Lab Members

Dr. Burton is the Principal Investigator of the Neuroimmunology and Behavior (NIB) Lab. He is the Eugene McDermott Associate Professor in Neuroscience at The University of Texas at Dallas. Dr. Burton received his B.S. and Ph.D. at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He moved to Dallas, TX to begin his postdoctoral fellowship at both UT Southwestern Medical Center and UT Dallas. He has been recognized as an early career award winner by the Endocrine Society, the American Pain Society, the American Society for Cell Biology, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), and the Rita Allen Foundation.  His lab strives to traverse the gap between basic research and clinical application to patients. His goal is to continue developing his leading research program studying neuroimmune interactions and mentor highly motivated trainees at all levels.

Selected Honors and Awards

• Provost Distinguished Lecturer, Louisiana State University (2023)
• Society for Neuroscience Rising Star/SFNova Lecturer (2022)
• Fellow, Eugene McDermott Professorship (2022)
• Congressional Recognition for Science Leadership, U.S. House (2021)
• Research Corporation for Science Advancement, Fellowship (2021)
• Rita Allen Foundation Scholar (2019)
• NIH Mitchell Max Award for Excellence in Pain Research (2019)
• Keystone Symposia Fellowship (2018)

Emily received her Ph.D. in Integrated Biomedical Sciences with a focus in Neuroscience from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in 2023. Her doctoral research investigated how keratinocytes interact with nerve fibers in the skin to initiate pain responses and produce antinociception. She is interested in studying how nonneuronal cell types interact with pain sensing neurons to initiate and contribute to pain and inflammation. Outside the lab, she enjoys spending time with her dog, Bandit, and bearded dragon, Tad Cooper, playing dungeons and dragons, and baking.

Anna Cecilia earned her Ph.D. in Physiological Sciences from the Federal University of São Carlos in 2024. Her doctoral research focused on exploring how specific brain structures influence emotional responses, particularly anxiety, through experimental approaches involving behavioral testing in animal models. She started in the lab November of 2024 and her academic interests now center around the interplay between behavior and neuroimmune modulation. Outside the lab, she is an enthusiastic karaoke singer and enjoys hiking and the serendipity of getting lost while exploring new destinations during her travels.

Shevon obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry with minors in Mathematics and Biology in 2019. She earned a Master of Science in Chemistry at The University of Texas at Dallas in 2021, then continued her PhD with a newfound interest in the meritorious research conducted by the Burton lab.  Her interest lies in discovering the neuroimmune and biochemical mechanisms involved in the development of alcohol-induced chronic pain.

Audrey graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Microbiology. She joined the Burton Lab as a Research Assistant/Masters Intern in the Summer of 2022 and started the PhD program in the fall of 2023. She is expanding her knowledge of neuroimmunology and developing the project in cannabinoid signaling. Outside of research, Audrey enjoys traveling, watching movies, and spending time with her dog, Jayne.

Lindsey started as a PhD student in the fall of 2023. She completed the Professional Science Master’s degree in Biotechnology at Texas Woman’s University and her focus in the lab is identifying biomarkers indicative of chronic pain to predict neurosurgical outcomes and from a diverse donor population through wet lab experiments as well as bioinformatics data analysis and visualization techniques using Python and associated libraries.

Caylah graduated from Brown University in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. After graduating, she worked at UT Southwestern characterizing lung development during embryogenesis. In Fall 2024, she began the Cell and Molecular Biology PhD program and is currently a joint rotation student in the Burton and Sanchez lab.

Sydney Lawley is a fourth-year undergraduate majoring in research neuroscience and minoring in psychology. She is studying cannabinoid receptors and their effects on body systems. Outside of the lab, she enjoys reading, drawing, and cuddling with her dog, Maddie.

Cole Johnson is a third-year undergraduate student majoring in biology and minoring in business administration. She joined the lab in summer of 2023 and has been studying cannabinoid receptors and their relationship with analgesia. Outside of the lab she enjoys playing softball for UTD and traveling.

Claire O’Sullivan is a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in biology and minoring in business administration. She joined the lab in summer of 2024 and is working on a mix of projects with rodents and human immunology. Outside of the lab, she enjoys playing soccer for UTD, traveling, and reading

Elizabeth is a sophomore undergraduate research intern majoring in Neuroscience. She began in the summer of 2024 and is working with postdocs on rodent-focused projects. In her free time, she likes to play violin, read classics, and spend time with her family and dog, Dior

Shishu obtained his Ph.D. in Biology from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India, in 2022 and worked in the lab until fall of 2024. He worked on flushing out the lab’s calcium imaging protocols and the complexities of neuroimmune mechanisms underlying sex differences in pain perception. Beyond the lab, he enjoys exploring nature, photography, and cinema.

Melissa was a PhD student in the lab from 2018-2023 and is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Michigan. She has authored over 13 manuscripts while in the Neuroimmunology and Behavior Lab.

Calvin Uong worked from 2019-2023 as a Biochemistry undergraduate and a PostBac/Research Assistant. He is an aspiring pre-health student and is working on his 2nd co-first author publication exploring the effects of western diet on pain sensitization.

Calvin’s published contributions to the lab: 

Tierney, J.A.*, Uong, C.D.*, Lenert, M.E., Williams, M., Burton, M.D. High-fat Diet causes mechanical allodynia in the absence of previous injury or diabetic pathology. Scientific Reports. 2022 Sep 1:12(1). Doi 10.1038/s41598-022-18281-x. *=co-first author

Zach worked in the lab from 2019-2022 and is a first or co-author on several manuscripts on projects revolved around macrophage and microglia imaging. He hopes to further his education in pursuit of a PhD and a career of research. He’ll be on the PhD admissions market for Fall 2025 acceptance!

Atlas of Science Piece

Jessica Tierney worked with Dr. Burton from 2015-2021. She received her joint BS/MS in Applied Cognition and Neuroscience from UTD in 2020 and then worked as a full-time research scientist in the lab. Jessica researched the role dietary components in the western diet play in pain and diabetic peripheral neuropathy.  She has started at UTMB in their MD/PhD program.

Thomas Szabo-Pardi was in the lab from 2017 and 2022. His research involved the sexually dimorphic role of Toll-Like Receptor-4  in various cell types on the development of chronic pain states. He has co-authored over 17 papers in the lab! You can catch him on the west coast as a Field Application Specialist with Sigma.

Kathy Garner came worked as a graduate student from 2017-2022. KMG was the lab’s realist and contrarian and her studies pursed sex differences in development, maintenance, and metabolic implications of chronic pain. She is now a Technical Resource Scientist with Kent Scientific.

Natalia’s project focused on how Age and Sex are important factors to an organism’s response to acute pain from surgery and the transition to chronic pain states. Natalia graduated in the summer of 2021 and is a Research Scientist in “the Bay”.

Umar worked as a research assistant under Dr. Burton on projects aimed at understanding the role of aging, sex, and neuroimmune interaction in the development of neuropathic pain. He also worked on projects using methods to optically clear tissues. Umar is currently a DO candidate at KCUMB.

Umar’s published contributions to the lab: 

Szabo-Pardi, TA*, Syed, U*, Castillo, ZW, Burton MD. Use of Integrated Optical Clearing and 2-Photon Imaging to Investigate Sex Differences in Neuroimmune Interactions after Peripheral Nerve Injury.  Frontiers Cell and Developmental Biology, online ahead of Print Jan 2021. *co-first authors

Bethany Nottingham was an undergraduate intern from 2017-2020. She was crucial in a number of early studies in the lab.

Bethany’s published contributions to the lab: 

Mody PH*, Dos Santos NL*, Lenert ME, Barron LR, Nottingham BA, Burton MD. The role of cap-dependent translation in aged-related changes in neuroimmunity and affective behaviors. Neurobiology of Aging. 2020. online Volume 98, February 2021, Pages 173-184 doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.10.014.*co-first authors

Dr. Mody was a postdoctoral research associate from 2019-2021. She completed her doctorate in Molecular Biology from Texas Woman’s University in Denton, TX. Her focus in the lab was the role of aging on neuroinflammation and behavior. She authored 5 papers with us in 2 years!

Dr. Agalave was a postdoctoral research associate from 2018-2020. He completed his doctorate in Molecular Pharmacology from the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden. His focus in the lab was the role of TLR4 on various cell types on neuroinflammation and behavior. He is currently a scientific head in Industry. He authored 7 papers with us in 2 years!

Safa was an undergraduate research intern from 2022-2024 and worked on several projects from fatty acids to human spinal cord characterization.

Abuzar Naqvi was an undergraduate from 2022-2024 who created and optimized algorithms to analyze the calcium behavior of fibroblasts and other non-excitable cells. He currently has a big boy job on the east cost.

Olivia Reed was in the lab from 2022-2024 as an Undergraduate Researcher Scholar. She worked on our short-term ethanol project, with the purpose to understand the mechanisms surrounding the development of allodynia influenced by casual and binge drinking. She is currently a PhD student at Rice University in Houston.

Hanna Abdelhadi worked in the lab as an Undergraduate Research Scholar from 2021-2023. Hanna’s projects lab revolved around neuroinflammatory mechanisms in female reproductive health and aging. Outside of research, she enjoys traveling, piano, and painting.

Warona interned in the Lab from 2017-2019. Her project studied inflammation and sensitization related to high fat diet and pain. She is currently a resident at Parkland hospital in Dallas after graduating with her MD from UTMB.

Isaiah was in the lab during the 2017-2018 school year. He is currently a MD/PhD Student at the University of Virginia.

Dana was on the Burton Team from 2016-2018. She worked on the multiple projects exploring the physiology of macrophages. She graduated with her PhD in Biomedical Engineering from  UT- Austin in 2023 and is currently a Data Analyst Consultant at GlobalLogic

Luz worked as a Research Assistant in the lab from 2017-2021. Luz was instrumental in a number of studies in the lab.

Kortne was an undergraduate intern in the lab for a year. She studied the regulatory role of TLR4 receptors in  neuropathic pain. Kortne is currently a Middle School Science Teacher!

Michelle worked in the lab from 2019-2022! She was a Clark Scholar and Undergraduate Research Scholar who worked on projects observing sex differences in diabetic neuropathy models and IBD. She is on the pre-med path.

Vivien worked in the lab from 2018-2020 as an undergrad scholar and masters research intern. She conducted behavior experiments and was interested in researching the cellular role of TLR4 in response to sickness and depression. She is currently an Associate Scientist at Amgen in California.

Isabela assisted in our cannabinoid receptor projects. During her free time she likes drawing, playing the bass and shooting film photography.