Publications

2026

• Barnhart, J.**, Roosmalen, E., Goebbels, M., de Bekker, C., Beckerson, W. C., Swafford, A. J. M. (2025). A reproducible pipeline for circadian rhythm analysis of automated extraction of insect behavioral and social dynamics. bioRxiv. Preprint available

• Beckerson, W. C., Goebbels, M., Miller, B. J., St. Charles, N., Murray, J., de Bekker, C. (2026). Zombie ants VR: Trial-and-error gameplay mechanics can be used to teach players about natural selection. European Journal of STEM Education, 11(1), 22. https://doi.org/10.20897/ejsteme/18457

2025

• Beckerson, W. C., Werner, S., Goebbels, M., Ramalho, J. J., Soroka, I., Wingert, S. T., Swafford, A. J. M., Ruijtenberg, S., Boxem, M., Stephens, G. J., van den Heuvel, S., de Bekker, C. (2025). The first of us: Ophiocordyceps use a novel scramblase-binding peptide to manipulate zombie ants. bioRxiv. Preprint. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.09.09.674826

• Beckerson, W. C. (2025). Neuroparasitology: Fungal effectors induce feeding in zombie silkworms. Current Biology, 35(11), PR760-PR762. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2025.06.069

• Beckerson, W. C., Krider, C.**, Mohammad, U.**, de Bekker, C. (2025). Which chemical makes ants walk like zombies? Science Journal for Kids. https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/which-chemical-makes-ants-walk-like-zombies/. adapted from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2023.06.011

2024​

• Beckerson, W. C. (2024). Replicating Darwin’s theory: Teaching evolution with microbiology by means of replica plating. CourseSource. https://doi.org/10.24918/cs.2024.34

• Beckerson, W. C., Anderson, J. O., Kulkarni, S., Perpich, J. D., Yoder-Himes, D. (2024). It’s about time: Exploring the dose-dependent effects of active learning on students of different social personalities in an upper-level biology course. Journal of College Science Teaching, 53(2), 177-186. https://doi.org/10.1080/0047231X.2024.2316378

• Beckerson, W. C., Laraba, I., Torres-Cruz, T. J., Steinkraus, D., Hajek, A. (2024). Mechanisms of host manipulation and mimicry in fungi. In: Haelewaters D. (ed.) Biodiversity and evolution of fungal parasites and pathogens. Elsevier. (ISBN: 978-0323885324). Authorea. Preprint https://doi.org/10.22541/au.172124619.90197485/v1

2023

• Beckerson, W. C., Krider, C.**, Mohammad, U. A.**, de Bekker, C. (2023). 28 minutes later: Investigating the role of aflatrem-like compounds in Ophiocordyceps parasite manipulation of zombie ants. Animal Behaviour, 203, 225-240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2023.06.011

• Will, I., Beckerson, W. C., de Bekker, C. (2023). Using machine learning to predict protein-protein interactions between a zombie ant fungus and its carpenter ant host. Scientific Reports, 13, 13821. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-40764-8

• de Bekker, C., Beckerson, W. C., Carolyn, E. (2023). How do some fungi turn insects into zombies? Science Journal for Kids. https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-do-some-fungi-turn-insects-into-zombies/. adapted from: https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.01872-21

2022

• Beckerson, W. C. (2022). Small organisms with big consequences: Understanding the microbial world around us. CourseSource. https://doi.org/10.24918/cs.2022.27

​2021

• De Bekker, C., Beckerson, W. C., Carolyn, E. (2021). Mechanisms behind the madness: How do zombie-making fungal entomopathogens affect host behavior to increase transmission? mBio, 12(5), e01872-21. https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.01872-21

2020

• Beckerson W. C., Anderson, J. O., Perpich, J. D., Yoder-Himes, D. (2020). An introvert’s perspective: Analyzing the impact of active learning on social personalities in an upper-level biology course. Journal of College Science Teaching, 49(3), 47-57. https://doi.org/10.2505/4/jcst20_049_03_47​​​