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 »
Meltem Yucel is a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience working with Professor Tamar Kushnir in the Early Childhood Cognition Laboratory and James F. Bonk Distinguished Professor Mike Tomasello in the Tomasello Lab. Yucel’s primary research interests include the development of social cognition and morality, with a focus on how and when children become moral beings. She’s also deeply invested in diversifying psychology and making it more accessible. With that… read more about Postdoc Meltem Yucel Studies How Gossip Influences Relationships »
This month’s student spotlight featured Connor Wood, a junior majoring in neuroscience with a pre-med track from Lexington, Tennessee. Connor is a versatile athlete, excelling in football while also participating in various sports from soccer to track and field during high school. His outstanding record—a four-time all-region, three-time all-West Tennessee, and two-time all-state champion—caught the attention of Duke football recruiters. Among numerous offers from different schools, ranging from the SEC to Ivy Leagues, Duke… read more about Student Spotlight: Connor Wood »
Terrie Moffitt, Nannerl O. Keohane University Distinguished Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience has received the title Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, commonly known as the MBE. The honor, also bestowed upon many celebrities over the years, was presented to Moffitt by King Charles III at a ceremony in Windsor Castle in recognition of her outstanding scientific achievement and service to the United Kingdom. Established in 1917 by King George V, the MBE is the third highest… read more about Terrie Moffitt Receives Royal Honor From the British Monarchy »
Rejection letters will never provide happiness, but sometimes, if written with kindness, they can be helpful. At least one applicant to Duke’s graduate program in cognitive neuroscience felt that way after receiving a rejection letter written by GR Samanez-Larkin, director of graduate studies for the program. The student posted the letter on Reddit, saying it was “a great rejection email.” “Please know that this decision is not diagnostic,” Samanez-Larkin wrote, in a letter approved by the Graduate School that was… read more about A Kind Rejection Letter Gets High Grades »