Matthew Schrader

Matthew Schrader is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at The University of the South, where he conducts research at the intersection of evolutionary biology and behavioral ecology. His work focuses on understanding how cooperation and conflict within animal families influence evolutionary processes, particularly in the context of parental care systems.

Dr. Schrader received his PhD in Biological Science from Florida State University in 2009, followed by postdoctoral positions at the University of Illinois (2009-2013) and the University of Cambridge (2013-2015). His educational background includes an MS in Biological Science from Florida State University (2003) and a BS in Zoology from the University of Florida (1997).

His research program integrates multiple approaches from life-history theory, behavioral ecology, quantitative genetics, molecular ecology, and experimental evolution. Dr. Schrader primarily uses burying beetles as model organisms to investigate family dynamics, with specific projects examining adaptation to different mating systems, parental effects across generations, and communication mechanisms among family members. His earlier work explored maternal-fetal conflict in placental fish, specifically investigating how resource allocation conflicts can drive evolutionary diversification.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2016-2024) reveals a consistent research trajectory focused on evolutionary adaptation within family contexts. His work demonstrates sophisticated experimental approaches to studying phenotypic plasticity, particularly how social environments shape evolutionary outcomes. Key themes include parental investment strategies, sibling competition dynamics, and the coevolution of traits within family units.

• Evolutionary adaptation in family systems
• Experimental evolution approaches
• Phenotypic plasticity and resource allocation
• Parent-offspring conflict dynamics
• Mating system evolution

Dr. Schrader actively mentors undergraduate researchers, having supervised projects by Lucy Rudman, Parker Hughes, Jack Galanek, Maddy Kaller, and Garret Lucey. He teaches Evolutionary Biology (BIOL213), Ornithology (BIOL201), Experimental Design and Data Analysis (BIOL217), and Field Biology (BIOL130), demonstrating his commitment to both research and education in the biological sciences.

His laboratory maintains a strong experimental focus, using controlled manipulations of family environments to understand how social interactions generate natural selection and drive evolutionary change. This approach has positioned him as a contributor to our understanding of how family life shapes evolutionary trajectories across generations.