Biff Bermingham holds a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia. Biff’s principal research addresses the assembly of species over time in diverse tropical communities. Bermingham joined the STRI staff in 1989. In his current role as both research scientist and Acting Director of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Bermingham oversees his own laboratory and the research efforts of more than 40 international staff and 800 visiting scientists in locations throughout the tropics. In addition, he actively promotes public outreach in Panama and abroad. Bermingham and his colleagues have published more than 130 scientific articles, and in 2005 he and his co-editors published the book Tropical Rainforests: Past, Present and Future (University of Chicago Press). Biff serves as Smithsonian Marine Science Network Steering Committee member.