Zeehan Jaafar

Zeehan Jaafar serves as Senior Lecturer and Assistant Head of Department in the Department of Biological Sciences at the National University of Singapore. His academic profile centers on evolutionary biology and conservation of aquatic vertebrates, with teaching responsibilities spanning General Biology, Aquatic Vertebrate Diversity, and Field Studies in Neo-tropical Ecology.

Educational background:

• Ph.D., National University of Singapore
• B.Sc. (Honors), National University of Singapore

His research program investigates terrestriality evolution in lower vertebrates, ichthyofaunal diversity drivers, percomorph fish systematics, and marine ecosystem conservation. Special emphasis is placed on mudskippers and gobioid fishes, examining their morphological adaptations, ecological roles in Southeast Asian habitats, and responses to anthropogenic threats including habitat loss and transboundary pollution.

Publications from 2012-2017 demonstrate consistent contributions across ichthyology and conservation science. Key thematic clusters include fish systematics (particularly mudskipper taxonomy), goby-shrimp symbiotic relationships, and environmental impact studies on marine ecosystems. His editorial work includes co-editing authoritative books on mudskipper biology and Sundaland wetlands conservation.

No scientific awards were documented in the source material.

Information regarding student advising and research grant funding was not provided in the available documentation.

Professional engagement includes chairing the Department of Biological Sciences Student Life Committee at NUS, serving on the Indo-Pacific Fish Conference Steering Committee, contributing to the IUCN Gobiiformes Specialist Group, and acting as Associate Editor for the Raffles Bulletin of Zoology.