ShAPE Lab

Dr. Shaffer (he, his, him) is a Professor of Ecology and Evolution in the Department of Biological Sciences at San Jose State University.  He joined the faculty in August 2009 and teaches courses in physiological ecology, general ecology, and conservation biology.    Dr. Shaffer advises graduate students in the Ecology and Evolution Masters of Sciences program area and provides research opportunities for undergraduates interested in field and lab-based experiences.  Although he was formally trained in the field of physiological ecology, Dr. Shaffer’s research interests are broadly ecological.  He and his students primarily focus on understanding the habitat use, foraging ecology, and breeding biology of seabirds in California and the tropical Pacific.  Dr. Shaffer has conducted over 40 field campaigns to sites in Antarctica, French sub-Antarctic islands, New Zealand, Alaska, Svalbard, Mexico, Northwest and main Hawaiian Islands, and many sites along the California coast. In 2022, Dr. Shaffer became a Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences.