Department of Psychology & Neuroscience
Read the label of a prenatal vitamins bottle at a drugstore and chances are you’ll see, nudged between biotin and calcium, a nutrient called choline. You can thank Christina Williams for that. Williams, who recently retired after 30 years as a professor Psychology & Neuroscience at Duke, has a long history of looking at how prenatal nutrient supplementation affects offspring memory. “Choline is a very important nutrient,” said Williams, “but one that very few people know much about.” … read more about The End of an Era: Christina Williams Retires After Distinguished Career »
This week’s student spotlight featured Sofia Guerrero, a prominent member of Duke University’s senior class of 2024. With an impressive record in research and several awards to her name, Guerrero exemplifies academic excellence and dedication. Originally from Seattle, Washington, Guerrero began her journey at Duke University in 2020 with a clear direction in mind. Unlike many freshmen, she arrived with a clear interest in understanding how alterations in cell physiology result in disease. This passion led her to join Dr.… read more about Student Spotlight: Sofia Guerrero »
This week’s student spotlight features Karen Ru, a graduating senior from the class of 2024. Ru is part of the 2024 Graduation with Distinction (GwD) cohort. She is enthralled with her experience in the GwD program and would recommend, encourage, and urge her younger classmates not to miss this incredible opportunity. Originally from Farmington, Connecticut, Ru arrived at Duke University amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. But Ru didn’t let that dampen her experiences and made the most of her time as an undergraduate student at… read more about Student Spotlight: Karen Ru »
Ishika Gupta didn’t know anyone when she arrived at Duke as a first-year student. So, when she learned that the university had a mandatory random roommate policy for incoming first-year students, she saw it as an opportunity to meet new people from different backgrounds. “One of the reasons why I loved it is that my roommate was an engineering student, so there was no reason for us to ever meet at Duke except because of the random policy. I feel that because of it I got to meet her,” said Gupta, who at the time was a pre-… read more about Unlikely Roommates, Surprise Friendships »
This week's student spotlight featured Cordelia Hume, a Carolina native who grew up in Mebane, NC, a town only about an hour from Duke University. Growing up in a small town, Hume values universities with ample research opportunities and resources for students. A diverse school with many community outreach programs is also high on Hume’s list. She was not entirely sure how she would combine her diverse interests into a vision for her future, but she was confident that an education at Duke would help her achieve that.… read more about Student Spotlight: Cordelia Hume »
Mackenzie Warren is a graduating senior with a major in Psychology and a minor in Education. She has served as a Trinity Ambassador for Psychology & Neuroscience. 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 2024 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?… read more about Class of 2024: Mackenzie Warren »
Five Trinity students made their way to South Bend, Indiana for the 18th annual ACC Meeting of the Minds conference in April. Thang Lian, Sasha Bacot, Julia Davis, Abby Cortez and Trisha Santanam were selected to represent Duke and Trinity College of Arts & Sciences in the annual research conference celebrating undergraduate research and creative inquiry. Hosted this year by the University of Notre Dame, the Meeting of the Minds invites students from the 15 Atlantic Coast Conference member schools to participate by… read more about Trinity Students Head to the ACC Meeting of the Minds Conference »
"Neuroscience is mijn passie" is how you say "Neuroscience is my passion" in Dutch. I learned this from Imani Hall, who is this week's student spotlight feature. Imani Hall's hometown is Martha’s Vineyard, MA, but she was born in the Netherlands and is fluent in Dutch, a small fact that not many know about. Hall is a bright, captivating individual, and her desire to help others is palpable. Arriving at Duke amidst a pandemic, Hall didn’t let that dampen her experiences. While all her classes were online and social… read more about Student Spotlight: Imani Hall »
Six members of the Class of 2025 have been named to the fourth class of Nakayama Scholars. The Nakayama Public Service Scholarship bolsters the university’s efforts to encourage students to use their Duke experience to engage with significant challenges facing communities around the world. The students represent multiple disciplines across Duke’s academic departments as well as a variety of future career pursuits. Juniors Vineet Chovatia, Amy Fulton, Sarah Konrad, Will Lieber, Thomas Newberry, and Elliot… read more about Duke Names Fourth Class of Nakayama Scholars »
This week's student spotlight features a dynamic Latina student whose fervor for science and dedication to community service are truly inspiring. Her energetic personality, combined with thoughtful communication and a drive for excellence, act like a force that pulls you in. Valentina Ramirez is a senior with a major in Neuroscience and minors in Chemistry and Global Health. The Boston native distinctly recalls the moment she chose Duke University as her home for her undergraduate life. 'I remember vividly at a college… read more about Student Spotlight: Valentina Ramirez »
Over the nearly quarter century he spent as a professor of Psychology at Duke between 1953 and 1977, Edward “Ned” Jones conducted ground-breaking research focused on understanding how we form impressions of other people. Jones is best known for his research on correspondent inference theory. This theory and associated studies laid the groundwork for the “fundamental attribution error,” a mental bias wherein people overemphasize personality characteristics and underemphasize situational factors when making sense of others… read more about Ned Jones Changed the Way We Understand Social Stigma »
This week's student spotlight features Richard Gao, an international student from Huaibei, Anhui, China. Richard is a graduating senior with a major in Neuroscience and a minor in Art History, on track to Graduate with Distinction. Arriving in the US, amidst a global pandemic, Richard found navigating the complex cultural landscape between China and the US surreal. However, studying performance artists like Mike Parr, Marina Abramovic, and Zhang Huan in his Art History research, who use pain and vulnerability as a universal… read more about Student Spotlight: Richard Gao »
DURHAM, NC – Living in a poorer neighborhood is linked to accelerated brain aging and increased dementia risk early in life, regardless of income level or education, a Duke University-led study finds. The study, which appears March 14 in the Alzheimer’s Association’s journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, suggests that targeting disadvantaged neighborhoods for dementia prevention programs and encouraging clinicians to consider a patient’s address could help lower dementia risk. “If you want to prevent dementia, and you’re… read more about Poor Neighborhoods Linked to Elevated Dementia Risk and Faster Brain Aging »
Celebrating March Madness with a special double feature in our student spotlight this month. These two individuals not only share affinity for delving into the intricacies of the brain and Evolutionary Anthropology, but also harbor a passionate commitment to enhancing Duke’s campus life by enriching the experiences of others within the community. They’re both excel at playing a musical instrument. However, beyond these shared interests, these two individuals couldn't be more different in various facets of their lives.… read more about Student Spotlight Double Feature: Orion Kornfeld and April Zuo »