Ted Schultz

Ted Schultz is a Research Entomologist and Curator of Hymenoptera at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History. He holds a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Ph.D. from Cornell University, focusing his career on the evolution and systematics of fungus-farming ants (tribe Attini, subfamily Myrmicinae).

• Education:
  • B.A., University of California, Berkeley
  • Ph.D., Cornell University

His research interests span evolutionary biology, phylogenetic analysis, and biodiversity assessment of ants. He pioneered studies on the coevolution of fungus-growing ants and their microbial symbionts, investigating topics like chemical ecology, social parasitism, and biogeographical patterns.

Recent publications highlight genomic diversification in symbiotic parasites, adaptive radiation in ants, and phylogenomic insights into cryptic species. His work frequently employs ultraconserved elements (UCEs) and molecular techniques to resolve deep evolutionary relationships.

• Scientific Awards:
  • NMNH Collections Achievement Award (2021)
  • Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2021)
  • NMNH Science Achievement Award (2016, 2015, 2012, 2008)
  • Smithsonian Institution Secretary's Research Prize (2009)
  • NMNH Peer Recognition Award (2015)
  • NMNH Outreach Achievement Award (2009)

As a principal investigator, Schultz has secured multiple grants for ant research, including studies on evolutionary patterns and symbiotic relationships. His extensive fieldwork and laboratory studies have produced over 60 publications, making significant contributions to entomology and evolutionary theory.