Her research focuses on human-environment relationships in social-ecological systems; and explores indigenous environmental knowledge to answer questions about how communities and households adapt and respond to environmental risks and changes associated with biodiversity conservation and climate change in rural southern African communities. She has conducted research in Mozambique, Tanzania, Portugal, South Africa, Kenya and Fiji. At Maryland, Dr. Shaffer teaches Intro to Ecological & Evolutionary Anthropology (ANTH222), Changing Climate, Changing Cultures (ANTH266), Researching Environment & Culture (ANTH468), and Anthropology & Climate Change (ANTH452/652).