Stefan Scholz received his PhD degree in 1996 on cyp1a induction in primary rainbow trout hepatocytes. After a position at the University of Dresden in research (endocrine disruption) and teaching (animal physiology, reproductive biology, toxicology) he moved to the UFZ, Department of Bioanalytical Ecotoxicology in 2002. In 2004 he engaged in a research internship at the University of Nagoya, Japan using transgenic fish models. 

Recently, his research focus became centred around the (zebra)fish embryo model, a very versatile alternative test system compliant to the 3Rs approach. This test system was used to develop predictive assays for acute fish toxicity and acute mammalian toxicity, teratogenicity, endocrine disruption and chronic fish toxicity. He is co-organiser of a biannual conference on "Fish and amphibian embryos as alternative models in toxicology and teratology . Particularly the fish embryo model is useful within the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) concept and his research aims at developing assays targeting molecular initiation and key events causally linked to adverse effects. At the UFZ, S. Scholz is coordinating the work package "AOPs in the research program "Exposome .