A new study co-authored by Dorsa Amir, assistant professor of Psychology & Neuroscience, and Sheina Lew-Levy of Durham University, reveals that children are not simply passive recipients of adult knowledge but active cultural producers whose innovations and practices can help entire communities adapt to social and environmental change. Dorsa Amir, assistant professor of Psychology and Neuroscience The research, published in Behavioral and Brain Sciences, brings together evidence… read more about Playful Innovators: New Study Reveals Children’s Key Role in Shaping Human Culture »
Trinity College of Arts & Sciences is increasing its support for early-stage interdisciplinary research efforts with new funding for four faculty-led research initiatives designed to foster collaboration across the social sciences, natural sciences and arts & humanities. The projects — spanning biodiversity, statistics, mental health, philosophy, cultural heritage and data science — came out of a competitive call for proposals launched last year. Two initiatives, Causality at Duke and BioTA: Biodiversity… read more about Trinity Funds Four New Faculty-Led Research Initiatives »
Psychology & Neuroscience Ph.D. student Aliza Ayaz has received a Data Discovery Award from the Misophonia Research Fund (MRF) for her project examining how brain connectivity differs among people with misophonia, emotion dysregulation and affectively healthy adults. Ayaz will receive $45,000 from the MRF, along with an additional $30,000 in co-funding from a third-party donor, bringing her total award to $75,000.Misophonia is a condition in which everyday sounds such as chewing, … read more about PhD Student Earns Award to Study Why Everyday Sounds Trigger Intense Reactions for Some People »
As temperatures climb and daylight stretches late into the evening, summer brings a familiar set of experiences — buzzing mosquitoes, sun-soaked afternoons and, for many people, the urge to reset routines or chase new goals. But the season also carries serious risks. Extreme heat and wildfires can threaten lives, destroy homes and ecosystems, and send hazardous smoke across entire regions. Behind both the ordinary and unsettling aspects of summer are fascinating scientific explanations.We asked four Duke faculty experts to… read more about Hot Days, Cool Science: Duke Experts Break Down Summer’s Everyday Mysteries »
Felipe De Brigard and Polly Ha are two of five Duke University faculty members named Provost Faculty Fellows for the 2026-27 academic year. The selective program aims to introduce Duke faculty members to key leadership roles and responsibilities and areas of strategic focus of the university. Fellows were nominated by their deans and submitted proposals for projects connected to their interests. read more about Two Trinity Professors Named Provost Faculty Fellows »
We invited Duke University faculty to reflect on the Declaration through the lens of their own discipline. Each contributor responded to a common prompt: “250 years later, how does your field help us understand, advance or challenge the ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence?” By Sarah Gaither, Nicholas J. and Theresa M. Leonardy Associate Professor Psychology & Neuroscience The Declaration's preamble speaks in collective terms: “We hold these truths… read more about The Declaration at 250: Psychologist Sarah Gaither Reflects on Life, Liberty & Belonging »
Why does a splash of color on canvas sometimes stop us in our tracks while other abstract paintings leave us cold? A new study from Trinity College researchers suggests the answer may lie in how viewers draw on their own life experiences. Cognitive psychologist Anna Smith led research investigating viewers' reactions to abstract art as part of her Ph.D. at Duke. “Abstract art leaves more room for people to generate their own interpretations,” said Anna Smith, a cognitive… read more about When Abstract Art Moves You, Your Memories May Be Why »
The idea that dementia prevention may hinge on what people do in their mid-30s to their 60s is rapidly reshaping the field. Scientists increasingly believe the disease is driven not only by changes in the aging brain, but also by years of metabolic stress, inflammation and vascular damage accumulating across the body. Many researchers now think the biological process that leads to dementia begins 15 to 20 years before the first memory problems emerge. By the time symptoms become noticeable, the disease likely will already… read more about Duke's Ahmad Hariri on How Early Habits Make or Break Long-Term Brain Health »
What does it mean for an entire nation — not just an individual — to feel ashamed? What happens inside a family when one member becomes involved in the criminal justice system? How do people change the way they think in order to feel better? These are the questions anchoring the research recognized this year by the Trinity College of Arts and Sciences’ Distinguished Dissertation Awards. Now in its second cohort, the award honors three members of Trinity's graduating Ph.D. class who… read more about Big Questions, Bold Research: Trinity Honors 2026 Distinguished Dissertation Award Recipients »
The Duke Center for Teaching and Learning is delighted to welcome Bridgette Martin Hard as our inaugural Faculty Director.A Professor of the Practice in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience and Director of Undergraduate Studies for Psychology, Bridgette brings a distinguished record of leadership in teaching, mentoring, and faculty development. Her work centers on helping educators strengthen their teaching and mentoring while building communities in which teaching is valued as a meaningful, rewarding, and… read more about Bridgette Martin Hard Named Inaugural Faculty Director of Duke Center for Teaching and Learning »
To chart how our brains change over the course of our lives, neuroscientists have focused largely on beginnings and endings: the rapid development and pruning of neural connections in childhood and adolescence, and the degeneration associated with old age.“Think of midlife as the top of an inverted U-curve,” says Ahmad Hariri, a professor of neuroscience at Duke University in North Carolina. You spend the earlier decades on the upward slope, developing and refining your brain. You’ll likely spend decades on… read more about Duke Neuroscientist Ahmad Hariri on Why You Need to Future Proof Your Brain in Middle Age »
Duke University has been awarded $4.4 million from The Duke Endowment for the Duke Lemur Center (DLC), including support for a newly created academic director position. Primatologist and Duke alumna Elizabeth Lonsdorf (T '96) will join the DLC and the Department of Evolutionary Anthropology in this new role on Aug. 1.The new position fills a need identified by an interdisciplinary faculty review committee last year. Working with Executive Director Greg Dye, Lonsdorf will be responsible for… read more about Trinity Alumna Elizabeth Lonsdorf Joins Duke Lemur Center as New Academic Director »
When you’re in the middle of a disagreement, the person across from you can start to feel like a stranger. That’s one of the biggest reasons empathy gets harder to access mid-fight, says Patty Van Cappellen, a social psychologist at Duke University.“Conflict is typically when people see themselves as being more distant,” she says. “Like, ‘I don’t recognize this other person.’”The fix is what she calls psychological closeness. “Focus on aspects in the relationship that will bring you closer,” she advises. That might mean… read more about Duke's Patty Van Cappellen Shares The Secret to Ending Arguments Faster »
Chronic abdominal pain affects an estimated 10–15% of children and is a leading cause of school absence and daily disruption for families. For many children, the experience does more than hurt—it teaches them something potentially harmful: that their bodies cannot be trusted.A new study by researchers at Duke University challenges that assumption, suggesting that how children learn to relate to their bodies may be just as important as how their symptoms are treated. Led by Nancy Zucker, PhD, the research team… read more about Duke Psychologist Nancy Zucker's New Study Reframes How We Treat Chronic Pain »
For the past few years as a Duke undergraduate student, Nana Osaki has studied the brain, focusing on how language changes after a stroke. During her sophomore year, she became the Blue Devil mascot – a role that depends entirely on gestures.Together, those experiences have shaped how she understands communication and how a stroke causes language to break down. Nana Osaki spent years anonymously representing Duke as the Blue Devil mascot. (Photo courtesy of Nat LeDonne) “I think a large… read more about How the Blue Devil and Brain Research Intersect »
“Brain scientists, clinicians and scholars have been dealing with tough times this past year,” said Marc Sommer, director of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences (DIBS). He noted that, although Duke’s schools and departments have been very supportive in helping their faculty and research groups with bridge funding and other initiatives, there’s an opportunity for DIBS to lend additional assistance during challenging financial moments.“DIBS has focused specifically on ways to support graduate students and… read more about Ph.D. Fellowships Provide Valuable Support for the Duke Brain Sciences Community »
Kora Sotunde is a senior from Atlanta, Georgia majoring in Sociology with a minor in Psychology and a Certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. In addition to serving as a Trinity Ambassador, she is also vice president of the Body Empowerment Club, a writer for The Coop Magazine and a Pilates instructor at Duke Rec. A self-described creative, she also enjoys interior design projects and DJing — something she first learned through a Duke course. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in marketing strategy.… read more about Kora Sotunde '26: Finding Creativity and Direction at Duke »
April is Stress Awareness Month, and a time to recognize the impacts of stress on mental and physical health. It’s also a time to encourage reflection about healthy ways to cope, like mindfulness, exercise, rest, and leaning on social supports. Bridgette Hard, Professor of the Practice of Psychology and Neuroscience (Photo courtesy of Hard) With LDOC on the horizon, that means final exams are also around the corner. If your stress level is rising, you’re likely not alone. Few… read more about Stressed Out About Finals? A Psychology Professor Shares What Works »
On April 16, over 100 Duke University students presented their research at the Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium.Students presented posters, gave flash talks, shared their senior theses and attended lectures with Duke alumni. Discover some of the highlights of the day. read more about Discovery on Display at the Undergraduate Research Symposium »
The Office for Faculty Advancement has awarded seed grants to seven new projects led by Duke faculty members. The theme for this grant cycle is “Building Community and Strengthening Networks to Improve the Faculty Experience.”Faculty were invited to propose innovative initiatives to build community, creative approaches to address specific mentorship needs, and novel approaches to improve the faculty experience.The seed grant program will provide financial support for these projects through April 2027. Project leaders… read more about Trinity Faculty Awarded Seed Grants by Duke Office of Faculty Advancement »
Cristina Salvador, Susan W. Beltz and A. Morris Williams, Jr. Assistant Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, has been awarded the Rising Star award from the Association for Psychological Science.The Association for Psychological Science (APS) is an international nonprofit organization promoting protection and advancements in psychological research, teachings and human welfare. Founded in 2009, the Rising Star award recognizes early-career researchers across the globe whose innovative work advances the field and signals… read more about Cristina Salvador Named Association for Psychological Science Rising Star »
Eight honorees, including two Trinity College of Arts & Sciences students, received Climate Commitment Leadership Awards at the annual Duke Climate Commitment Celebration event Thursday, April 9.The awards recognize students, staff, and faculty who demonstrate leadership in climate and sustainability efforts in support of Duke’s Climate Commitment and who embody its vision. This year’s group came from across Duke, demonstrating how the Climate Commitment is being advanced through education, research, community… read more about Two Trinity Students Honored at Climate Commitment Awards »
During Full Frame week in downtown Durham, Belem Destefani moves with quiet purpose. A volunteer has a question about their shift. A filmmaker needs to do a tech check for their film. A screening is about to let out, and the lobby is filling fast. Destefani takes it all in, then pivots to the next task. “I like to think of my role as putting everything together,” she says. “Giving people the tools they need, then trusting them to do what they do best.” Since 2024, Destefani (T’09) has served as Operations Director… read more about From Trinity to Full Frame by Means of Curiosity »
Duke University has awarded distinguished professorships to 38 faculty and will recognize them in a ceremony at the Washington Duke Inn on May 18.“I am delighted to recognize these faculty members with distinguished professorships,” said President Vincent E. Price. “Their work reflects a deep commitment to excellence in research and education, advancing new ideas and discoveries that benefit society and inspire future generations.”Distinguished professorships honor faculty who are well-established members of the Duke… read more about Seven Trinity Faculty Members Among Duke's New Distinguished Professors »
The Bass Connection team, Duke iGEM: Synthetic Biology for Human Health and Society (Duke iGEM), earned a gold medal at the 2025 International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Jamboree for its project RESPIRA: Responsive Engineered Strain for Polymicrobial Infection Recovery in Airways. Students from across Trinity College of Arts and Sciences and Pratt School of Engineering comprise the core of Duke iGEM. Cameron Kim, assistant professor of the practice in Biomedical Engineering explains that RESPIRA… read more about Duke iGEM Team Wins Gold at 2025 International Jamboree »
Thomas Newpher, associate professor of the practice of Psychology and Neuroscience, has been newly elected as a Councilor for Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience (FUN).FUN is an international organization supporting neuroscience research and education at the undergraduate level. They work to support more than 400 members who teach, mentor, and conduct research with undergraduates across a variety of institutions. Their mission is to support neuroscience faculty, enhance undergraduate participation in… read more about Thomas Newpher Elected as Councilor for Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience »
Dorsa Amir, Assistant Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, was recently announced as a recipient of the 2026 APS Janet Taylor Spence Award for Transformative Early Career Contributions by the Association for Psychological Scientists (APS). First awarded in 2010 and named after APS’s first president, the Spence Award honors particularly creative and promising APS members who embody the future of the field. This year, it recognizes six psychological scientists conducting cutting-edge research on topics ranging from… read more about Dorsa Amir Receives 2026 Janet Taylor Spence Award for Transformative Early Career Contributions »
How do children learn to cooperate with others? A new cross-‑cultural study suggests that the answer depends less on universal rules and more on the social norms surrounding the child. In the study, researchers examined how more than 400 children ages five to 13 from the United States, Canada, Peru, Uganda and the Shuar communities of Ecuador behaved in situations involving fairness, trust, forgiveness and honesty. The team also surveyed children and adults in each community to understand what people believed was… read more about How Cultural Norms Shape Childhood Development »
Dr. Sarah Gaither, principal investigator of Duke’s Identity and Diversity lab, reminds us that our identities aren’t fixed labels, but rather living proof of who we are and how our experiences shape us. Everyone interacts in different contexts, whether that be with a boss, a friend, or a grandparent. Gaither and her team explore how multiple identities, including racial and cultural ones, can change over time or between contexts and interactions. The Gaither Lab has contributed to a better understanding of mixed identities… read more about Understanding Mixed Identity Through Sarah Gaither’s Research »
In Minna Ng’s “Neuroscience Service Learning” course, students create hands-on brain activities for after-school camps run by the Durham Children’s Initiative and the Downtown Durham YMCA.“One of my students got recruited to be a counselor for their summer camp to work with the kids and train other counselors,” says Ng, who is assistant professor of the practice of psychology and neuroscience. “She took the activities we created, made them better and reported back to me, saying ‘This doesn’t work, this works really well,… read more about How Two Trinity Faculty Members Are Bringing Coursework Into the Community »