Matthew McCary
Matthew McCary
Dr. Matthew McCary is an Assistant Professor at Rice University, where he teaches courses in insect biology and leads the McCary Lab, conducting research on soil biodiversity, food web dynamics, and ecosystem response to environmental disturbances. Prestigious institutions, including the Ford Foundation and the National Science Foundation, have supported his research. Dr. McCary also serves on the Ecological Society of America's Mercer Award Committee as Associate Editor for the Journal of Animal Ecology and Biological Invasions and is the Black Graduate Student Association Faculty Advisor at Rice University.
“To do the best science, you should be having fun” Shape- Dr. Matthew McCary, 2024.
Moyano, J., Dimarco, R. D., Paritsis, J., ... McCary, M. A., et al., 2024. Unintended consequences of planting native and non-native trees in treeless ecosystems to mitigate climate change, Journal of Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.14300
Yitbarek, Y., K. Chen, M. Celestin, & McCary, M.A. 2023. Urban mosquito distributions are modulated by socioeconomic status and environmental traits in the USA, Ecological Applications, 33, e2869. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2869
Cheng, S.J., K.M, Gaynor, A.C. Moore, K. Darragh, C.O. Estien, J.W. Hammond, K.L. Mills, C. Lawrence, M.D. Baiz, L. Khadempour, M.A. McCary, D. Ignace, M.M. Rice, S.J. Tumber-Dávila, Smith, J.A. 2023. Championing inclusive terminology in ecology and evolution, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 38, 381-384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2022.12.011
Bertellotti, F., Sommer, N. R., Schmitz, O. J., & McCary, M. A., 2023. Impacts of habitat connectivity on grassland arthropod metacommunity structure: A field-based experimental test theory, Ecology and Evolution, 13(11). https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10686
McCary, M.A., and O.J. Schmitz. 2021. Invertebrate functional traits and terrestrial nutrient cycling: insights from a global meta-analysis. Journal of Animal Ecology, 90, 1714-1726. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.13489
Dr. Matthew McCary became interested in the environment through a series of events, the most memorable being going to work with his father, who worked in pest control. He recalls being fascinated by how insects live in places that do not seem livable, such as the cockroaches living behind an apartment fridge in Chicago. While it sent his brother running away, it intrigued Dr. McCary. From a young age, he was always interested in insect ecology and science, partly attributed to his experiences with his father. He attended North Central College for his BA in Biology and holds a PhD in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Ecology and Evolution from the University of Illinois, Chicago.
After graduating with his PhD, Dr. McCary completed his postdoctoral research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where his work was supported by the National Science Foundation (2017-2020). Afterward, he joined Yale University as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, supported by the Ford Foundation (2020-2021), before starting his current position as an Assistant Professor at Rice University (2021-present). Dr. McCary leads the McCary Lab at the university, where Dr, McCary leads students and research focused on soil biodiversity and how it relates to food web dynamics and ecosystem responses to environmental disturbances. He uses observational and experimental studies, modeling, and molecular techniques to conduct research. Dr. McCary has received several awards and fellowships in recognition and support of his research, including being named the Early Career Fellow from the Ecological Society of America (2022-2026), being inducted into the Sigma Xi International Scientific Research Honor Society, the 2021 Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, and Belonging Award from Rutgers University, and the NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship. In addition to his role as a researcher, Dr. McCary teaches insect biology. He is also a Member of the Ecological Society's Mercer Award Committee, Associate Editor for the Journal of Animal Ecology and Biological Invasions, the co-chair of the Black Ecologist Section of the Ecological Society of America, and the Faculty Advisor of the Black Graduate Student Association at Rice University.
In reflecting on career highlights, Dr. McCary discusses being selected for various competitive and prestigious fellowships and scholarships, including the Dean's Scholarship during his doctorate, the NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship, and the Ford Foundation. Additionally, he mentions his recent appointment as an Early Career Fellow at the Ecological Society of America as a career highlight.
Dr. McCary says there were several influential people throughout his career who helped him get to where he is today. He mentions that many of his mentors in undergrad helped solidify his interest in becoming a professor, including Dr. Christine Weilhoefer, who took him under her wing during his time at North Central College. In a predominantly white school, Dr. Weilhoefer saw Dr. McCary for him and his talent and helped him get an internship with the Environmental Protection Agency. Additionally, he highlights his Ph.D. advisor, Dr. David Wise, as someone with whom he had an incredible relationship and helped him further develop as a scholar.
In speaking to the importance of mentorship, Dr. McCary says it can help develop young scholars and help them find their way in a world that seems scattered. It provides the "tools and encouragement to keep going when things are unclear" (2024). Dr. McCary seeks to create these experiences in the McCary Lab and his courses at Rice University. He ensures the environment is welcoming, inclusive, and comfortable by encouraging students to reflect on their identities. Dr. McCary says that "the science follows after that," highlighting the importance of a comfortable environment in producing research (2024).
First and foremost, Dr. McCary reminds young professionals to have fun. Of course, there will be challenges and things that make you question your place in the field, but being able to have fun makes the hard work worthwhile. He highlights that it is a privilege to work outdoors and think about questions that affect the environment, health, and other things, but it is essential to enjoy yourself while doing it. Dr. McCary reminds young professionals that science doesn't have to be complicated to the point where it is unenjoyable, as it is often thought to be. Instead, he says, "To do the best science, you should be having fun!" (2024). He takes his advice to heart, picking projects he will enjoy despite the inevitable challenges.
(JEDSI) Survey and interviews conducted by Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Sustainability Initiative staff. 2022-2024. Yale University-School of the Environment. New Haven, Connecticut.
Matt McCary. (2024). McCary Lab. Retrieved May 17, 2024 from http://www.mattmccary.com/people.html
Matthew McCary [Photo]. (n.d.). Rice University. Retrieved May 17, 2024 from https://profiles.rice.edu/faculty/matthew-mccary
Matthew McCary. (n.d.). LinkedIn. Retrieved May 17, 2024 from https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-mccary-3075052a/
Matthew A. McCary. (n.d.). McCary Labs. Retrieved May 17, 2024 from http://www.mattmccary.com/uploads/9/4/8/5/94853902/matt_mccary_cv_march2...