Daniel J. Becker

Daniel J. Becker is an Assistant Professor of Biology at the University of Oklahoma, specializing in infectious disease ecology and evolutionary biology. His research integrates field studies, theoretical models, and computational approaches to understand pathogen dynamics in wildlife reservoirs, particularly bats and birds.

Education:

• Ph.D., University of Georgia
• B.A., Bard College

His lab investigates how anthropogenic changes—such as agricultural land use, urbanization, and migration—alter infection dynamics and cross-species transmission risks. Key methodologies include machine learning, phylogenetic analysis, and immunological profiling.

Recent publications focus on zoonotic pathogens, host competence modeling, and environmental drivers of disease. The lab is supported by grants for studying Nipah virus surveillance, vampire bat rabies, and immune responses to habitat changes.