Jack Shaw (he/him)

Postdoctoral Associate, University of Colorado Boulder (2024-Present)

Omidyar Postdoctoral Fellow, Santa Fe Institute (2022-2023)

Ph.D. Yale University (2017-2022)

A.B. Lafayette College (2013-2017)

My research investigates the fundamental principles governing biological complexity and resilience through an integrative approach that spans experimental biology, computational modeling, and deep-time analysis. I specialize in understanding how simple biological units evolve into complex, integrated systems—from cells forming multicellular organisms to species creating resilient ecological networks. My current work uses sponges and bryozoans as model systems for studying the evolution of cellular specialization. I combine lab-based regeneration experiments with energy-based diffusion models to quantify metabolic costs and predict optimal body plans. Throughout my research, I develop and utilize novel computational tools, including AI-driven pipelines for trait extraction, while emphasizing critical thinking about how these tools shape scientific inference.

White Sands, New Mexico.

TEMPORARY