Melanie
L. J. Stiassny
American Museum of Natural History
Department of Ichthyology
Central Park West at 79th Street
New York, NY 10024-5192
Voice: 212 769 5796
Fax: 212 769 5642
mljs@amnh.org
Education
Ph.D., University of London, Zoology, 1980.
B.Sc., First-Class Honors, University of London, Zoology, 1976.
Professional and Postdoctoral
1997- Herbert R. and Evelyn Axelrod Research Curator, AMNH.
2000-2001 Curator-in-Charge, Department of Ichthyology, AMNH.
1997-2000 Chair, Department of Ichthyology, AMNH.
1997- Curator, American Museum of Natural History.
1992-1997 Associate Curator, American Museum of Natural History.
1987-1992 Assistant Curator, American Museum of Natural History.
1983-1987 Asst. Professor, Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University.
1982-1983 Royal Society of London Postdoc, University of Leiden.
1981 Royal Society of London Postdoc, Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Histoire.
Academic and Adjunct Appointments
2003- Adjunct, Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, Columbia University.
1997- Adjunct, CERC, Columbia University.
1992- Adjunct, Graduate School and University Center, City University of New York.
Professional Service
World Wildlife Fund, National Council, Member Class of 2004, Science review panel: Conservation Science Program at WWF-US, 2003.
Conservation International UNDP/GEF/IUCN: Center for Applied Biodiversity Science (CABS), Advisory Council Member, 2000- .
DIVERSITAS, ICSB/IUBS/SCOPE/IUMS/UNESCO: Scientific Committee, cross-cutting network on freshwater biodiversity, 2004- .
World Resources Institute, UNEP, UNDP: Special Advisor for World Resources Report 2000.
WHO/UNEP Working Group, Report on Global biodiversity, and the driving forces of species loss, 2001.
National Geographic Society, Conservation Trust Advisory Board Member, 2002- .
International Foundation for Science (IFS): Scientific Advisor, Aquatic Resources 1999- .
International Union for the Conservation of Nature: World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), member, 2001-2004.
PARADI (Poissons Africains: Rôle et Applications de la DIversité Biologique), International Scientific Committee, 1993- .
American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists: Board of Governors, 1993-1997; 2000- .
American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums (AAZPA): Freshwater Fish Taxon Advisory Group (Technical Advisor) 1993- .
Conservation Biology: Assigning editor, (systematics and conservation), 1998-2000.
The National Academies: Committee on Independent Scientific Review of Everglades Restoration Progress, 2004.
Teaching
Columbia University, Fish biodiversity: systematics and evolution. Fall 2007
Columbia University, Fish biodiversity: systematics and evolution. Spring 2004
Columbia University, graduate seminar), Fish Biology and Systematics. Fall 2000
NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates program, Systematics and Evolutionary Biology: A Continuing Program of Undergraduate Research at the American Museum of Natural History. PI and coordinator of summer programs 1989-2002.
Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars
Recent Graduate Students
Hugo Escobar, City University of New York, Ph.D. advisor, 2006-.
Jake Lowenstein, Columbia University, Ph.D. advisor, 2006-.
Raoul Monsembula, University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, MS.
co-advisor, 2006-.
Robert Schelly, Columbia University, Ph.D. advisor, 2000-2006.
W. Leo Smith, Columbia University, Ph.D. advisor, 2000-2005.
Hernan Lopez-Fernandez, Texas A&M University, Ph.D. committee, 2000-2004.
Abebe Getahun, City University of New York, Ph.D. advisor, 1994-1999.
Marcelo R. de Carvalho, City University of New York, Ph.D. committee, 1993-1998.
Monica Toledo-Pisa, City University of New York, Ph.D. advisor, 1992-1997.
Recent Postdoctoral Fellows
Bob Schelly, American Museum of Natural History, NSF Fellow, 2006-2009.
Kevin Tang, American Museum of Natural History, Lerner-Gray Research Fellow, 2002-2004.
John Sullivan, American Museum of Natural History, Axelrod Research Fellow, 2000-2001.
Lui Huangzang, American Museum of Natural History, Research Fellow, 1998-1999.
Ian Harrison, American Museum of Natural History, Kalbfleisch Research Fellow, 1996-1997.
Ralf Britz, American Museum of Natural History, Kalbfleisch Research Fellow, 1995-1996.
Tony Gill, American Museum of Natural History, Lerner-Gray Research Fellow, 1992-1993.
Peter Reinthal, American Museum of Natural History, Kalbfleish Research Fellow, 1988-1990.
American Museum of Natural History
Department of Ichthyology
Central Park West at 79th Street
New York, NY 10024-5192
Voice: 212 769 5796
Fax: 212 769 5642
mljs@amnh.org
Education
Ph.D., University of London, Zoology, 1980.
B.Sc., First-Class Honors, University of London, Zoology, 1976.
Professional and Postdoctoral
1997- Herbert R. and Evelyn Axelrod Research Curator, AMNH.
2000-2001 Curator-in-Charge, Department of Ichthyology, AMNH.
1997-2000 Chair, Department of Ichthyology, AMNH.
1997- Curator, American Museum of Natural History.
1992-1997 Associate Curator, American Museum of Natural History.
1987-1992 Assistant Curator, American Museum of Natural History.
1983-1987 Asst. Professor, Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University.
1982-1983 Royal Society of London Postdoc, University of Leiden.
1981 Royal Society of London Postdoc, Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Histoire.
Academic and Adjunct Appointments
2003- Adjunct, Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, Columbia University.
1997- Adjunct, CERC, Columbia University.
1992- Adjunct, Graduate School and University Center, City University of New York.
Professional Service
World Wildlife Fund, National Council, Member Class of 2004, Science review panel: Conservation Science Program at WWF-US, 2003.
Conservation International UNDP/GEF/IUCN: Center for Applied Biodiversity Science (CABS), Advisory Council Member, 2000- .
DIVERSITAS, ICSB/IUBS/SCOPE/IUMS/UNESCO: Scientific Committee, cross-cutting network on freshwater biodiversity, 2004- .
World Resources Institute, UNEP, UNDP: Special Advisor for World Resources Report 2000.
WHO/UNEP Working Group, Report on Global biodiversity, and the driving forces of species loss, 2001.
National Geographic Society, Conservation Trust Advisory Board Member, 2002- .
International Foundation for Science (IFS): Scientific Advisor, Aquatic Resources 1999- .
International Union for the Conservation of Nature: World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), member, 2001-2004.
PARADI (Poissons Africains: Rôle et Applications de la DIversité Biologique), International Scientific Committee, 1993- .
American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists: Board of Governors, 1993-1997; 2000- .
American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums (AAZPA): Freshwater Fish Taxon Advisory Group (Technical Advisor) 1993- .
Conservation Biology: Assigning editor, (systematics and conservation), 1998-2000.
The National Academies: Committee on Independent Scientific Review of Everglades Restoration Progress, 2004.
Teaching
Columbia University, Fish biodiversity: systematics and evolution. Fall 2007
Columbia University, Fish biodiversity: systematics and evolution. Spring 2004
Columbia University, graduate seminar), Fish Biology and Systematics. Fall 2000
NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates program, Systematics and Evolutionary Biology: A Continuing Program of Undergraduate Research at the American Museum of Natural History. PI and coordinator of summer programs 1989-2002.
Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars
Recent Graduate Students
Hugo Escobar, City University of New York, Ph.D. advisor, 2006-.
Jake Lowenstein, Columbia University, Ph.D. advisor, 2006-.
Raoul Monsembula, University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, MS.
co-advisor, 2006-.
Robert Schelly, Columbia University, Ph.D. advisor, 2000-2006.
W. Leo Smith, Columbia University, Ph.D. advisor, 2000-2005.
Hernan Lopez-Fernandez, Texas A&M University, Ph.D. committee, 2000-2004.
Abebe Getahun, City University of New York, Ph.D. advisor, 1994-1999.
Marcelo R. de Carvalho, City University of New York, Ph.D. committee, 1993-1998.
Monica Toledo-Pisa, City University of New York, Ph.D. advisor, 1992-1997.
Recent Postdoctoral Fellows
Bob Schelly, American Museum of Natural History, NSF Fellow, 2006-2009.
Kevin Tang, American Museum of Natural History, Lerner-Gray Research Fellow, 2002-2004.
John Sullivan, American Museum of Natural History, Axelrod Research Fellow, 2000-2001.
Lui Huangzang, American Museum of Natural History, Research Fellow, 1998-1999.
Ian Harrison, American Museum of Natural History, Kalbfleisch Research Fellow, 1996-1997.
Ralf Britz, American Museum of Natural History, Kalbfleisch Research Fellow, 1995-1996.
Tony Gill, American Museum of Natural History, Lerner-Gray Research Fellow, 1992-1993.
Peter Reinthal, American Museum of Natural History, Kalbfleish Research Fellow, 1988-1990.