Timothy M. Shank

Dr. Timothy M. Shank is an Assistant Scientist in the Department of Biology at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. He received his PhD in Marine Ecology and Evolution from Rutgers University in 1998 and has made more than 35 Alvin dives. His research focuses on understanding aspects of chemosynthetic ecology and evolution, from local-scale genetics of larval recruitment and colonization to broad-scale gene flow and speciation. He is currently pursuing the use of seafloor observatories to conduct in situ time-series studies of faunal succession to examine the forces (e.g., disturbance and vent fluid chemistry) that control the development, structure, and diversity of chemosynthetic communities.