معرفی
Dr. Jennifer Schafer is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at Winthrop University, within the College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. in Botany from the University of Florida and a B.A. in Zoology from Miami University. Her research focuses on the effects of disturbance—particularly fire and anthropogenic activities—on plant populations, community composition, and ecosystem processes, with emphasis on fire-prone ecosystems. She previously served as an Assistant Professor at William Jewell College before joining Winthrop in 2017.
- Education:
- Ph.D., Botany, University of Florida
- B.A., Zoology, Miami University
- Research Interests: Plant ecology, fire ecology, disturbance regimes, ecosystem dynamics, and conservation biology. Her work addresses how changing disturbance patterns impact species persistence and inform management strategies.
Dr. Schafer teaches courses such as Principles of Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity, and leads the Plant Ecology Lab. Her postdoctoral research included studies in southwestern U.S. deserts and longleaf pine savannas, contributing to her expertise in disturbance ecology.
Advising and grants: No specific advisees or grants listed. She emphasizes undergraduate research opportunities and ecological field studies.
Labs/Teams: Directs the Plant Ecology Lab, focusing on experimental and observational studies of plant responses to environmental disturbances.
