University of Heidelberg.
In 1816 he travelled to Brazil as a diplomat. In 1839 he was made director of the royal art collections and had significant influence on Frederick William IV of Prussia for a re-development of the Museumsinsel, Berlin. Together with architect Friedrich August Stueler he developed the concept of the Neues Museum, Berlin and had great influence on organisation and presentation of exhibits and interior.
Olfers described a number of new mammal species in Wilhelm Ludwig von Eschwege"s Journal von Brasilien (1818).
Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities.