Scott Allen Schaefer | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1958 |
| Education | Ohio State University, University of South Carolina, University of Chicago |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Ichthyology |
| Institutions | American Museum of Natural History |
Scott Allen Schaefer (born 1958) is an American ichthyologist working at the American Museum of Natural History as the dean of science for collections, exhibitions, and the public understanding of science; he serves as the curator-in-charge, in the department of ichthyology, within the division of vertebrate zoology.[1]
In addition, he is the director of the Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics and a professor, Richard Gilder Graduate School. He is an adjunct senior research scientist, with The Earth Institute Center for Environmental Sustainability (EICES), The Earth Institute Adjunct Research Scientist, with the department of ichthyology, Columbia Climate School.[2]
Schaefer attended Ohio State University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1980. He attended University of South Carolina, where he received his master's in science in 1982. He received his Ph. D. from the University of Chicago, in 1986[1]
Schaefer studies the systematics, biogeography, and evolutionary morphology of tropical freshwater fishes of Africa and South America. His research seeks to resolve problems in taxonomy, classification, and evolution in those fish groups that dominate the ecology of riverine systems, such as catfishes and characiforms. Fieldwork involves discovery of undescribed fish diversity in poorly known regions, such as the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers of South America. Current projects include systematics and biogeography of Andean freshwater fishes and taxonomic revision of the family Astroblepidae, a group of catfishes that live at high elevations in the Andes of South America. He is also engaged in phylogenetic studies of the trichomycterid catfishes and revisions of African alestid characiform fishes. Recent fieldwork in Peru, Ecuador, and Venezuela has surveyed the diversity of Andean fishes up to 4,500 m (14,760 ft.) elevation and resulted in the addition to the Museum of several new and important collections.[1]