Duke Physics Ph.D. alum Ryan Bouabid was awarded the Springer Thesis Prize. Bouabid’s award-winning thesis, “Tests of the Effective Weak Interaction with the World’s Smallest Neutrino Detector,” will be published in the book series “Springer Theses.” The series “Springer Theses” brings together a selection of the very best Ph.D. theses from around the world and across the physical sciences. The work reported in each thesis must represent a significant scientific advance. Bouabid defended his Ph.D. in 2025,… read more » about Duke Ph.D. Alumnus Ryan Bouabid Awarded the Springer Thesis Prize
Christina Colwell knew she wanted a college where friendships would grow beyond the classroom and professors felt more like mentors than voices at the front of a lecture hall. A campus visit with her father during Blue Devil Days made that vision a reality. “The faculty and students I met were so kind and accessible, and there was such a vibrant community spirit,” she recalls. “I remember calling my mom and telling her I needed to be here.” From her sophomore year in the… read more » about Rewriting the Formula: How Christina Colwell Brought Her Path to Science, Language and Cameron Indoor
Three Duke University faculty have been named 2026 American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS)’s fellows: Mélanie Lamotte, assistant professor of History; Cecilia Márquez, the Hunt Family Assistant Professor of History and Yun Emily Wang, assistant professor of Music. Lamotte, Márquez and Wang are joined by 62 fellows representing a wide range of institutions, disciplines and career stages, including many early-career and non-tenure-track scholars. Each fellowship provides up to $60,000 for six to 12 months of full-… read more » about Three Duke Faculty Awarded ACLS Fellowships
Two Trinity College of Arts & Sciences faculty members, professors of Cultural Anthropology Rebecca L. Stein and Orin Starn, have been named 2026–27 Fellows of the National Humanities Center, one of the nation’s leading institutes for advanced study in the humanities. They are among 29 scholars selected from a pool of 453 applicants representing universities across the United States and Ghana. During their fellowships, Stein and Starn will pursue major research projects while participating in the Center’s… read more » about Two Cultural Anthropologists Named 2026-27 National Humanities Center Fellows
The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) recently announced the election of 120 members and 25 international members "in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research."Two Duke faculty join the ranks of this prestigious organization:Robert Calderbank is Charles S. Sydnor Distinguished Professor of Computer Science and professor of mathematics at Trinity College of Arts & Sciences. He is also a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Pratt School of… read more » about Robert Calderbank Elected to The National Academy of Sciences
Mathematics Professor Tarek Elgindi has been awarded 2026 Guggenheim Fellowship. The new fellows are part of the 101st class of 223 awarded scholars, scientists and creative professionals from the U.S. and Canada chosen from a pool of more than 5,000 applicants based on both prior career achievement and exceptional promise.“Our new class of Guggenheim Fellows is representative of the world’s best thinkers, innovators, and creators in art, science, and scholarship,” said Edward Hirsch, award-winning poet and President of the… read more » about Duke Mathematician Tarek Elgindi Awarded 2026 Guggenheim Fellowship
Duke philosopher David Wong is among 252 leaders in academia, the arts, industry, journalism, philanthropy, policy, research and science elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, one of the oldest learned societies in the United States.Wong is the Susan Fox Beischer and George D. Beischer Trinity College Arts & Sciences Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and an affiliate of the Duke Initiative for Science & Society. He is a leading expert researching questions of morality on the personal and… read more » about Duke Philosopher Elected to American Academy of Arts & Sciences
When Madeline Sutton, assistant professor of the practice for the Thompson Writing Program, was in the fourth year of her Ph.D. program, she applied for a highly competitive national fellowship in education. The application process was intense: She needed a personal statement, a work plan, a detailed narrative about her dissertation research, and letters of recommendation from mentors. The people whose opinions Madeline Sutton valued most didn’t see her fellowship rejection as… read more » about Freedom to Fail: Madeline Sutton
When James Chappel, Gilhuly Family Associate Professor of History, thinks about failure, he doesn’t point to one dramatic moment. Instead, he describes something more common: the steady stream of rejection that comes with almost any career. “I know a lot of people,” said James Chappel. “Nobody I know succeeds in every area. It’s not possible.” “In grad school, I kept a spreadsheet of jobs I was applying to,” he said. “Everything I applied to, I put in a spreadsheet, and when I didn’… read more » about Freedom to Fail: James Chappel
Tristian Griffin came to the Master of Fine Arts in Dance: Embodied Interdisciplinary Praxis (MFAEIP) program for its interdisciplinary focus and the opportunity to extend his choreographic practice through Duke’s broader academic resources. He will graduate in May with an M.F.A., as well as a graduate certificate in African and African American Studies. “The ability to engage beyond the studio, integrate Black studies into my research and thesis, while also being guided by the insights of exceptional faculty — those… read more » about Tristian Griffin, MFA '26: Documenting Ancestry Through Movement
A recent essay by award-winning science writer Emily Anthes titled "In Defense of Dumb Dogs: Your pet is (probably) not a genius, and that’s OK" has generated countless emails, texts, and in-person comments.In a 2013 interview in Scientific American, dog expert Dr. Brian Hare, co-author of The Genius of Dogs with Vanessa Wood and founder of the Duke Canine Cognition Center, was asked, “What is the biggest misconception people have about the dog mind?” His answer: “That there are ‘smart’ dogs and ‘dumb’ dogs.... There’s… read more » about Duke Canine Researchers Stress the Importance of Being Dog Literate and Dog Smart
Michela Arietti is a senior who designed an interdisciplinary Program II major in Embodied Resilience, combining Dance, Neuroscience and nutrition. Building on her classical ballet training, she has explored a range of movement practices, with particular interest in deinstitutionalized dance and social choreography. Her academic work examines how trauma can be both produced and healed through dance and nutrition, moving from individual healing toward broader social change. Through multiple performance opportunities,… read more » about Michela Arietti '26: From Ballet to Brain Science
Michael Kiel is a senior from Des Moines, Iowa, majoring in Environmental Sciences with minors in Biology and Chemistry. During his time at Duke, he participated in research through Bass Connections and completed a Graduation with Distinction honors thesis in the Levin Lab studying the effects of environmental exposures on neurobehavior. As he prepares to graduate, Kiel reflects on the academic opportunities and communities that shaped his Duke experience. This interview has been edited for clarity and… read more » about Micheal Kiel '26: Discovering a Passion for Research
Mariam Gulamhusein is a senior from Dubai, UAE double majoring in Asian & Middle Eastern Studies and Economics. In addition to serving as a Trinity Ambassador, she is also a Climate & Sustainability Green Devil with Duke Athletics, and a member of the Climate Commitment Advisory Council leadership team. Gulamhusein is the chief of staff for Duke Student Government, lead editor of Research Africa Reviews and she studied abroad through the Duke in the Arab World program. In her spare time, she enjoys running, visiting… read more » about Mariam Gulamhusein '26: Leadership, Curiosity and Global Perspectives
Ella Sheehan is a senior from Austin, Texas majoring in Economics with a minor in Political Science. In additional to serving as a Trinity Ambassador, she has been involved in the Economics Student Union, Club Lacrosse, Business Oriented Women and Runway of Dreams. She studied abroad in London and completed a summer internship at Barclays as an operations analyst. In her free time, Sheehan enjoys hiking, painting and trying new restaurants. As the academic year draws to a close, we asked Sheehan to reflect on her time… read more » about Ella Sheehan '26: The Small Moments That Shape a Duke Experience
Ben Kahne is a senior majoring in Political Science with a concentration in political economy, a minor in Economics and a Certificate in Markets and Management Studies. In addition to serving as a Trinity Ambassador, he is involved with the Duke Investment Club and the Duke Real Estate Club, and is the founder of the Duke Business Ethics Club. He studied abroad with Duke in Madrid, and, in his free time, he enjoys DJing, listening to music, playing basketball and spending time with friends. As his undergraduate… read more » about Ben Kahne '26: Learning to Ask for Help and Keep Going
Alexandria Calloway is a senior majoring in Chemistry with a concentration in Biochemistry. In addition to serving as a Trinity Ambassador, she is a member of the Baldwin Scholars program, the Huang Fellows Program and the Iota Mu Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Calloway is interested in pursuing a career in healthcare, and in her free time she enjoys playing tennis, cooking, spending time with family and relaxing near the water. As commencement draws near, we asked Calloway to reflect on her time at Duke, the… read more » about Alexandria Calloway '26: Mentorship, Growth and Independence
Jason Murray is a senior double majoring in Classical Languages and Philosophy with a minor in Political Science. In addition to serving as a Trinity Ambassador, he co-leads the Transformative Ideas Living Learning Community, works with the Center for Christianity and Scholarship and is a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow. His academic interests center on ancient history and theology, particularly the intellectual life of the Eastern Roman Empire. In his free time, he enjoys playing chess and strategy video games. As… read more » about Jason Murray '26: Studying the Ancient World While Building Community in Durham
Jaqueline Villanueva Govea is a senior from Houston, Texas, majoring in Sociology with minors in Education and Global Health. At Duke, she serves as vice president of the Senior Class Council, a Duke Presidential Ambassador and a senior advisor for DukeLIFE, supporting first-generation and low-income students. She is also a Cardea Fellow, a TSTAR senior advisor with the Undergraduate Research Support Office and a microbiology researcher in the Perfect Lab. In addition, she contributes to the Bass Connections SALUD program… read more » about Jaqueline Villanueva Govea '26: From First-Generation Student to Mentor
Karina Lu is a senior from Seattle, Washington majoring in History with a concentration in Law & Governance and a minor in French. During her time at Duke, she competed in the American Moot Court Association Nationals, was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, received a Fulbright Scholarship, and published research with the Duke Center for Firearms Law and the Wilson Center for Science and Justice at Duke Law. Her senior thesis, “Embodying the Revolution: Female SentDown Youth on the Yunnan Frontier, 1969–1980,” explores… read more » about Karina Lu '26: Learning to Think Across Disciplines
Bradley Bowen is a senior double majoring in Statistical Science and Earth & Climate Science with a minor in Mathematics. In addition to serving as a Trinity Ambassador, he works as a statistics research assistant analyzing chemical mixtures in medical data and he is the vice president of the Duke Actuarial Society. Bowen is also a member of the Duke Chapel Choir and enjoys hiking and attending Duke athletics events. As the academic year draws to a close, we asked Bowen to reflect on his time at Duke, the… read more » about Bradley Bowen '26: Finding Interdisciplinary Purpose
Trisha Santanam is a senior majoring in English with a minor in Music. Her academic interests focus on literature, music and questions of identity, diaspora and belonging. In addition to serving as a Trinity Ambassador, Santanam is a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow researching how diasporic experiences can be heard through music and literature, as well as a member of the Bass Connections Archives and Creative Process team studying the archives of a feminist record collector and writer. On campus, she serves on the… read more » about Trisha Santanam '26 Finding Home in Literature and Music
Taylor Moorehead is a senior from Woodstock, Maryland, double majoring in Computer Science and Economics with a minor in Mathematics. In addition to serving as a Trinity Ambassador, she serves as an executive member of Duke Quantitative Finance, social chair of The Cube Entrepreneurship, LLC, and as a tour guide for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. For the past two summers, she worked as a quantitative trader intern in Chicago and Austin. In her free time, she enjoys playing spikeball and attending Duke basketball… read more » about Taylor Moorehead '26: A Small Decision That Defined a Duke Experience
Jiae Kim is a senior majoring in Public Policy with a minor in Education, a Certificate in Child Policy Research and a participant of the Secondary Teacher Preparation Program at Duke for social studies. An international student who graduated high school in Uzbekistan, she is interested in advancing equitable and inclusive global education through advocacy and policy. In addition to serving as a Trinity Ambassador, Kim is involved with Bull City Scholars, Duke Tour Guides and the Student Advisory Board for the Office of… read more » about Jiae Kim '26: Finding Purpose in Education and Community
Josh Alms is a senior from Long Island, New York, double majoring in Statistical Science and Computer Science with a minor in German. During his time at Duke, he worked in several applied research settings and wrote about sports for The Duke Chronicle. He enjoys traveling —especially his time studying abroad in the Duke in Berlin Program — as well as reading fantasy novels and hiking. After graduation, he will work in Washington, D.C., as a consultant. As commencement approaches, we asked Alms to reflect on his time at… read more » about Josh Alms '26: Rediscovering Sports and Scholarship at Duke
Sarah Wu is a senior from San Diego, California, double majoring in Statistical Science and Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics. At Duke, she developed a strong interest in statistics and teaching through her work as a teaching assistant for courses including Introduction to Calculus II and Introduction to Data Science. After graduation, Wu will pursue a Ph.D. in Biostatistics at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. As graduation approaches, we asked Wu to reflect on her time at Duke, the experiences… read more » about Sarah Wu '26: Discovering a Love for Challenge and Teaching at Duke
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
JR Cassidy is a senior from Seattle, Washington, double majoring in English and Theater Studies. At Duke, his work has centered on music, literature and theater. Cassidy studied abroad in the Duke in London - Arts and Duke in Seoul programs. In 2025, Cassidy directed Euripides’ “The Bacchae” for Duke Players, which earned him a Duke Arts Award for excellence in directing. He also received the Reynolds Price Award for Screenwriting for a screenplay he wrote through the Duke Arts Studio program. He is a contributing editor… read more » about JR Cassidy '26: From Directing “The Bacchae” to Writing for Film
Angelli Garibaldi-Arias is a first-generation student born in Lima, Peru, and raised in Denver, Colorado. She is double majoring in English and Romance Studies with a minor in Medieval and Renaissance Studies. Her research focuses on medieval and early modern literature — particularly Dante’s Divine Comedy and Cervantes’ Don Quixote — exploring questions of ethics, migration, empire and human value. Through literary and philosophical analysis alongside interviews with immigrants, her honors thesis, “Global Inequalities:… read more » about Angelli Garibaldi-Arias '26: Reading Migration Through Literature
What if coordinated AI interventions could heal the internet’s civility problem? A team led by Jun Yang, the Knut Schmidt Nielsen Distinguished Professor of Computer Science, received an honorable mention from the Laude Moonshots competition, along with a $100,000 grant to develop an AI-powered system for improving civic discourse on social media. Yang’s team brings together a multidisciplinary group of Duke faculty. Christopher Bail, Professor of Sociology, and Alexander Volfovsky,… read more » about Duke Team Receives $100,000 Laude Moonshots Award to Make Social Media More Civil