The impacts of COVID‐19 on early career tropical researchers are diverse and complex, including lack of funding opportunities, limitations to conducting fieldwork in remote places, reduced collaborations and networking, and difficulties when living and collecting data abroad. Here, we examine the current and future impacts of the COVID‐19 pandemic on this population through a survey of 213 students and early career tropical researchers from around the world. As of September 2020, 55% of participants had already experienced financial repercussions due to the pandemic. Future worries were diverse and included equal concern regarding advancement (collaborations and networking), job uncertainty, fieldwork, and funding, as well as mental health concerns. Successful strategies to support student and early career researchers with regards to the pandemic should include mentoring from those in more advanced career positions on how to reframe research that is no longer feasible to complete as originally intended. Additionally, those responsible for hiring decisions should not penalize applicants for gaps in productivity during this time. RESUMEN Los impactos de COVID‐19 en investigadores tropicales en etapas tempranas de su carrera son diversos y complejos incluyendo la falta de oportunidades de financiamiento, limitaciones para realizar trabajo de campo en lugares remotos, la reducción en las posibilidades de establecer nuevas colaboraciones, y dificultades para vivir y colectar datos en el extranjero. En este estudio examinamos los impactos actuales y futuros de la pandemia COVID‐19 en este grupo por medio de una encuesta a 213 estudiantes e investigadores tropicales que están en etapas tempranas de su carrera de todo el mundo. A septiembre de 2020, el 55% de los participantes ya habían experimentado repercusiones financiaras debido a la pandemia. Las preocupaciones sobre el futuro fueron diversas incluyendo una inquietud general con respecto al avance de las colaboraciones, la incertidumbre laboral, el trabajo de campo, la posibilidad de obtener financiación y la salud mental. Sugerimos que estrategias exitosas para apoyar estudiantes e investigadores en etapas tempranas de su carrera en tiempos de pandemia deben incluir la tutoría de aquellos en posiciones profesionales más avanzadas que apoyen y guíen en el proceso de re‐plantear proyectos de investigación que ya no sean factibles. Además, a aquellos responsables de las decisiones de contratación deben ser flexibles y entender las posibles brechas en productividad durante este periodo. Here, we examine the current and future impacts of the COVID‐19 pandemic on this population through a survey of 213 students and early career tropical researchers from around the world. As of September 2020, 55% of participants had already experienced financial repercussions due to the pandemic. Future worries were diverse and included equal concern regarding advancement (collaborations and networking), job uncertainty, fieldwork, and funding, as well as mental health concerns