David Bergkamp

My interests are in biology, chemistry, and data science.

Currently looking for a new position.

Research Skills

Behavioral neuroscience

Study of behavioral signs of opioid withdrawal in mice following IP administration of various drugs of abuse across 5+ weeks.

Next generation sequencing

Isolation of tissue, preparation of cDNA libraries from RNA, and data analysis following third part sequencing using open-source tools.

Software for data analysis and visualization

Python (biopython, numpy, SciKitLearn, pandas, seaborn, and others)

R (ggplot2, tidyverse, DESeq2, clusterProfiler, WGCNA, et cetera)

Matlab for analyzing low and high dimensional data and preparing publication quality figures.

Familiar with Java and C++ for basic programming and image analysis.

Comfortable with Unix and Windows based operating systems and command line programming for various projects requiring job scheduling.

Experience with DOCK, AutoDockVina to model protein-protein interaction work.

Biochemistry and molecular biology techniques

Flow cytometry for isolation of cells based on engineered protein expression via mouse line crosses.

Immunohistochemistry for semi-quantitative measurements of protein expression and localization using confocal and widefield microscopy.

Application of ELISAs for determination of various protein target concentrations.

Plasmid design and editing using mammalian and bacterial cell culture methods

rAAV production and application to target transgene delivery (including CRISPR constructs) to mouse tissue.

Application of RT-qPCR to verify experimental results from NGS data.

Characterization of proteins using HPLC and NMR.

Writing and Communication

Experience writing grants for federal (NIH, NSF) as well as US state level funding mechanisms.

Excellent presentation and speaking skills focused on both academic and lay audiences.

Publications

Bergkamp, DJ, Coffey, KR, Dawkins, AJ et al. Repeated fentanyl abstinence intensifies opioid withdrawal and induces a proinflammatory state in striatal microglia. Psychopharmacology (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-026-07011-0

Bergkamp DJ and Neumaier JF, “How omics is revealing new roles for glia in addiction”. Glia (2024). https://doi.org/10.1002/glia.24584

Bergkamp DJ, Stuber G, Neumaier JF (2022, November). “Multiple cycles of opioid withdrawal prime and activate murine microglia.” Society for Neuroscience annual meeting 2022, San Diego, CA.

Levinstein MR, Bergkamp DJ, Lewis Z, Tsobanoudis A, Hashikawa H, Stuber G, and Neumaier JF, “PACAP-expressing neurons in the lateral habenula diminish negative emotional valence”. Genes, Brain, and Behavior, Vol 21 (7), e12801 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1111/gbb.12801

Allen RM, Mandt BH, Laggart J, Hackley A, Shickedanz A, and Bergkamp D, “Continuous exposure to dizocilpine facilitates the acquisition and escalation of cocaine consumption in male Sprague-Dawley rats”. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, Vol 147 (1), 137 – 143 (2014). 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.11.027

Mandt BH, Bergkamp D, Spahic I, Hackley A, Schickedanz A, Laggart J, and Allen RM (2013, August). “Dizocilpine-Induced Escalation of Cocaine Consumption is Independent of Altered Protein Expression.” APA Annual Convention, Honolulu, HI.

Education

Aug 2010 - May 2014 University of Colorado Denver, Denver CO

Sept 2018 - Aug 2024 University of Washington, Seattle WA