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
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
Dan Scolnic, associate professor of Physics, has been named a recipient of the 2026 New Horizons in Physics Prize, awarded by the Breakthrough Prize Foundation. He shares the prize with five collaborators — Dillon Brout, J. Colin Hill, Mathew Madhavacheril, Maria Vincenzi, and W. L. Kimmy Wu — for their advances in cosmic microwave background and supernova cosmology. The New Horizons in Physics Prize is awarded annually by the Breakthrough Prize Foundation — the organization behind the $3 million Breakthrough Prizes,… read more » about Dan Scolnic Receives Breakthrough New Horizons in Physics Prize
Jungsang Kim, the Schiciano Family Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and professor of Physics at Duke University, has received the Changjo Medal of the Order of Science and Technology Merit, the highest class of South Korea’s premier national honor for scientists and engineers.Kim is one of two recipients selected this year for the award, which recognizes contributions to science and technology with national and global impact. The Changjo Medal, whose name translates to “creation,” is the top of… read more » about Physics Professor Jungsang Kim Receives South Korea’s Top Science and Technology Honor
Senior Associate Dean for Research Scott Huettel will serve as Dean of Social Sciences beginning July 1, Dean Gary Bennett announced Thursday. Huettel, a professor of Psychology and Neuroscience and former chair of the department, will step into this role after serving as Trinity’s inaugural Senior Associate Dean for Research and follows Kerry Haynie, who has led the Social Sciences Division as dean for the past four years. Scott Huettel will serve as Dean of… read more » about Huettel to Lead Social Sciences Division
Simon Miles has been named by Duke University as a Bass Chair in recognition of his excellence in undergraduate teaching and research.Miles will be the Kevin D. Gorter Associate Professor of Public Policy, effective July 1 for a five-year term. He will become a lifetime member of the Bass Society of Fellows. Bass Chair recipients, including Miles, were honored at a Duke University reception for Bass Chairs on April 15. The Bass program, established through a gift to Duke in 1996 from Anne T. and Richard M.… read more » about Simon Miles Selected by University as Bass Chair
The CUNY Graduate Center has announced the winners of its 2026 Alumni Awards recognizing graduates whose distinguished work spans research, education, public service, health and the arts. Ryan Donovan, assistant professor of Theater Studies, is one of the seven awardees. Together, this year’s honorees embody the Graduate Center’s commitment to research for the public good. Their work has shaped fields, informed practice, expanded access to knowledge and care, and strengthened institutions in New York and around the… read more » about Ryan Donovan Receives CUNY Alumni Award
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
Jian Pei, an Arthur S. Pearse Distinguished Professor of Computer Science, has been selected to receive the 2026 PAKDD Distinguished Research Contributions Award. The Pacific-Asia Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (PAKDD) is a prestigious and highly selective conference that includes high-profile keynote and invited talks as well as peer-reviewed full research papers. Pei will present his research, Data Mining in the Age of AI: What Endures, What Changes, and What Matters Next, in… read more » about Duke Computer Science Professor Jian Pei Receives PAKDD Distinguished Research Award
Ten63 Therapeutics, a biotechnology company with strong Duke University roots, has secured major new investment to advance its artificial intelligence-driven approach to drug discovery. The company recently announced a strategic financing round that brings its total funding to more than $45 million, with support from major investors including the Gates Foundation and the Chugai Venture Fund. Ten63 was founded by Duke professor Bruce Donald and his former Ph.D. students, Marcel Frenkel (now CEO) and Mark Hallen (now CTO… read more » about Duke-Founded AI Drug Discovery Company Secures Major New Funding
On the third floor of the Allen Building, tucked into a corner room with a beautiful view of Abele Quad, you’ll find the office of Professor of English Victor Strandberg. Covering the walls of his office is an extensive, carefully curated collage of influential figures and moments from history, collected over his more than 90 years of life.Some images are from his 60-year tenure as an English professor at Duke University. Others represent personal points of interest. From images of the first moon landing to newspaper… read more » about After 60 years of stories, English Professor Victor Strandberg closes out his chapter at Duke
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
Herman Pontzer, professor of Evolutionary Anthropology, has been elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), one of the most distinguished honors in the scientific community. Pontzer’s research explores the physiology of humans and apes to better understand how ecology, lifestyle, diet and evolutionary history shape metabolism and health. His work also examines how ecological and evolutionary forces influence musculoskeletal design and patterns of physical activity.… read more » about Duke Professor Herman Pontzer Elected AAAS Fellow
Beverly McIver, an emerita professor of the practice in Duke’s Department of Art, Art History and Visual Studies, has received The Order of the Long Leaf Pine award.It is the highest award for state service given by the office of the governor. McIver, an acclaimed contemporary artist, was one of a dozen recipients of the award from Gov. Josh Stein Tuesday afternoon.The award is given “to persons for exemplary service to the State of North Carolina and their communities that is above and beyond the call of duty and which has… read more » about Professor Beverly McIver Receives Top State Honor
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
Digital communications pioneer recognized for foundational contributions to technologies enabling billions of devices from early modems to modern smartphones. read more » about Duke’s Robert Calderbank Receives Marconi Prize
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
Cynthia Rudin has been named a Fellow of the world's preeminent computing society — the Association for Computing Machinery — for her contributions to and leadership in interpretable machine learning and societal applications.The Gilbert, Louis, and Edward Lehrman Distinguished Professor of Computer Science, Rudin “represent the top one percent of professionals in our association,” explained ACM President Yannis Ioannidis. Rudin’s research focuses on interpretable machine learning and its applications — … read more » about Association for Computing Machinery Selects Cynthia Rudin for Outstanding Achievement
Michael Troxel, associate professor of Physics and co-director of the SPACE Initiative at Duke, was recently awarded the NASA Exceptional Public Achievement Medal for his leadership in coordinating and delivering the OpenUniverse 2024 Roman/Rubin image simulations campaign. OpenUniverse simulation of what NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope could see when it launches by May 2027. (Photo courtesy of C. Hirata, K. Cao and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center) The… read more » about Michael Troxel Awarded NASA’s Exceptional Public Achievement Medal
An international team of researchers with the Dark Energy Survey (DES) has released one of the most precise new measurements yet of how the universe expands over time. The results, based on hundreds of millions of galaxies, help scientists test the leading model of cosmology and probe the mysterious force known as dark energy that appears to be driving cosmic acceleration.Among the scientists shaping this latest analysis are Duke researchers, led by Associate Professor of Physics Michael Troxel, whose group has… read more » about Duke Scientists Help Sharpen the Picture of a Changing Universe
Doug Boyer, associate professor of Evolutionary Anthropology, received the American Association of Biological Anthropologists (AABA) Mid-Career Research Award, which honors mid-career scholars whose work has significantly advanced biological anthropology. Boyer’s research focuses on primate evolution and its environmental context, combining fossil discovery, analytical methods and a commitment to open and inclusive data sharing that has reshaped how comparative biological data are used worldwide. Boyer has been… read more » about Doug Boyer Wins American Association of Biological Anthropologists Mid-Career Research Award
Emily Derbyshire, Eads Family Professor of Chemistry, has been elected a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology. Fellows of the Academy, the honorific leadership group and scientific think tank within the American Society for Microbiology, are elected annually through a highly selective, peer-review process based on their records of scientific achievement and original contributions that have advanced microbiology. Over the last 50 years, more than 2,700 distinguished… read more » about Emily Derbyshire Elected to American Academy of Microbiology
Pardis Emami-Naeini is the winner of the Foresight Institute’s 2025 Norm Hardy Prize. Emami-Naeini, director of Duke’s InSPIre Lab and an assistant professor of Computer Science, was recognized for developing a layered cybersecurity label for smart home devices.Consumers increasingly purchase smart home technologies without a clear understanding of how their data is managed or protected. Emami-Naeini’s research shows that when security and privacy information is presented clearly and accessibly, people are more… read more » about Pardis Emami-Naeini Announced as 2025 Norm Hardy Prize Winner for Advances in Usable Security
Simon Partner, an APSI core faculty member and professor of history at Duke, is the winner of the third Modern Japan History Association book prize for his 2024 publication, “Koume's World: The Life and Work of a Samurai Woman Before and After the Meiji Restoration.”The Modern Japan History Association is a professional association of scholars interested in modern Japan and Japanese history whose mission is to support the creation and dissemination of knowledge about modern Japan and its history by encouraging collaboration… read more » about Simon Partner Wins Modern Japan History Association Book Prize, Launches Substack
Three Duke scholars were honored with prizes from the Southeast Regional Conference of the Association for Asian Studies (SEC-AAS). The SEC-AAS is a non-political, non-profit scholarly organization dedicated to promoting the study of Asian in the southeastern region of the United States. The 2026 graduate paper prize went to second-year East Asian Studies MA student Daniel Zhang, whose article "Shaping Minds Through Play" uses a curated museum exhibition framework to demonstrate how the traditional Japanese… read more » about Three Duke Scholars Win Awards From Southeast Regional Conference of the Association for Asian Studies
The Judith Deckers Prize honors three Duke faculty members for their excellence in undergraduate education. This award recognizes leaders in their fields who have substantial track records of positively affecting student learning and lives. The three faculty receiving the 2025 Judith Deckers Prize are Lisa Huettel of Pratt, Deondra Rose of Sanford and Sarah Schott of Trinity. read more » about Three Faculty Honored with Judith Deckers Prize, Duke’s Undergraduate Teaching Award