Gathered on the top floor of the Wilhelmina Reuben-Cooke Building on West Campus, members of Trinity College’s leadership recently saw how the modern and the historic are becoming intertwined in the building’s renewal. Hundreds of terra cotta tiles and sections of the original roof structure have been carefully removed to make way for a new penthouse that will house modern building systems. The Reuben-Cooke Renewal project brings new life to a historic structure that opened in 1931 during the first wave of construction of… read more about A Look Inside the Renewal of Reuben-Cooke »
Anushka Kumar is in Spain this semester, studying abroad and soaking in the experience.“It's been really cool to be in a totally different place and see how they teach — the structure of classes — and the academic and social culture,” says Kumar. “Traveling is just an experience I’ve always really wanted.” Kumar, a junior, is one of the many students taking full advantage of the many opportunities Duke offers — around the world and also here in Durham. read more about Connecting Classrooms and Communities: Duke Student’s Internship Advances Mental Health Education »
On July 25, 2025, the Trent Seman building was alive with energy as over 120 student researchers from 11 programs shared the results of their summer work. The Summer Research Showcase brought together students from Duke and from institutions nationwide, each presenting posters on projects that spanned the sciences, engineering, social sciences, and health policy. read more about Research That Saves Lives – and Changes Them »
By studying the sounds of the ocean, Duke undergraduate Lizzy Glazer speaks up for the sea creatures whose lives and homes are under threat.Lizzy Glazer’s passion for conservation has shaped her life.After graduating high school, Glazer took a gap year to pursue her desire to explore the underwater world. While living on the ocean in a sailboat for three months and spending time underwater as a certified divemaster, Glazer noticed the impacts humans have on marine animals.“It’s hard to just sit back and watch without doing… read more about Climate Pathfinder: Student’s Research Gives Animals a Voice »
Most people know Jane Goodall, who died Wednesday, as a silver-haired conservationist who chatted with Stephen Colbert and gave speeches to the United Nations in defense of nature. For scientists, however, it’s the young Jane Goodall who followed wild chimpanzees for weeks at a time who endures as an icon.“There will always only be one Jane Goodall,” said Michael Tomasello, an expert on the origin of language at Duke University. read more about Tomasello: ‘‘There Will Always Only Be One Jane Goodall" »
“Culture and systems shape all of our psychological experiences, including those experiences pertaining to race,” said Phia Salter, a newly named 2025 Bass Chair. “I’m interested in how we identify. What it means to be Black and how we talk about what it means to be Black.” The Fred W. Shaffer Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience identifies as a critical race psychologist, a blend of her training in social and cultural psychology and Africana Studies. Salter is interested in the ways… read more about Phia Salter: How Culture and Systems Shape Racial Experiences »
These vivid live music memories, that seem to come flooding back the moment a certain song comes on the radio, are not just a common experience, but a common psychological reaction.Eisha Naidu, a post-doctoral associate at Duke University in Durham, N.C., studied this very phenomenon.She and a team of researchers set out to explore why live music experiences feel so powerful and whether they offer psychological benefits after the moshing and crowd surfing is over.They hypothesized crowds taking in the same live music… read more about Duke Study Finds Live Music Creates Lasting Happiness Through Connection »
These vivid live music memories, that seem to come flooding back the moment a certain song comes on the radio, are not just a common experience, but a common psychological reaction.Eisha Naidu, a post-doctoral associate at Duke University in Durham, N.C., studied this very phenomenon. read more about Duke Study Shows Live Music Creates Lasting Happiness Through Connection »
Recently published research from Duke’s LaBar Lab reveals that painting isn’t just creative — it’s calming. In the study, 99 Duke-affiliated students and staff performed one of two leisure activities on alternate days: abstract painting and solving mazes. While wearing Fitbits to monitor physiological responses, participants consistently experienced greater reductions in anxiety after painting compared to solving mazes, regardless of their level of art experience or prior mental health history. read more about Pick Up a Paintbrush — Your Mind Might Thank You »
Scott Huettel, Senior Associate Dean for Research in Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, is playing the long game.As a professor in Psychology & Neuroscience, Huettel is well aware of the challenges facing research faculty across all disciplines. In the months since his appointment to the newly-created position, he’s been devising ways to help Trinity faculty identify and secure funding opportunities, as well as ensure students have access to robust research opportunities.Trinity leadership created the… read more about Meet Scott Huettel, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences’ Inaugural Senior Associate Dean for Research »
As mental health challenges surge on college campuses, a new study led by Duke University researchers finds that peer support programs—initiatives where students provide emotional support to fellow students—are rapidly expanding at colleges and universities across the country. The study, published in the Journal of American College Health, offers the most comprehensive look to date at the availability, structure, and quality of these programs. Researchers reviewed the websites of 776 institutional members of… read more about Study Shows More Colleges Are Embracing Peer Support — Just Not in the Same Way »
DURHAM, N.C. -- Any high school reunion is a sharp reminder that some people age more gracefully than others. Some enter their older years still physically spry and mentally sharp. Others start feeling frail or forgetful much earlier in life than expected.“The way we age as we get older is quite distinct from how many times we’ve traveled around the sun,” said Ahmad Hariri, professor of psychology and neuroscience at Duke University.Now, scientists at Duke, Harvard and the University of Otago in New Zealand have developed a… read more about Scientists Can Tell How Fast You’re Aging From a Single Brain Scan »
The richness of Duke’s intellectual communities and its deep commitment to interdisciplinarity are major draws for top scholars who are leaders in their fields. To help recruit these academic stars, Duke leveraged the university-wide institutes, initiatives and centers (UICs) to create the Provost’s School-UIC Joint Hiring Program and to offer starting support from UICs. Donors’ generous gifts helped make these programs possible.Duke was able to recruit more than 40 faculty members through these mechanisms between 2006 and… read more about Nine Reasons Stellar Interdisciplinary Faculty Choose Duke »
Psychology & Neuroscience graduate student Nimesha Gerlus has been awarded the first-ever Data Discovery Award from the Misophonia Research Fund (MRF). Misophonia is a neurobehavioral disorder in which certain everyday sounds, such as chewing, provoke intense emotional and physical reactions, including anger, anxiety or disgust.An M.D.-Ph.D. candidate, Gerlus’s work focuses on how emotional dysregulation is represented in the brain and how treatments aimed at improving emotional regulation affect neural function,… read more about Nimesha Gerlus Wins Data Discovery Award From the Misophonia Research Fund »
Eight faculty in Duke University’s Trinity College of Arts & Sciences have been honored with named professorships, effective July 1.These endowed positions recognize leadership and commitment to excellence in scholarship and research. Their recipients are outstanding teachers, mentors and researchers whose contributions are invaluable to the College of Arts & Sciences, as well as their students and colleagues.“Trinity is defined by the strength of its faculty, and we are extraordinarily fortunate to count these… read more about Eight Trinity College of Arts & Sciences Faculty Honored With Named Professorships »
DURHAM, N.C. -- Have you ever been stuck on a problem, puzzling over something for what felt like ages without getting anywhere, but then suddenly the answer came to you like a bolt from the blue?We’ve all experienced that “aha! moment,” that sudden clarity or magical epiphany you feel when a new idea or perspective pops into your head as if out of nowhere.Now, new evidence from brain imaging research shows that these flashes of insight aren’t just satisfying — they actually reshape how your brain represents information,… read more about Brain Scans Reveal What Happens in the Mind When Insight Strikes »
In the quest to unravel the mysteries of human cognition, a new study led by researchers from Duke University and Humboldt and Hamburg Universities in Germany has illuminated the neural underpinnings of those remarkable “aha!” or insight moments that often accompany sudden problem-solving breakthroughs. This collaborative research employed cutting-edge functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to capture the brain’s activity patterns as participants engaged in solving ambiguous visual puzzles. Beyond merely satisfying… read more about Duke Research Uncovers the Moment Insight Lights Up the Mind »
This month’s Student Spotlight features Mary Kate Merenich from Linwood, New Jersey. Merenich is a senior majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Psychology. Her journey toward pursuing a Neuroscience major began long before she stepped onto Duke’s campus. Merenich’s story is a powerful example of how illness can alter the course of one’s life—but doesn’t have to define it. Her experiences serve as an inspiring reminder of how personal challenges can ignite curiosity and a drive to explore unanswered medical… read more about Student Spotlight: Mary Kate Merenich »
At Duke, Marrujo found more than a college — he found a dance family built on collaboration and creativity. (Photo courtesy of Antonio Marrujo) “I started dancing in high school and quickly realized that it was something I wanted to stick with for the rest of my life,” shares rising senior Antonio Marrujo. “When applying to colleges, Duke stood out to me because I found the Dance Program to be so tight-knit and highly collaborative.”Student dance groups on campus stood out, too, so… read more about Mind and Motion »
Undergraduate research is one of the cornerstones of a Duke education. More than half of the undergraduates leave Duke after doing an honors project, independent study or other faculty-mentored research.“At Duke, undergraduate research is more than an opportunity — it’s part of our culture,” said Deb Reisinger, dean of undergraduate education. “From their very first year on campus, students are encouraged to explore big questions, test ideas, and engage directly with faculty mentors across every discipline. Whether in an… read more about Class of 2025 Honors: Exploring the Big Questions »
The following is a partial list of national, university, school and departmental awards presented to the members of the Class of 2025. In some awards where there are multiple winners, only members of the Class of 2025 are included. read more about Department Honors and Laurels for the Class of 2025 »
A new “atlas” developed by researchers at Duke University School of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, and the University of Pittsburgh will increase precision in measuring changes in brain structure and make it easier to share results for scientists working to understand neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. The tool, the Duke Mouse Brain Atlas, combines microscopic resolution, three-dimensional images from three different techniques to create a detailed map of the entire mouse… read more about Brain ‘Atlas’ to Help Study Neurological Disorders »
Alex Wang is a graduating senior with majors in Political Science and Economics and a minor in Psychology. He has served as a Trinity Ambassador for Political Science. Trinity Ambassadors are student volunteers, nominated by their departments, to serve in this unique and important role.We asked a few of the ambassadors from the Class of 2025 to share their favorite memories from Duke. The below interview has been slightly edited for clarity. What was the most important thing you’ve learned at Duke?The… read more about Notes From the Class of 2025: From FOCUS to Favorite Professor »
Alejandra Gonzalez-Acosta is a graduating senior with a major in Psychology and minors in Visual Arts and Computational Biology. She has served as a Trinity Ambassador for Psychology. Trinity Ambassadors are student volunteers, nominated by their departments, to serve in this unique and important role.We asked a few of the ambassadors from the Class of 2025 to share their favorite memories from Duke. The below interview has been slightly edited for clarity. What was one of the most impactful classes you took… read more about Notes From the Class of 2025: Seize Opportunities and Learn About Yourself »
Ten exceptional faculty members received the prestigious Bass Chairs, marking their induction into the Bass Society of Fellows. This honor recognizes their contributions to undergraduate teaching and research.The newly named chairs were celebrated during a reception at the Washington Duke Inn, where President Vincent Price, Provost Alec Gallimore and Vice Provost Candis Watts Smith offered remarks. They reflected on the qualities that define Bass Fellows, congratulated the new chairs, and expressed gratitude to the Bass… read more about Six Trinity Faculty Named 2025 Bass Chairs »
This month's student spotlight featured Hannah Hortman, a senior majoring in Neuroscience and minor in Computational Biology, and Chinese. Hannah is one of two Neuroscience students nominated for this year’s Faculty Scholar Award. This nomination, by itself, is quite an honor. Several highly competitive majors put in a bid for nomination.For Hannah, the path to neuroscience began with a spark of curiosity in middle school. While participating in the Positivity Project, a project with a goal to help middle schoolers develop… read more about Student Spotlight: Hannah Hortman »
Dr. John Purakal’s passion for his work became clear after finding, through his research, that residents in Detroit faced greater barriers to health care than those in Jamaica and Tanzania. His research mentor asked him what he was going to do with the study.“Publish it?” he responded. Purakal immediately realized that wasn’t the answer the professor was seeking.“Doesn’t that result make you mad?” the professor said.He was. Purakal has spent his career looking to identify health inequalities and create solutions to barriers… read more about Sullivan Award Honors Three Creating Stronger Access to Community Services »