A Summer of Success: 17 Major Funded Graduate Fellowships in Duke BME

Graduate students and researchers in Duke Biomedical Engineering had a successful summer 2024, garnering prestigious national awards and funding opportunities to support their impressive research.

Among the new major funded awards were 11 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships, two National Institutes of Health Diversity Supplement Awards as well as a National Institutes of Health-Kirschstein F31 Grant, National Defense Science & Engineering Graduate Fellowship, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Gilliam Fellowship and Society of Neuroscience Trainee Professional Development Award.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the success of our community,” said Sharon Gerecht, the Paul M. Gross Distinguished Professor and incoming department chair. “Duke BME is home to some of the most impressive graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in the country, and I’m glad they are receiving recognition for their important and exciting research.”

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

Eleven incoming and current graduate students received this incredibly competitive fellowship from the National Science Foundation. The NSF GRF program funds just 15 percent of applicants and supports the most outstanding future researchers whose projects exhibit the highest potential in science and technology.

Fellows receive a three-year stipend, coverage of tuition and fees, and access to professional development opportunities.

Duke BME’s newest NSF graduate fellows are, clockwise from top left:

• Jorik Stoop, advised by Amanda Randles
• Marianne Voigt, advised by Lou DeFrate
• Parker Esswein, advised by Sharon Gerecht
• Mary Jia, advised by Emma Chory
• Kathryn Lazar, advised by Joel Collier and Ashutosh Chilkoti
• Claudia Wong, advised by Sharon Gerecht
• Emma Whitehead, advised by Tatiana Segura
• Owen Traubert, advised by Eva Naumann
• Katherine Tang, advised by Sharon Gerecht
• Chloe Markey, advised by Daniel Reker

Not pictured: Noah Campbell, advised by Tatiana Segura

National Institutes of Health-Kirschstein F31 Grant

Kevin Shores

A graduate student in the Truskey Lab, Shores received the prestigious Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award, also known as a F31 grant, from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The award supports promising graduate students develop into productive, independent research scientists by providing financial support and mentored research training as they conduct research for their dissertation.

National Defense Science & Engineering Graduate Fellowship

Emily Warren

Warren, a graduate student in the Gerecht Lab, received a fellowship from the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship program—a highly competitive award granted to just 4,700 of more than 70,000 applicants.

Howard Hughes Medical Institute Gilliam Fellowship

Amanda Barretto

A graduate student in the Musah Lab, Barretto received a fellowship from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s (HHMI) Gilliam Fellows Program. The fellowship recognizes students who are committed to advancing equity and inclusion in science and provides them with support as they move through their scientific career. The program also provides support for thesis advisors to advance their mentorship skills to ensure they have the skills to develop more inclusive and supportive training environments.

National Institutes of Health Diversity Supplement Award

Colton McGarraugh (left) and Anthony DiSpirito

These graduate students in the Yao Lab each received an NIH award to support and promote diversity in health-related research programs.

Society of Neuroscience Trainee Professional Development Award

Gene Yu

A post-doctoral fellow working with Warren Grill and Angel Peterchev, Yu received a 2024 Trainee Professional Development Award (TPDA) from the Society for Neuroscience. This award recognizes postdoctoral scholars who have demonstrated scientific merit and excellence in research and will be awarded to Yu during the annual Society for Neuroscience meeting in October 2024.