John Schaefer

John Schaefer is a Researcher in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Cambridge, focusing on the intersection of botany, empire, and digital humanities. He collaborates with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and previously conducted research as a 2024 U.S. Fulbright Scholar at Western Sydney University.

• BA in History and Science from Harvard University
• MPhil in Digital Humanities from the University of Cambridge

His doctoral project reconstructs and analyzes the social networks of colonial plant collectors in the late nineteenth century, utilizing Kew Herbarium specimen data to explore global dynamics of plant and knowledge exchange within the British Empire. His research integrates digital humanities methodologies to map historical scientific practices.

John's publications reflect expertise in historical botany, plant taxonomy, and interdisciplinary approaches combining computational methods with colonial history. His work bridges the history of science, botanical studies, and social network analysis.

• 2024 U.S. Fulbright Scholar

Collaborations include the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and participation in the Collaborative Doctoral Programme. His research emphasizes participatory methodologies and the role of natural history collections in understanding imperial scientific networks.