2025 SURA Early Career Scientist Award Goes to Dr. Daniel Becker
Washington, D.C. – The Southeastern Universities Research Association (SURA) is pleased to announce that Dr. Daniel Becker of the University of Oklahoma will receive the 2025 SURA Early Career Scientist Award at the upcoming SURA Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., this October. This award recognizes a faculty member within ten years of completing their Ph.D. who has made significant scholarly contributions and shown exceptional promise as a scientific leader.
Dr. Sean J. Hearne, President and CEO of SURA, stated: “It is a privilege to honor Dr. Becker with the 2025 Early Career Scientist Award. His groundbreaking work on the ecology and evolution of infectious diseases, particularly in wildlife systems, is not only innovative but also impactful in shaping our understanding of global health dynamics.”
Dr. Daniel Becker is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Oklahoma, where he leads the Becker Lab. His research explores the ecology of infectious disease in wildlife, with an emphasis on how anthropogenic changes—such as land use, climate variability, and urbanization—alter host–pathogen dynamics. Dr. Becker’s work uniquely integrates field ecology, disease modeling, and quantitative synthesis to examine how animal behavior, immunology, and movement influence the spillover and spread of zoonotic diseases.
A particular focus of his research has been the role of bats in pathogen maintenance and transmission. By combining ecological fieldwork and computational modeling, Dr. Becker and his collaborators have advanced understanding of the ecological drivers of emerging pathogens like coronaviruses, Hendra virus, and hemoplasmas. His studies have revealed that food provisioning and habitat fragmentation can elevate infection risk in bat populations, providing valuable insights for both conservation and public health strategies.
Dr. Becker earned his Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of Georgia and completed prestigious postdoctoral fellowships at Montana State University and Indiana University. He has published over 125 peer-reviewed papers in high-impact journals such as Nature Ecology & Evolution, PNAS, Ecology Letters, and The Lancet Planetary Health, with more than 5,000 citations to date. His scholarship has been supported by the National Science Foundation, National Geographic Society, National Institutes of Health, Human Frontier Science Program, Edward Mallinckrodt, Jr. Foundation, and U.S. Department of Defense.
In addition to his research excellence, Dr. Becker is recognized for his interdisciplinary collaborations and commitment to mentoring students across ecological, veterinary, and computational fields. His lab fosters inclusive, globally connected research experiences, including field sites in Latin America and partnerships with international research consortia.
“The University of Oklahoma congratulates Dr. Becker for receiving this prestigious recognition. Dr. Becker’s work exemplifies the University of Oklahoma’s commitment to cutting-edge research that elevates our understanding of public health and conservation. He is a truly deserving recipient, and we look forward to his continued contributions as a scientific leader,” said Dr. Matt Hulver, OU Vice President for Research and Partnerships.
The Early Career Scientist Award is open to faculty who have held the rank of Assistant Professor or Associate Professor (for less than three years at the time of nomination) at a SURA member institution. Nominees must demonstrate research excellence and the potential to shape the future of their disciplines. Visiting and adjunct faculty are not eligible.
SURA is a consortium of fifty-seven member universities that fosters collaborations which enhance members’ capacity to undertake significant, transformative scientific research projects that no single institution can address independently. The Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility is managed by Jefferson Science Associates, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of SURA, for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.
For more information about the Early Career Scientist Award, visit: Early Career Scientist Award < SURA
Contact:
Marita Guliashvili
SURA Events and Office Coordinator
mguliashvili@sura.org