Joey T. Shaw

Joey T. Shaw is a Professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, specializing in plant systematics and conservation biology. His work bridges traditional herbarium curation with modern molecular techniques and digital biodiversity informatics.

• PhD in Botany (Molecular Systematics and Chloroplast Evolution), University of Tennessee, Knoxville (2005)
• MS in Botany (Floristics, Herbarium Curation, Biodiversity Inventories), University of Tennessee, Knoxville (2001)
• BS in Biology, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (1998)

Shaw's research integrates floristic studies of the Southeastern United States with advanced molecular systematics and phylogeographic analysis. His lab focuses on:

• Baseline floristic data for conservation planning
• Chloroplast genome evolution in Prunus species
• Digitization of over 1 million Tennessee herbarium specimens
• Conservation metrics for rare and invasive plant species
• Public outreach through the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage

Recent publications highlight his leadership in:

• Digital herbarium workflows using AI/ML models
• Conservation status modeling for Tennessee flora
• Phylogenetic resolution in angiosperms
• Collaborative field-to-database research frameworks

Scientific Awards:

• 2015 Elizabeth Ann Bartholomew Award

Shaw actively mentors students through:

• Field botany programs
• Molecular systematics lab work
• Thesis supervision in plant ecology
• Outreach education initiatives