Matthew Aardema

Dr. Matthew Aardema is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at Montclair State University's College of Science and Mathematics, with a secondary appointment as a Visiting Scientist at the Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics (American Museum of Natural History). He holds a B.S. in Zoology and dual M.S. degrees in Entomology and Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior from Michigan State University, followed by a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Princeton University.

His research focuses on the ecology and evolution of arthropod disease vectors (especially mosquitoes in the Culex pipiens complex) and tick-borne pathogens like Anaplasma phagocytophilum, employing comparative genomics, population genetics, and phylogeography. Key areas include molecular adaptation in vectors, strain diversity of bacterial pathogens, and biosynthetic mechanisms in arthropods.

Dr. Aardema's recent publications (2019–2025) emphasize vector-pathogen interactions, genomic analyses of disease systems, and evolutionary patterns in arthropods and birds. Research frequently intersects entomology, evolutionary genetics, and infectious disease ecology, with fieldwork spanning North America, Europe, and Central America.

He directs the Aardema Lab at Montclair State, investigating evolutionary ecology of arthropod vectors and bacterial pathogens. The lab utilizes genomic tools to study molecular evolution, host-pathogen coevolution, and ecological adaptations in disease systems.