# 862: Understanding How the Brain Battles Infection - Dr. Tajie Harris

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/people-behind-the-science-podcast-stories-from-scientists-about-science-life-research-and-science-careers-170988/862-understanding-how-the-brain-battles-infection-dr-tajie-harris
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/people-behind-the-science-podcast-stories-from-scientists-about-science-life-research-and-science-careers-170988/862-understanding-how-the-brain-battles-infection-dr-tajie-harris.md
Podcast: [People Behind the Science Podcast Stories from Scientists about Science, Life, Research, and Science Careers](https://stenobird.com/podcast/people-behind-the-science-podcast-stories-from-scientists-about-science-life-research-and-science-careers-170988)
Published: 2026-04-27T07:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://peoplebehindthescience.libsyn.com/862-understanding-how-the-brain-battles-infection-dr-tajie-harris
Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/peoplebehindthescience/862_Tajie_Harris_Final.mp3?dest-id=193191
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Duration seconds: 2485

## Resource

Dr. Tajie Harris is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neuroscience in the School of Medicine at the University of Virginia. Tajie's research is at the intersection of immunology, microbiology, and neuroscience. She's interested in understanding how the immune system functions in the brain, particularly when someone is infected with a single-celled parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. When she's not working, Tajie enjoys going for walks and spending time with her two rescue dogs. She is also a fan of traveling, cooking, and putting together jigsaw puzzles. She received her B.S. degree in biology from Bemidji State University in Minnesota and her Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Afterwards, Tajie conducted Postdoctoral Research in immunoparasitology at the University of Pennsylvania before joining the faculty at the University of Virginia where she is today. In this interview, Tajie shares more about her life and science.

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