Each year, Duke recognizes one graduating senior and one member of the faculty, staff or graduate student body for their outstanding commitment to service to others by awarding them the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award. This year's Sullivan Award winners are Dorothy Grace Smith, a senior studying neuroscience at Trinity College, and Dr. Christopher Ryan Kelsey, a radiation oncology specialist and faculty member of Duke’s School of Medicine. Both honorees received a framed certificate and medallion from Duke University Provost… read more about 2020 Sullivan Award Winners Embody Selflessness and Service »
The award gives Katherine Becker the opportunity to study global security and borders at Queen’s University Belfast beginning in fall 2020. By Carla Burkhard / Office of Scholars and Fellows, Duke University, Published May 19, 2020 Duke alumna Katherine Becker, Trinity ’17, has been awarded the Hillary Rodham Clinton Award for Peace and Reconciliation. The award provides a full tuition-fee waiver to an exceptional female student from the United States who… read more about Psychology Alum Katherine Becker Receives Hillary Rodham Clinton Award for Peace and Reconciliation »
Duke alumna Katherine Becker, Trinity ’17, has been awarded the Hillary Rodham Clinton Award for Peace and Reconciliation. The award provides a full tuition-fee waiver to an exceptional female student from the United States who wishes to pursue study in a field related to politics, conflict transformation or human rights at Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland. This is the second year the award has been offered. Becker is the sole recipient of the award for 2020-2021. She will use her award to complete a… read more about Duke Alum Wins Hillary Rodham Clinton Award for Peace and Reconciliation »
The Psychology & Neuroscience department honors the accomplishments of the Costanzo Teaching Fellows (TFs), a group of outstanding undergraduate students who were selected to gain teaching and mentorship experience in Introductory Psychology (PSY 101), one of Duke’s largest undergraduate courses. The Costanzo TFs plan and lead sections for the PSY 101 class, as well as provide one-on-one mentorship to students on a semester-long research and writing project. Although all of the Costanzo TFs are… read more about Costanzo Teaching Fellow Program Honors Outstanding Undergraduate Teachers »
Congratulations to Ceren Ebrem, winner of the 2020 Karl E. Zener Award. This award is given annually to an undergraduate psychology major at Duke University who has shown outstanding performance and scholarship, as determined on the basis of both the honors thesis (evaluated by a committee of faculty members) and the total academic record. As part of her study, Mindsets Through Language: Implications of Inferred Mindsets for Student Experience, Ceren was hoping to find if students’ intelligence mindsets could be… read more about Ceren Ebrem wins 2020 Zener Award »
Published by Duke Graduate School; written by Julian Daly, Communications Intern Intelligent. Clever. Bright. Smart. Odds are many Duke students have heard those words applied to them. Yet, what happens when you take thousands of smart people and throw them onto one campus where social comparison and feelings of imposter syndrome run rampant? “I think I am intelligent, however, I often question if I am smart enough to be at Duke.” “I believe myself to be intelligent, but only in certain disciplines…”… read more about Ph.D. Students Explore Duke Undergrads’ Mindsets about Intelligence »
“I've had so many people tell me over the last few weeks that they feel like they’re losing their identity,” said Sherilynn Black, Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement. “The work that they do—their teaching, research, scholarship—is so much of what makes them who they are.” Responding to the needs of faculty during the coronavirus pandemic, Black and her colleagues in Duke’s Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement are adjusting their programming with topics ranging from virtual student engagement and… read more about Duke Faculty Reexamine Their Roles as Scholars and Mentors in an Uncertain Time »
Fifteen Duke Ph.D. students have received prestigious awards from the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP) for 2020. Launched in 1952, the GRFP is the oldest graduate fellowship of its kind. It supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing Ph.D. or research-based master’s degrees. Fellows receive a three-year stipend, coverage of tuition and fees, and opportunities for international research and… read more about 15 Ph.D. Students Receive Prestigious NSF Fellowships »
After an unprecedented semester caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Duke University delayed its formal commencement ceremony while Marking the Moment virtually campus-wide. This year, more than 1,800 undergraduate students received their bachelor’s degrees, and more than 4,000 completed master’s and doctoral work. In a message to Psychology and Neuroscience graduating seniors, Scott Huettel, Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychology &… read more about Class of 2020 Celebrates by "Marking the Moment" »
Bruny Kenou '20 graduated with honors in neuroscience and minors in both psychology and chemistry. Kenou – a Rubenstein scholar, former research assistant for Edward Levin and Nancy Zucker, and advisee of Minna Ng – now heads to a two-year research fellowship with the National Institutes of Mental Health. Kenou's full feature story below written by Susan Kauffman was published May 8, 2020 in Duke Today. Bruny Kenou: Rubenstein… read more about Honors Neuroscience Student, Bruny Kenou '20, Featured in Duke Today »
DURHAM, N.C. -- Duke juniors Monica Desjardins and Darien Herndon have been named two of 55 recipients of the Udall Scholarship, which recognizes students who have demonstrated a commitment to careers in the environment or Native American tribal public policy or health care. Both Desjardins, a psychology and global health major from Maricopa, Arizona, and Herndon, a biology major from Lumberton, North Carolina, have been recognized as scholars in the area of Native American tribal health care. Only 8 of the 55 scholarships… read more about Two Duke Students Awarded Udall Scholarships for Work in Native American Tribal Health Care »
Congratulations to the following student award winners from Duke University units in 2020. African & African American Studies John Hope Franklin Award for Academic Excellence: Elizabeth DuBard Grantland Karla FC Holloway Award for University Service: Beza Gebremariam Mary McLeod Bethune Writing Award: Jenna Clayborn Walter C. Burford Award for Community Service: Kayla Lynn Corredera-Wells Art, Art History & Visual Studies… read more about Student Honors and Laurels for 2020 »
Coronavirus is riding roughshod over American secondary education, creating myriad new problems for educators ranging from the basic logistics of classroom teaching to the challenge of helping children deal with a weighty new wave of confusion and anxiety. But this global pandemic may also present an opportunity for education leaders to substantially re-think long-held education practices that could use some improvement, three Duke experts said Wednesday. In a virtual question-and-answer session with journalists,… read more about How to Teach Kids at Home During Pandemic »
DURHAM, N.C. -- Eighteen Duke students and alumni have been awarded Fulbright placements to teach English, study and do research abroad during the 2020-2021 academic year. The Fulbright US Student Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program, offering opportunities in over 140 countries. The Fulbright award is designed to facilitate cultural exchange and increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and those of other countries. The awards are announced on… read more about Eighteen Duke Students And Alumni Awarded Fulbright Scholarships »
2nd-year CNAP student Rachael Wright and RA Jack Dolgin have been awarded National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships (NSF GRFs); 1st-year CNAP student Raphael Geddert, and P&N students Anna Smith and Morgan Taylor received Honorable Mention. The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics… read more about Ph.D. Student Rachael Wright and Research Assistant Jack Dolgin Receive Prestigious NSF Fellowships »
Faculty member Gregory Samanez-Larkin has been selected as a 2020 Bass Fellow and appointment to a Bass Chair as the Jack H. Neeley Associate Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience. Samanez-Larkin’s research lies at the intersection of human development, affective science, health psychology, cognitive neuroscience, behavioral economics and experimental finance. His four undergraduate courses, including an upper-level seminar and a foundational statistics/… read more about Gregory Samanez-Larkin Selected as 2020 Bass Fellow »
Five Duke professors with demonstrated excellence in research and undergraduate instruction have been selected as the 2020 Bass Fellows. “This moment of crisis has highlighted the importance of having faculty who excel, both in teaching and in research,” said Gary Bennett, vice provost for undergraduate education. “Bass Fellows represent the best that Duke offers -- faculty with a commitment to discovery and delivering a transformational undergraduate education, one that changes lives and strengthens our global communities… read more about Five New Bass Professors Named for Excellence in Teaching and Research »
Thomas Newpher, P&N Assistant Professor of the Practice, and Ben Thier, Neuro major (’20), delivered the first-ever TEDxDuke joint student-professor talk: The Changing Landscape of Higher Education, on February 8, 2020 at Reynolds Industries Theater at Duke University. “It was the most humbling and fulfilling experience to end my senior year at Duke by giving this TEDx talk with my… read more about Thomas Newpher and Ben Thier Deliver Talk at TEDxDuke »
Doctoral student Jaime Castrellon of Psychology & Neuroscience, along with Amanda Lazarus (Art, Art History & Visual Studies), has won the 2020 Bass Connections Award for Outstanding Mentorship. This award recognizes the vital role graduate students and postdoctoral scholars play in mentoring students on Bass Connections project teams. Among many strong nominations, those for Castrellon rose to the top. Nominations from fellow team members and leaders described the… read more about P&N Graduate Student Jaime Castrellon Honored for Commitment to Outstanding Mentorship »
"Dealing with coronavirus: it's OK to be anxious." Duke mental health share ways to deal with isolation and anxiety.Full article published in Duke Today April 8, 2020 by Eric Ferreri Right now, it’s OK not to feel OK. In this unprecedented time of coronavirus-prompted social distancing, it’s unlikely that a person doesn’t encounter some level of anxiety or stress. But there are ways to approach it, according to three Duke experts who spoke to media Wednesday. Here are excerpts: ON BEING… read more about P&N Professors Terrie Moffitt and Tim Strauman Share Supportive Guidance in the Challenging Time of Social Distancing »
"We had our lives turned updside down very quickly." As a university community, we face tremendous challenges brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. Duke staff and faculty everywhere are stepping up to keep the important work of the university and health system going. Working@Duke highlights these contributions in a new feature titled "Dedicated Devils". With nominations from colleagues, Dedicated Devils will showcase the work of Duke employees who go above and beyond during this trying time… read more about David Rabiner Recognized as 'Dedicated Devil': Rising to the Challenge During COVID-19 »
Right now, it’s OK not to feel OK. In this unprecedented time of coronavirus-prompted social distancing, it’s unlikely that a person doesn’t encounter some level of anxiety or stress. But there are ways to approach it, according to three Duke experts who spoke to media Wednesday. Here are excerpts: ON BEING NORMAL Timothy Strauman, professor of psychology and neuroscience: “If you’re not feeling unsettled and worried and projecting into the future, then you’re not paying attention. This is… read more about Dealing With Coronavirus: It’s OK To Be Anxious »
P&N graduate student Brenda Yang has been selected as one of 100 doctoral students in the United States and Canada to receive a Scholar Award from the P.E.O. Sisterhood. She was sponsored by Chapter AJ of Cary, NC. The P.E.O. Scholar Awards were established in 1991 to provide substantial merit-based awards for women pursuing a doctoral-level degree at an accredited college or university. Scholar Award recipients are a select group of women chosen for their high level of academic achievement and their… read more about Graduate Student Brenda Yang Receives Scholar Award from the P.E.O. Sisterhood »
Katie Dickerson wanted someone to talk to as she navigated the transition from postdoc to assistant professor in Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Duke. A supportive sounding board for her questions about gender, equity, and other issues would be nice, she thought. Back in her grad student days, a book club geared toward women in science served as a safe space for candid discussions. Dickerson asked her colleague Shabnam Hakimi, postdoctoral scholar at the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences (DIBS), to collaborate on a… read more about Confronting Power Dynamics in Academia »
DURHAM, NC -- The stereotype of grumpy old people apparently doesn’t hold up under closer inspection. A new study from Duke and Vanderbilt University psychologists finds that older people are generally more emotionally stable and better able to resist temptations in their daily lives. “There is evidence here that emotional health and regulation improve with age,” said Daisy Burr, a Duke PhD student who led the study with Gregory Samanez-Larkin, an assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience. Their work appeared March… read more about Older People Generally More Emotionally Healthy, Better Able to Resist Daily Temptations »
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused Duke, like many other institutions, to move classes to remote access. Faced with the challenges of learning new technologies while also adjusting to social distancing and working/learning from home, P&N community members are finding ways to adapt in this uncertain time. Professor Ahmad Hariri's children June and James work together on math activities at their dining room table. Many parents are finding creative ways to homeschool while also working from home. "Now we… read more about Faced with the challenges of COVID-19, our community carries on »
“Write!” For Sarah Gaither, this command reminds her what she needs to make time to do. As an assistant professor of psychology & neuroscience at Duke, she balances a robust teaching and research load with administrative duties, meetings with collaborators and students, leadership of the Duke Identity & Diversity Lab and more. Advancing her own scholarship can get squeezed to the margins, but she can’t allow that to happen during this critical period in her career. From manuscripts, grants and book chapters to… read more about A Community That Writes Together »
Hannah Moshontz reflects on the experience of defending her PhD dissertation remotely on March 18, 2020. Moshontz is the first student in the department to do so, with great success! Congratulations, Dr. Moshontz! What was the process of defending your dissertation remotely? It worked a lot like a normal defense: I gave a 40 minute talk to a public audience, and then, with just the committee present, I answered several rounds of questions about the dissertation. The… read more about Hannah Moshontz becomes first P&N student to defend PhD dissertation remotely »