Bruce Schulte

Bio

Dr. Bruce A. Schulte is the Department Head of Biological Sciences, arriving at NCSU in August 2024. Previously, Dr. Schulte was the Associate Vice-President for Strategy, Performance and Accountability at Western Kentucky University (WKU) and a University Distinguished Professor. For ten years, he was the Department Head of Biology at WKU. Prior to WKU, Bruce was a professor at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia and before that at Providence College in Rhode Island. He received his B.S. in Biology from the College of William and Mary, his M.S. from the University of Southern California, and his Ph.D. at the State University of New York – College of Environmental Science and Forestry. His Master of Science Research was on chemical signaling in coral reef sponges and soft corals, his doctoral work was on the behavior and chemical signaling of the North American beaver, and his postdoctoral studies on elephant signaling and sociality. Along with colleagues, volunteers, graduate and undergraduate students, Bruce has studied elephants for over 30 years. In addition, he has conducted research on coral reef invertebrates and fishes, bumblebees, horses, rhino, manatees, dolphins, and other species. As a conservation behavior biologist, Bruce combines research on communication and other facets of animal behavior with applications for improving human wildlife interactions and wildlife conservation.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF INTERESTS:

Dr. Schulte is interested in proximate and ultimate influences on behavior and using our understanding of animal behavior, including human behavior, to resolve conservation issues.