Blanka Shaw, Ph.D.

I received a broad training in cryptogamic botany (the field traditionally including systematics and ecology of algae, fungi, bryophytes, and lichens) at the Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. I obtained my Ph.D. there in 2004 with a focus on mosses and liverworts, and I am now a data manager for the cryptogamic collection at the Duke University Herbarium, and a research scientist at the bryophyte laboratory in Duke Biology department.

I love fieldwork, especially searching for the smallest plants. I have had the privilege of collecting bryophytes on most continents, and places with highest rainfall on Earth are my absolute favorite. I collaborate with Jon Shaw (Duke University) on research involving speciation and phylogeography of peatmosses (sphagnum), and with Matt von Konrat (Field Museum) on systematics of liverwort genus Frullania. I have been part of the team reconstructing the liverwort tree of life. 

As a data manager, I am interested in ways to share the biodiversity information with public and other researchers. I am leading databasing efforts at the Duke bryophyte collection, and contributing biodiversity data and photographs to the bryophyte portal of the Consortium of North American Bryophyte herbaria.