Barry Chernoff works on the evolution, genomics, ecology and conservation of freshwater fishes in North and South America.  He is particularly interested in historical patterns of relationships (phylogeny) of selected groups of fishes, particularly minnows, characoids and silversides.  Recently, Chernoff and his students have been focusing in upon the genomic effects of post-glacial recolonization, climate change and anthropogenic alterations to watersheds.  Chernoff is using two species of common freshwater minnow to answer questions in these areas.  These studies are important because they predict how climate and habitat fragmentation are and will continue to afect the genomes and genetics of fishes and aquatic organisms.

Professor Barry Chernoff joined the Wesleyan Faculty in 2003 where he holds the Robert K. Schumann Chair of Environmental Studies. He currently chairs the Environmental Studies Program and is Director of the College of the Environment. He teaches courses in Environmental Studies, Tropical Ecology, Aquatic Ecosystem Conservation, Quantitative Analysis and Evolutionary Biology for the College of the Enviornmernt and the departments of Biology and Earth and Environmental Sciences. Chernoff’s research centers on the freshwater fishes in North America and the Neotropical region, primarily those in South America in the Amazon. His research includes, ecology, evolutionary biology and conservation. Chernoff has published more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific works, including 6 books and edited volumes. He has led international teams on expeditions designed to conserve large watersheds of the world, having made more than 34 expeditions in 13 countries. Recently, Professor Chernoff and his students have been working on aquatic ecology and conservation genetics of fishes in Connecticut watersheds. In the past he has held professorial and curatorial positions at the Field Museum, University of Chicago, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Pennsylvania and the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. He holds a visiting position at Universidad Central de Venezuela. Chernoff has received a number of awards including the Caleb T. Winchester Outstanding Scholar and Teacher Award, 1 May 2006, awarded by Xi of Psi Upsilon, Wesleyan University and a Commendation for Excellence in Teaching, University of Chicago, 2000. Chernoff was elected to the Connecticut Academy of Sciences and Engineering in 2005, where he chaired the Environmental Science and Technology Board until 2010. From 1993-1999, he served on the U.S. National Committee for the International Union of Biological Sciences elected by the National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council, and served as Vice-Chairman from 1995-1997 and Chairman from 1997-1999. He serves on the Inland Fish Commission’s Endangered and Threatened Fishes Panel for the CT Department of Environmental Protection. Chernoff co-wrote the script for a short documentary film entitled “Understanding Biodiversity” that was awarded finalist status at a number of film festivals, including Cannes, Toronto and Sundance, and received the Silver Apple Award from the American Educational Network. He has served on the boards of a number of community-oriented foundations, including the Confluence Greenway Project of St. Louis, Mo., and as President of the Sustainable Aquatic Research Center. Chernoff served as President of The Jonah Center for Earth and Art from 2004-2010, and as a Board Member of the Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts Center from 2018-2022, in Middletown, CT. Chernoff performs with two musical groups: the electric rock band, Smokin’ Lillies, and the acoustic string band, Mattabesset.