Paul Edward Stamets (born July 17, 1955)[3] is an American mycologist and entrepreneur who sells various mushroom products through his company.

[4] Having no academic training higher than a bachelor's degree, Stamets is largely self-taught in the field of mycology.

[10] He also received an Invention Ambassador (2014–2015) award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

[11][12] Stamets plays a significant part in the 2019 documentary film Fantastic Fungi, and edited the film’s official companion book, Fantastic Fungi: Expanding Consciousness, Alternative Healing, Environmental Impact.

The fictional version is an astromycologist and engineer aboard the USS Discovery, and is credited with discovering how to navigate a mycelial network in space using a "spore drive".