Dr. Fabien Schultz leads the Ethnopharmacology and Zoopharmacognosy Junior Research Group (E&Z JRG) at the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM) in Hamburg, Germany. Fascinated from a young age by researchers and conservationists like Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey, Fabien grew up dreaming of studying wildlife and uncovering the medicinal potential of nature. Today, he lives his dream by combining fieldwork, laboratory research, and community collaboration to study how both humans and animals use plants, fungi, and other natural resources for medicine—all in a truly interdisciplinary way.

A Fulbright alumnus, Fellow of The Explorers Club, and recipient of The Explorers Club Flag Award and the EC50 – Fifty People Changing the World recognition, Fabien has spent years in Uganda, Tanzania, Germany, and beyond studying traditional medicine practices and animal self-medication. He has also co-founded ARUDEVO, a community-focused initiative in rural Uganda, and actively develops projects that return knowledge and tangible benefits to the communities he collaborates with.

As head of the E&Z JRG, Fabien balances leading cutting-edge research with mentoring the next generation of scientists. He supports group members’ career development by providing hands-on experience in fieldwork, laboratory studies, and project design, while fostering independent thinking, interdisciplinary collaboration, and ethical research practices. At the same time, he continues to pursue his own research interests, from studying neuroactive and anti-inflammatory compounds to exploring alternative therapies against multidrug-resistant pathogens, ensuring that both the team and the group’s scientific discoveries continue to thrive.