Matthew Heinicke

Matthew Heinicke is an Associate Dean and Professor of Biology at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, affiliated with the College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters and the Department of Natural Sciences. He teaches courses in Biological Sciences, the Master of Science in Environmental Science program, and Microbiology.

• Ph.D. in Biology from Pennsylvania State University (2009)

His research focuses on Evolutionary Biology and Herpetology, particularly the systematics and biogeography of amphibians and reptiles in southwestern Africa (Angola, Namibia, South Africa), the evolution of gliding in geckos, and the phylogeny of New World direct-developing frogs. He integrates fieldwork, museum studies, laboratory experiments, and computational methods to investigate these areas.

The trends in his publications highlight systematics, biogeography, taxonomy, and phylogenetic analysis of reptiles and amphibians. His work addresses diversification driven by geographic isolation, discovery of new genera, and the use of molecular and morphological data in herpetological classification.

Scientific Awards:

• Taylor and Francis award for outstanding paper published in 2014
• Alumni Association Dissertation Award, Pennsylvania State University, 2009

Dr. Heinicke advises undergraduate and M.S.E.S. graduate students, actively encouraging interested individuals to contact him via email for research opportunities in his lab.