Mohammed A.F. Noor
Dean of the Natural Sciences

Noor is a notable scholar, award winning teacher, and esteemed department and university citizen whose research focuses on learning to understand what genetic changes contribute to the formation of new species, and how the process of genetic recombination affects both species formation and molecular evolution.

He is a recipient of the Darwin-Wallace Medal — given by the Linnean Society of London in recognition of those who have made major advances in evolutionary biology — as well as several Duke teaching and mentoring awards: the Outstanding Postdoc Mentor Award, the Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award, the David and Janet Vaughan Brooks Teaching Award, Bass Society of Fellows’ Earl D. McLean Professorship, the Graduate School’s Dean’s Award for Excellence in Mentoring, and the Gordon G. Hammes Faculty Teaching Award from the Duke University Medical Center.

Noor has also served in key roles for a number of society offices, including president of the American Genetic Association, president of the Society for the Study of Evolution, and board of directors member for the Genetics Society of America. He has also held editorships and editorial board positions for publications such as American Naturalist, Evolution, Genetics, and PLoS Biology.

He has published two books, including the recently-released “Live Long and Evolve: What Star Trek Can Teach Us about Evolution, Genetics, and Life on Other Worlds,” an entertaining introduction to genetics and evolutionary concepts (paralleling the scientific content of his Duke and Coursera classes) through the lens of the popular science-fiction television show.

Noor holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of William and Mary, and a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. He joined Duke's Department of Biology in 2005 and later served as department chair.

Email: natscidean@duke.edu
Phone: (919) 668-2728
Fax: (919) 668-2729

Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Duke University
102 Allen Building
Box 90029
Durham North Carolina 27708-0029