species, and others very few, and why some species are extremely common and widespread, and others very rare, has been one of the most profound and challenging fundamental problems in ecology. Moreover, developing and testing biodiversity theory that seeks to explain these patterns is critical to anticipating and managing for the effects of human-induced environmental change; for example: What are the consequences for biodiversity of habitat fragmentation and loss due to development? Within this program, successful applicants could employ mathematical modeling to explore how different coexistence mechanisms might work, or they could analyze empirical data on  early life stages of corals to quantify the potential strength of such mechanisms.

Requested skills: Applicants to this program should have a good working knowledge of ecology, and ideally some background in statistics and experience with basic coding, although projects can be tailored so that candidates can fill in some skills gaps during their project. For projects involving mathematical modeling, however, a strong background in mathematics (e.g., multivariate calculus and some experience with matrix algebra or differential equations) would be essential. Participation in fieldwork to study coral settlement is possible for applicants with extensive SCUBA training and experience (recreational Divemaster qualification or AAUS certification).

#5 Termite Ecology

The effects of local predator loss on termites’ ecological impact

Project abstract: Termites are essential in breaking down plant material in tropical and subtropical ecosystems, aiding the carbon cycle and energy flow. As they decompose dead plants, termites release carbon dioxide (CO2) and produce methane (CH4) and hydrogen (H2) through microbes in their guts. This project investigates how the removal of termite predators, like tamanduas (anteaters), affects termite communities and their role in the ecosystem. Specifically, it examines how the absence of tamanduas influences termite survival, wood consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions. RaMP-UP Fellows will study termite behavior, colony ecology, and metabolic rates to understand how termites contribute to global greenhouse gas emissions. By examining the effects of predator loss, this research aims to improve our understanding of termites’ ecological impact and refine climate models that account for natural sources of greenhouse gases.

Requested skills: Knowledge of statistical and quantitative methods (preferred but not required); willingness to learn programming languages such as R; ability to work independently and with a diverse multidisciplinary team (ants, spiders, scorpions, vertebrates and plants). The project will include work in the laboratory and field; willingness to work outdoors in uncomfortable conditions; willingness to learn to drive a boat and tree climbing.

#6 Spider Communication

Spider courtship: communicating in a variable world

Project abstract: This project examines how environmental factors, including human disturbances, impact communication in wolf spiders. Male spiders court females using visual and vibrational signals, which vary across species. The project will explore how natural environmental changes and anthropogenic factors like light and noise pollution affect the effectiveness of these signals. Researchers will investigate whether the success of specific signals depends on the environment, collecting data through field observations and experiments that manipulate the spiders' signaling environments. This research will help understand how both natural and human-driven changes influence animal communication.

Requested skills: Ability to work with groups of people from diverse backgrounds; Willingness to work outdoors at night and during the day, in hot and humid conditions; Commitment to science education and public outreach.

#7 Tropical Forests

How trees fight back: community assembly in tropical forests

Project abstract: This project seeks to better understand which organisms control the distribution and abundance of trees and how trees resist the attack of their enemies to become more abundant. The goal is to link traits in trees with (meta)genomic data to understand how plant communities and their associated organisms (friends and foes) assemble in tropical rainforests. This is possible thanks to historic data from the 50-ha plot on Barro Colorado Island (BCI), together with recently developed molecular and genomic resources available at the Naos Laboratory in Panamá City. Given the breadth and diversity of techniques used in this project, there are several sub-projects the candidate can get involved in, that range from work in the field and greenhouse to the molecular lab and bioinformatic data analysis.  

Requested skills: Interest in forest ecology, genetics, evolution or related fields. Ability to work with groups of people from diverse backgrounds. For more field-based projects, willingness to work outdoors in hot and humid conditions is expected. Experience working in a laboratory is preferred, but not required.

#8 Coral Reef Resilience

Reef community dynamics and temperature stress response

Project abstract: The coral reefs of the Eastern Tropical Pacific thrive in a region that is very marginal for the growth of reefs. Despite this, historical data suggest that these reefs have a high capacity to recover after periods of highly stressful environmental conditions, such as those that cause coral bleaching. The Rohr Reef Resilience program (RRR) aims to discover if this previously-observed resilience is a robust characteristic of shallow-water coral reefs in this region, and, if so, to reveal the mechanisms – molecular, physiological, demographic, and ecological -- that underly this resilience. We combine video and photo-mosaic technology, visual surveys, assessments of the recovery of reef communities on artificial surfaces, physiological and biochemical analysis to assess corals’ health, as well as genomic analyses of coral hosts and the microbes that live in and on them to monitor ecological change along gradients of upwelling intensity and through time. This RaMP-UP project is linked specifically to the components of the RRR focused on the study of the dynamics of coral communities, and the thermal stress responses of corals.

Requested skills: Foundation in principles of biology, ecology, and marine or aquatic systems. An openness to learn, work hard and work well with a diversity of team members. Project opportunities are diverse and can accommodate a range of fellow interests and abilities. For analysis and interpretation of photo-mosaics, some experience with coding (e.g., in R or Python) would be required.

#9 Hummingbird Evolution

Linking behavior, genetics, and physiology to discover the basis of sexual diversity in hummingbirds

Project abstract: A species' ability to adapt to a changing environment relies on the diversity within its members. What is the basis of diversity across genetic, phenotypic, and behavioral levels? How is this diversity maintained in populations despite selection? We study the sexual phenotypes of hummingbirds as a pathway to researching these questions. We use a variety of techniques, from behavioral observation, genomic sequencing, metabolic measurements, and hormone analysis to understand how and why evolution maintains multiple types of females. More recently we have also begun to investigate hummingbird vocalizations and their social contexts. Individuals will have the opportunity to 1) learn how to handle and observe hummingbirds in the wild, 2) develop and implement an independent project with a group of international scientists, and 3) develop strong skills in hypothesis-driven inquiry.

Requested skills: Ability and willingness work with people from diverse backgrounds. Willingness to engage with and develop public outreach activities. Ability to work in hot, humid conditions on a daily basis. Experience working with and handling small animals preferred but not required. 

Photo Credit: Christian Ziegler

#10 Mangroves

Understanding how mangroves capture carbon

Project abstract: Mangroves are highly productive ecosystems that provide critical ecosystem services to coastal communities within the tropics and sub-tropics, including climate change adaptation and mitigation, and food security. As the world moves towards commoditizing blue carbon, it becomes increasingly important to document the amount of carbon currently held in different biomes AND understand how key rates influence variation in carbon stores in different types of ecosystems and in areas with different environmental conditions. In this project, we are documenting how the current carbon stores, carbon accumulation rate, sediment accretion rates, soil carbon origin, and decomposition rates vary in contrasting mangrove forests in Panama.  

Requested skills: Basic laboratory skills and training (especially bio-geo-chemistry work, preferred but not required); knowledge of spatial analysis, GIS or Google Earth Engine would be a plus; ability to work with groups of people from diverse backgrounds; commitment to science communication and public outreach.

#11 Tropical Disease Ecology

The impacts of forest degradation on vector communities and pathogen spillover

Project abstract: This project explores how forest degradation affects disease transmission in tropical forests by studying mosquitoes and ticks on Barro Colorado Island (BCI). We’ll compare intact and disturbed forests to see how habitat quality impacts insect diversity and pathogen presence, focusing on viruses, bacteria, and protozoa. The research will also examine how changes in temperature and humidity—caused by forest degradation—affect insect survival and disease risk. By testing mosquitoes and ticks for pathogens, the study will help understand the link between biodiversity, forest health, and disease transmission, supporting a "One Health" approach to ecosystem and public health.

Requested skills: Ability to collaborate with individuals from various backgrounds; Although not compulsory, familiarity with experimental design, statistical techniques, and The R statistical language is encouraged. Ability to work at day and night; curiosity in learning new concepts and addressing novel questions; commitment to community engagement and science engagement.