About
Thomas Schultz is an Associate Professor of the Practice of Marine Molecular Conservation and Director of Undergraduate Studies at Duke University's Marine Science & Conservation School, located at the Duke Marine Lab in Beaufort, NC. His primary focus is on conservation genetics and molecular adaptation in marine organisms, with a particular emphasis on using genomic tools to address conservation challenges.
Education: Ph.D., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (1996).
Research Interests: Conservation genetics of wild marine populations, hybridization in fish species (e.g., river herring), environmental DNA (eDNA) applications for species detection, and adaptation mechanisms in marine invertebrates such as barnacles and blue crabs. Current projects include studies on Cuvier's beaked whales using eDNA, plastic pollution impacts, and undergraduate education in marine systems.
Grants: Recent funding includes projects from Kelp Marine Research and the Office of Naval Research, focusing on eDNA methodologies and global fouling communities.
Labs & Teams: Directs the Duke Marine Lab's undergraduate research programs and oversees a lab engaged in molecular ecology, conservation genetics, and marine environmental science.
