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Centennial Fellowship Snapshots 2024-2025

In honor of the centennial of Duke University, the Centennial Graduate and Professional Fellowships were founded to support and celebrate incoming doctoral and master's students. Funded through The Duke Endowment, the fellowships were awarded to select applicants who embody Duke excellence.

We asked the awardees to share about their background and how they will pursue their academic and professional interests here at Duke. Read the awardees' description of their plans below, and how they feel the fellowship will support them while here at Duke. Congratulations to these outstanding students!

Konstantina Akritidou

Cell and Molecular Biology

As a first-year Ph.D. student in the Cell and Molecular Biology program at Duke, I am using my lab rotations to explore a variety of research areas and approaches. These rotations have been invaluable in broadening my skills and perspectives across molecular biology, microbiology, and immunology. Currently, I work in a lab studying Akkermansia muciniphila, a gut bacterium linked to improved metabolic health and gut function. My project focuses on the interactions between Akkermansia and bacteriophages – the viruses that infect it. By investigating these interactions, I aim to uncover the underlying biology of Akkermansia and its phages with the potential to advance our understanding of how Akkermansia influences human health and contributes to the complex ecosystem of the gut microbiome. In the future, I plan to take a multidisciplinary approach to studying host-microbe interactions. My goal is to understand how these interactions shape health and disease, using tools from molecular biology, microbiology, and immunology. Whether uncovering mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis or exploring beneficial microbial relationships, I hope to contribute to novel therapeutic strategies. Although I am still rotating and have not yet joined a permanent lab, these experiences are helping refine my scientific interests and future research goals.

Josiah Brinson

Electrical and Computer Engineering

I am a first year Ph.D. student in the Electrical and Computer Engineering program. My background in optical spectroscopy – the interaction of light with a material to determine its physical, chemical, or structural properties – has fostered a fascination with light-matter interaction, particularly involving solid state materials and medical tissue. I am also interested in studying fundamental characteristics of both light and matter, including the propagation of optical signals and the fabrication and characterization of new materials for device applications. In my early research, I have begun studying holographic techniques for shaping light beams, whose modes can be used as information carriers in free space optical communications. Of particular interest is quantification of optical signal stability in turbulent atmospheric conditions. I am honored and grateful to have received a Centennial and Graduate Professional Fellowship, which will support me in my curiosity-driven pursuit of scientific knowledge and discovery.

Whitney Bronson

Doctor of Ministry

At Duke, I am exploring the church's role in addressing and preventing sexual misconduct, with a focus on the experiences of Black women in faith communities. My work examines how churches, particularly within the Black Church tradition, can shift from being sources of harm to becoming spaces of healing and justice. I investigate the cultural, theological, and systemic factors that enable abuse, drawing insights from biblical narratives, such as Tamar’s story in 2 Samuel 13, to understand how scripture can inform responses to abuse. Through this study, I aim to equip churches with strategies for accountability, survivor advocacy, and community restoration. By blending biblical scholarship, theology, and practical ministry, I seek to help faith communities recognize the importance of creating safe, inclusive spaces where justice and reconciliation thrive. Receiving this fellowship has deepened my ability to engage complex issues at the intersection of faith, leadership, and social justice. It has allowed me to collaborate with diverse peers, expand my research on restorative justice, and envision solutions that reflect both compassion and accountability. As we celebrate this centennial milestone, I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to building stronger, more equitable faith communities that embody the values of love, integrity, and healing.

Dawei Cai

Doctor of Physical Therapy

I am pursuing a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree at Duke University, where I focus on understanding how the human body moves and recovers from injury. My studies involve learning about the mechanics of joints and muscles, how injuries impact movement, and the most effective ways to help patients regain function and quality of life. In addition to coursework, I work with patients recovering from trauma or surgery, helping them rebuild strength, mobility, and confidence. This program is preparing me to combine science, empathy, and practical skills to serve people of all ages and activity levels. Receiving this fellowship has enabled me to deepen my understanding of patient care, participate in hands-on clinical experiences, and contribute to a growing body of knowledge about rehabilitation and human performance. This opportunity has not only enriched my education but also encouraged me to make a meaningful impact in the lives of my future patients.

Daniel Coble

Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

As a first-year Ph.D. student, I'm most interested in developing new schemes for solving PDE (physics)-constrained optimization and inverse problems. With the development of ML/AI methods, new classes of solvers are being developed to augment or replace the classical techniques. However, it is not known from first principles whether these methods can offer serious improvements. I'd like to use my time at Duke to investigate such things. Currently, I'm working on methods for shape alignment, with an application in medical imaging. I'm sincerely thankful for the support of the Duke Centennial Graduate Fellowship.

Clara Dartey-Hayford

Doctor of Medicine

I am studying to be a physician! At this moment in time, I’m not sure which speciality I want to do. However, this fellowship has helped me explore my speciality interests in such an amazing place!

Gargi Dixit

Doctor of Medicine

I'm in my first year of the MD program, so I won't decide on a specialty until the end of my four years here. I’m in the Primary Care Leadership Track at Duke Med, and am hoping to pursue a career in holistic, preventative, people-centered healthcare. Not only has this fellowship reduced my stress and opened up opportunities for me, but it has had ripple effects on my immediate family, and will continue to influence choices that I make in the future. It has freed me to think about career options and roles that I feel called towards, having greatly reduced the burden of financial considerations in my immediate future. I had an early education in social disparities growing up in Pune, India, and hope to be of service in my career as a physician.

Maria Dávila Uzcátegui

Occupational Therapy Doctorate

As a first-year Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) student in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, I am deeply interested in the complex processes that foster or hinder inclusive environments where underrepresented groups can thrive. I examine how physical, social, cognitive, and systemic disruptions impact access to and opportunities for participating in meaningful and health-promoting activities. I have explored the intersection of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, Autistic individuals, and psychological trauma to understand potential risk factors that limit their participation and affect their mental health. Participation can be restricted and shaped by sociocultural norms, impacting individuals with both visible and invisible disabilities. Other contextual factors include access to healthcare, social isolation, systemic infrastructure, and climate change. I have learned that centering a holistic, client-centered approach has bridged the gap between pathological conditions and the effects of everyday life by prioritizing individuals' lived experiences. This approach will guide my work in co-creating equitable and sustainable practices when working with diverse populations. I am eager to explore how underrepresented communities flourish through participation and elevate their voices to honor their strengths, accomplishments, and collaborative efforts despite challenges.

Winter Earnhardt

Doctor of Physical Therapy

As a DPT student, I am learning how to care for a variety of populations and conditions. Duke’s program allows students early opportunities for hands on patient interaction, including a week in the clinic to practice skills. The centennial fellowship has allowed me to explore all of the opportunities Duke has to offer with a reduced financial burden. We are currently learning foundational content related to patient care, the human body, and movement patterns. I’m excited to learn more about exercise prescription, research in physical therapy, and the role physical therapy plays in higher level sport.

Astride Gilles

Nursing

I am enrolled in the Duke School of Nursing's Doctorate in Nursing Practice program, as part of the 2024 cohort. I hope to also add a specialty certificate in HIV, cardiology, or endocrine health to my studies. I work as a Family Nurse Practitioner mainly in community health centers, serving at-risk and marginalized populations with various degrees of health acuity. From the neonates to the geriatrics, I've enjoyed getting to know my patients and supporting them throughout their healthcare journey. In community health, volume is the key word, as we are often in a space where we cannot and do not turn away patients especially when we are based in the community and accessible. Receiving this fellowship made it possible for me to even consider a specialty certificate that will allow me to support my patients further especially those with chronic cardiac or endocrine disease (i.e. hypertension, congestive heart failure, and diabetes) and persons living with HIV. I am excited about learning more, conducting research, and expanding my network to better serve my clients.

Arlesia Johnson

Occupational Therapy Doctorate

At Duke, I am studying occupational therapy. I am a first year OTD student within the Class of 2027. Occupational therapy is a field focused on helping all individuals overcome challenges that limit their ability to perform everyday activities – the things they want to do, need to do, or are expected to do. Whether it’s helping children with developmental disabilities improve their motor skills, assisting older adults in recovering from strokes, or supporting people with chronic conditions like arthritis in managing daily tasks, occupational therapy empowers individuals to live more independently and promote their health and well being.

Emma Johnson

Marine Science and Conservation

I am a first-year Ph.D. student in the Marine Science and Conservation program at the Duke University Marine Lab. My research focuses on understanding how marine invertebrates, such as sea urchins and oysters, respond to climate change and environmental stressors. As ocean conditions continue to shift, uncovering how these keystone species adapt is essential for protecting marine ecosystems. My work explores the potential of epigenetic modifications to enable rapid acclimatization by influencing gene expression, offering a mechanism for resilience in changing environments. Through this research, I aim to deepen our understanding of environmental epigenetics in marine organisms and use this knowledge to develop innovative conservation strategies to enhance habitat resilience.

Sydney LaPine

Law

Receiving this fellowship allowed me to continue my education at Duke University at the law school. It has also afforded me the freedom to pursue areas of law for which I developed a passion for before law school, including criminal justice reform. As a Duke undergraduate, I experienced the university's strong sense of community, which gave me confidence that Duke Law would provide an environment where I could be both challenged and supported. My experience so far has affirmed this belief, as the law school offers abundant opportunities and resources to give back to North Carolina’s community through legal services. Even in my first semester, I have already contributed several hours of pro bono work, which has deepened my commitment to using the law as a tool for positive change.

Madeleine Lee

CRNA

CRNA school is where ICU nurses are further trained into anesthesia providers. It’s a unique, special field where the provider has a rich background of bedside nursing experience to enhance their anesthesia practice. CRNAs intubate, place IVs, administer inhaled or IV anesthetics on top of numerous other agents, and monitor the patient throughout surgery to ensure stability, among many other skills. Receiving this fellowship award was a generous encouragement. I feel supported by Duke in my endeavors and was reminded of the importance of CRNAs and how valuable our profession truly is. By highlighting and advocating for this profession through achievements like this, I hope others will be inspired to explore the possibilities of CRNA so that we, as a profession, can continue to make an impact on patient safety and quality of care.

Chanell Mangum

Genetics and Genomics

As a first-year Ph.D. student in Genetics and Genomics, I am excited to explore diverse research opportunities through lab rotations that align with my interests. As I continue, I am eager to use and develop cutting-edge techniques to uncover the mechanisms underlying complex diseases, ultimately providing a clearer understanding of how genetic factors shape normal biological functions and contribute to disease.

Janae McCloud

Developmental and Stem Cell Biology

I am deeply interested in studying developmental biology, particularly the processes that govern tissue growth, regeneration, and repair after injury. My curiosity lies in understanding how stem cells contribute to these processes and exploring their potential for diverse applications, from regenerative medicine to understanding disease mechanisms. By focusing on stem cell behavior and their interactions with different tissue environments, I aim to address key questions about tissue regeneration, bone growth, and the development of degenerative diseases. I believe that studying developmental biology through these lenses is critical for advancing our knowledge of how organisms form, heal, and adapt. This work has the potential to unlock transformative solutions for repairing damaged tissues, treating chronic conditions, and improving overall human health. I am particularly excited about the opportunity to approach these questions from multiple perspectives, combining insights from molecular biology, biomechanics, and regenerative medicine. As I begin my academic journey at Duke, I am eager to engage with cutting-edge research and collaborate with leading experts in developmental and stem cell biology. Receiving this fellowship has already provided invaluable support, enabling me to explore diverse research areas during my rotations. I am thrilled to continue exploring in the field.

Thomas Merrill

Nursing

My research interest is in health care quality improvement (QI), particularly within the domain of health equity, data analytics and visualization to monitor health disparities, and the field of nursing’s role in addressing inequities. I’m interested in why such progress has been made in QI domains of timeliness, efficiency, and safety, notable in our clinical practice settings, incentive and reimbursement systems, and regulatory environments, while equivalent advancements towards health equity remain disparate or elusive. As a first-semester Ph.D. student, I’ve been studying concepts like Social Drivers of Health, Structural Competence, and Social Mission as the foundations of my future program of research: improving our capacity to identify health disparities, measuring the individual- and community-level health outcomes related to inequities, and demonstrating the return on investment of equity-driven processes that improve health and wellness.

Jordan Nabwe

Law

I am studying law in pursuit of my juris doctorate. I hope to work in the litigation and trial advocacy spaces. Litigation is the type of law that most people are familiar with; litigators argue cases to judges and juries in court. Trial advocacy seeks to assist attorneys in making more effective arguments by accounting for the complex perspectives of clients, jury members and witnesses. As a black woman who was raised by a clinical psychologist, I believe that understanding the human mind and applying psychological and sociological analysis to legal work has the potential to combat inherent biases that exist in our legal system and the subsequent disparities that flow from them.

Gavin Thompson

Occupational Therapy Doctorate

As a first-year Occupational Therapy Doctorate Student, I have had the opportunity to explore how occupation is a critical mechanism of health. Humans are innately occupational beings that engage in activities from the time we wake up until the time we fall asleep. Occupation can be defined as anything an individual needs, has, wants, or is expected to do across their sleep-wake continuum. The meaningful occupations that individuals engage in are deeply intertwined with social determinants of health and shape their doing, being, belonging, and becoming. When occupations are impacted by a barrier such as disability, sickness, change in life situation, inaccessibility, etc., this affects all aspects of clients’ lives on a macro, meso, and micro level. Thus, my goal is to become a client-centered therapist who combines theory and clinical skills to help enable clients to engage in the activities that they value and those which shape their daily lives. Being awarded the Duke Graduate School Centennial Fellowship, I have been able to dive deeper into my studies and further understand the complexities related to occupation and how occupational therapists take holistic approaches to facilitate their clients’ engagement in enhancing their health and well-being.

Runtian Zhou

Mathematics

As a first-year Ph.D. student, I have general interest in research of combinatorics. A graph in mathematics consists of vertices which are connected by edges. My current interest lies in structural graph theory, which studies the relations between different patterns of graphs. In the past, I have worked on the maximum number of edges in a graph given restriction to some patterns, and pebbling games on graphs. Graph theory has many applications in real life. Through the years, many different graph-based models of social networks have been proposed. During my first year, I focused on studying the c-closed graph model, in which any two vertices with at least c common neighbors are adjacent. This model characterizes a basic property of social network: if two people have a lot of common friends, they tends to be friends with each other. The goal of the project is to study how additional property of the c-closed graphs affects computational complexity (e.g. how hard is community detection on social networks). For future years, I’m also interested in other areas of discrete mathematics. In particular, I hope to work on combinatorics problems involving computing resources.

The following students also received a Centennial and Graduate Professional Fellowship:

Braden Atkins, Occupational Therapy Doctorate

Yasa Baig, Biomedical Engineering

Theresa Cole, Classical Studies

Amanda Fuenzalida, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology

Sarah Harrison, Doctor of Ministry

Li Huizhong, Cell and Molecular Biology

Asili Johnson, Master of Fine Arts in Dance

Rory Klink, Literature

Leonardo Martinez Lopez, Doctor of Physical Therapy

Juliana Mayer, Law

Taylor Oliver, Doctor of Physical Therapy

Matheus Sadovsky, Cell and Molecular Biology

Wynter Stample, Doctor of Physical Therapy

Kayla Thomas, Occupational Therapy Doctorate