Meet the
Meet the Lab
Jen Berger, Ph.D.
Research Instructor
Jen is a faculty member in the laboratory with an interest in the crossroads between virology, immunology, and neuroscience. She is currently investigating the cellular immune response to viral infection of the brain, with a particular interest in emerging/re-emerging RNA viruses. In her spare time Jen likes to crochet, garden, and hike. When at home, Jen loves spending time with her cat and husband.
Dustin Heiden
Graduate Student
Dustin is an immunology graduate student with an interest in neuroimmunology. His thesis work focused on the mechanisms by which alpha-synuclein mediates innate immune responses in the brain. When he’s not in the lab, you can find him enjoying great music and the company of his friends.
Camille Merrick
Research Assistant
Camille completed her undergraduate work at University of Colorado and joined the Beckham lab after college to learn about virology research. She’s worked as a research assistant in the lab over the years and is instrumental in the daily operations of the laboratory. When not in the lab, Camille enjoys good music, good food, and spending time with her cat, friends, and family.
Robert (Cole) Evans Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Fellow
I’m interested in the neuroimmune mechanisms that contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. My work studies the role of innate immune signaling in neurons in formation and propagation of functional assemblies of alpha-synuclein. We hypothesize that assemblies of alpha-synuclein support innate immune responses and become pathological when over stimulated or are not efficiently removed from the neuron following an immune response.
Janhavi Natekar Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Fellow
My research focuses on investigating the pathogenesis of infectious diseases, specifically SARS-CoV-2 and flaviviruses such as West Nile Virus, Zika Virus, Japanese Encephalitis Virus, and Powassan Virus. I aim to identify microRNAs involved in regulating immune responses during viral-host interactions. Additionally, I am dedicated to discovering and validating neurotropic biomarkers that indicate viral infections in the central nervous system. My ultimate goal is to contribute to the development of next-generation vaccines and therapeutic strategies to combat emerging viral infections.
Maddie Slater M.S.
Research Assistant
Madeline recently completed her M.S. at the UNT Health Science Center and is thrilled to join the Beckham Lab to learn more about the fields of virology and neuroimmunology. With a personal connection to Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, she looks forward to aiding in research objectives and learning about various diseases and neuroimmune responses. When not in the lab, you can find her enthralled in a hockey game or Formula 1 race, working on fiber crafts, and spending time with her partner and cats.
Jacob Zielke
Graduate Student
Jacob is a student in the Neuroscience Graduate Program with an interest in the bidirectional interactions of the nervous system and immune system in health and disease. In the Beckham Lab, he aims to elucidate neuron-specific mechanisms of innate immunity and their role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Outside of the lab, he enjoys exploring new restaurants, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
Natalie Adams
Graduate Student
Natalie is a microbiology graduate student interested in flavivirus pathogenesis and antiviral immunity. She is currently working on uncovering the mechanism in which Dengue virus inhibits innate immune pathways through the production of subgenomic flaviviral RNAs. The overarching goal of her project is to generate an attenuated strain of Dengue virus that may contribute to the development of a quadrivalent Dengue vaccine. Outside of the lab, Natalie enjoys watching movies, crocheting, baking, and spending time with her two cats.
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