Drew Schield

Dr. Drew Schield is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Virginia, leading the Schield Lab. His research focuses on evolutionary genomics and population genetics to understand speciation, adaptation, and sex chromosome evolution in non-traditional model taxa like rattlesnakes and barn swallows. He holds a B.A. in Biology from the University of Minnesota Morris (2012), a Ph.D. in Quantitative Biology from the University of Texas at Arlington (2018), and completed postdoctoral research at UT Arlington (2018–2019) and an NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Colorado Boulder (2020–2023).

• Education:
• B.A., University of Minnesota Morris, 2012
• Ph.D., University of Texas at Arlington, 2018
• Postdoctoral Research, University of Texas at Arlington, 2018–2019
• NSF Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Colorado Boulder, 2020–2023

His research integrates empirical genomic data with computational and field-based approaches to study:

• Evolutionary processes driving speciation and adaptation
• Genetic basis of adaptive traits (e.g., venom in rattlesnakes)
• Sex chromosome evolution and regulation
• Recombination landscapes and their evolutionary implications

Recent work includes identifying roles of balancing selection in rattlesnake venom evolution and exploring recombination patterns in snakes. Dr. Schield currently advises graduate students Megan Alderman and Dylan Highland. He is recruiting a PhD student for Fall 2025 and welcomes postdoc inquiries.

Labs/Teams: Schield Lab (PLSB 218/239, University of Virginia).