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Thomas O'Shea, Ph.D.

Tom O'Shea is a Scientist Emeritus at the USGS Fort Collins Science Center.

Tom O'Shea has conducted research on bats, sirenians, and other mammals in the U.S., Africa, South and Central America, Asia, and Oceania. Dr. O'Shea is the author or co-author of about 140 scientific publications. He was formerly a researcher with the USGS, National Biological Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. His current research emphasis is on bats (after a long hiatus in marine mammal studies and federal research management), particularly topics related to diseases, population biology, natural history, and environmental contaminants.

Professional Experience

  • Scientist Emeritus, U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center 2009-present

  • Research Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center 2001-2009

  • Branch Chief, U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center 1996-2001

  • Assistant Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/National Biological Survey, National Ecology Research Center/Midcontinent Ecological Science Center, Fort Collins 1992-1996

  • Research Wildlife Biologist, Sirenia Project Leader, Field Station Leader, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Fish and Wildlife Laboratory/National Ecology Research Center, Gainesville, Florida 1979-1992

  • Research Zoologist, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, Maryland 1977-1979

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D. Zoology, Northern Arizona University, 1977

  • M.S. Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, 1973

  • B.S. Zoology, Colorado State University 1970

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • American Society of Mammalogists

  • National Museums of Kenya

  • Florida Museum of Natural History

  • Museum of Southwestern Biology (University of New Mexico)

  • California Academy of Sciences

  • Colorado State University

  • University of Florida

  • University of North Carolina at Wilmington

  • Wildlife-At-Risk (Vietnam)

  • Advisory committees of a number of national and international conservation organizations and agencies, including the Committee of Scientific Advisors to the US Marine Mammal Commission.

Science and Products

*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government