Program Components
Faculty-Mentored Research
Scholars in Marine Medicine will engage in an immersive research independent study experience in their sophomore and/or junior year. Scholars will perform research at both the 91社区福利 Marine Lab and Duke鈥檚 main campus, where faculty mentors on each campus will guide students through their research projects. Scholars will focus on research that cuts across disciplines, such as:
- Cross-species comparative genomics and physiology to understand health-relevant adaptations
- Understanding the risk of cancer from exposure to environmental toxins
- Bioengineering organisms to degrade marine plastic
- Discovery of new drugs from marine compounds
Scientific Training
Scholars will participate in both structured and informal training activities that will contribute to a broad undergraduate research experience. Training activities will include the discussion and review of scientific literature, experiential learning, and scientific communication.
Newly-selected Scholars in Marine Medicine will meet weekly beginning in November of their first fall semester as scholars. These meetings will alternate between lab meetings to go over research progress and peer-led mentoring to review and synthesize previously discussed material. Additionally, scholars will participate in monthly journal club meetings. Collectively, these discussions will foster scientific communication and critical thinking skills.
Funding Opportunities
Scholars in Marine Medicine will be eligible to apply for:
- Research funding (up to $2,500)
- Conference funding to participate in a professional scientific meeting (up to $1,500)
- Travel course funding (up to $1,500; funds can be used for research funding if not used for travel course)
Professional Development
During the fall semester of their senior year, Scholars in Marine Medicine will join the Rachel Carson Scholars and the Repass-Rodgers Scholars in bi-weekly seminars, professional development workshops, and networking events. Scholars will benefit from workshops on scientific writing, science communication, graduate education, and career opportunities. Senior scholars will also be involved with mentoring the new class of scholars in Durham to prepare them for their Scholars in Marine Medicine experience and research.
Graduation With Distinction
In their senior year, scholars will write up their research projects as an honors thesis for Graduation with Distinction. The ultimate goal of the thesis will be to publish the research results in a peer-reviewed journal.
Activity Schedule
Weekly Activities
- One-on-one discussion
- Design/perform research
- Science communication
Biweekly Activities
- Lab meeting
- Peer-lead mentoring
Monthly Activities
- Journal club
Senior Year
- Co-lead group activities/training junior students
- Prepare Graduation with Distinction paper and presentation
- Present work at local or national conference
- Professional development seminar
Meet the Scholars
Current Scholars
Class of 2026 |
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Hannah Baetge Major: Marine Science & Conservation Cohort: 2023 Advisor: Dr. Jason Somarelli Contact: hannah.baetge@duke.edu |
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Charlotte Caddell |
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Faith Caesar Major: Biology with a concentration in Marine Biology Cohort: 2024 Contact: faith.caesar@duke.edu |
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Sarah Kuhlman Major: Environmental Sciences & Policy Cohort: 2023 Advisor: Dr. Jason Somarelli Contact: sarah.kuhlman@duke.edu |
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Giuliana Mesarick Major: Biology Cohort: 2024 Advisor: Dr. Leonardo Ferriera Contact: giuliana.mesarick@duke.edu |
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Austin Simpson Major: Biology, Evolutionary Anthropology Cohort: 2023 Contact: austin.simpson@duke.edu |
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Josh Wagner Major: Neuroscience Cohort: 2021 Advisor: Dr. Jean Crowell Beckham |
Class of 2027 |
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Ella Andonov Major: Marine Science and Conservation (undeclared) Cohort: 2024 Advisor: Dr. Edward Levin Contact: ella.andonov@duke.edu |
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Sal Carlson Major: Marine Science & Conservation, Chemistry (undeclared) Cohort: 2023 Advisor: Dr. Jason Somarelli Contact: sal.carlson@duke.edu |
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Rose Cassidy Major: Biology with a concentration in Marine Biology Cohort: 2024 Contact: rose.cassidy@duke.edu |
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Kevin Guo Major: Global Health, Statistics (undeclared) Cohort: 2023 Advisor: Dr. Nishad Jayasundara Contact: kevin.guo@duke.edu |
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Kathryn Homa Major: Biology, Spanish Cohort: 2024 Advisor: Dr. Nishad Jayasundara Contact: kathryn.homa@duke.edu |
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Will Sun Major: Biology Cohort: 2024 Advisor: Dr. Edward Miao Contact: william.sun@duke.edu |
Class of 2028 |
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John Grissinger Major: Biology with a concentration in Marine Biology (undeclared) Cohort: 2024 Contact: john.grissinger@duke.edu |
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Gayathri Vanka Major: Biomedical Engineering (undeclared) Cohort: 2024 Advisor: Dr. Gayathri R. Devi Contact: gayathri.vanka@duke.edu |
Alumni
Class of 2025 |
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Sanjana Anand Major: Biology Cohort: 2023 Advisor: Dr. David McClay Project: Evi1 regulates mesodermal specification via delta-notch and nodal signaling in sea urchin embryos |
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Sasha Bacot Major: Computer Science, Biology Cohort: 2022 Advisor: Dr. Joel Meyer Project: Fndc-1 mitophagy performs intergenerational mtDNA quality control in C. elegans |
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Will Briley |
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Cecilia Joshi Major: Biology with a concentration in Marine Biology Cohort: 2022 Advisor: Dr. Jason Somarelli Project: An examination of hypoxic preconditioning鈥檚 protective effects in marine mammals during extended dive events |
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Kaylee McKinzie Major: Biology, Marine Science & Conservation Cohort: 2022 Advisor: Dr. Jillian Wisse and Dr. Jason Somarelli Project: Mitochondrial adaptations enable hypoxia tolerance in goose-beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) through enhanced oxidative metabolism |
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Maya Slack Major: Environmental Sciences & Policy, Biology Cohort: 2022 Advisor: Dr. Jason Somarelli Project: Genotoxic effects of PFOA and Gen-X: investigating impacts on DNA damage and cell cycle progression |
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Jennifer Yoon |
Class of 2024 |
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Betty Alfaro |
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Alex Hong Major: Computer Science Cohort: 2021 Advisor: Dr. Jason Somarelli |
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Katherine Krieger Major: Biology Cohort: 2021 Advisor: Dr. Somarelli Project: A safer 鈥淔orever Chemical鈥: modern substitute GenX is less toxic than PFOA in human liver model |
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Natalie Lewis Major: Environmental Science Cohort: 2022 Advisor: Dr. Jason Somarelli and Dr. Tom Schultz Project: Effects of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) on reactive oxygen species generation in HepG2 liver cells |
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Vignesh Pirapaharan Major: Biology, Global Health Cohort: 2021 Advisor: Dr. Nishad Jayasundara |
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Jas Santos Major: Biology, Molecular Bioscience Cohort: 2021 Advisor: Dr. Jason Somarelli Project: From sea to cell: investigating the impact of marine plastic additives on long-term coastal health in Philippines |
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Clare Sparling Major: Biology Cohort: 2021 Advisor: Dr. Joel Meyer Project: Select mitochondrial toxicants induce an enhanced RNA interference response in C. elegans |
Class of 2023 |
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Alexandra Bennion |
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Jerry Fu Major: Environmental Science major, minors in Chinese and Computational Biology Cohort: 2020 Advisor: Dr. Thomas Schultz Project: Current status and future direction to address disparities in DEI in prostate cancer care |
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Rita Glazer Major: Computer Science Cohort: 2021 Advisor: Dr. Jason Somarelli Project: Exploring plastic-degrading enzymes with AlphaFold |
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Ella Gunady Major: Biomedical Engineering; Biology Cohort: 2019 Advisor: Dr. Jason Somarelli Project: Testing the soil bacterium Pseudomonas stutzeri for the ability to degrade plastic, |
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Rebecca He Major: Biology with a concentration in Marine Biology; Computational Media; Earth and Ocean Sciences minor Cohort: 2020 Advisor: Dr. Andreas Fahlman Project: Comparative transcriptomics demonstrate an intimate connection between the stress response and hypoxia tolerance across species |
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Matthew Huang Major: Biology Cohort: 2020 Advisor: Dr. Thomas Schultz Project: Superfund site pollution remediation drives genome changes in PAH resistant killifish |
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Natalie Kubicki Major: Biology Cohort: 2021 Advisor: Dr. Jason Somarelli Project: Understanding cellular adaptations to low oxygen conditions in deep diving marine mammals |
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Jake Spruance |
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Shawin Vitsupakorn Majors: Biology & Global Health Cohort: 2020 |
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Larry Zheng Major: Biology with a concentration in Marine Biology; Minor: Computer Science Cohort: 2020 Advisor: Dr. David Johnston Project: Behavioral analysis of coastal North Carolina sharks using drones and machine learning |
Class of 2022 |
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Cameron Bozdog |
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William Marcus Major: Biology with minor in Chemistry Cohort: 2020 Advisor: Dr. David Hinton |
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Abbey Milwicz Major: Biology Cohort: 2019 Advisor: Drs. Jason Somarelli and Tom Schultz Project: Hazards in the water: cellular mechanisms of environmentally persistent compounds GenX and PFOA |
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Bea Schleupner Major: Biology; Environmental Sciences minor Cohort: 2019 Advisor: Dr. Jason Somarelli Project: Hidden dangers of plastic: reviewing carcinogenicity of plastic additives and the role microplastics play as vectors for toxins |
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Serafina Turner Major: Computer Science Cohort: 2019 Advisor: Dr. Jason Somarelli |
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Justin Yang |
Class of 2021 |
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Divya Dayanidhi |
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Joy Lu |
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Zack Weishampel |
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Tristan Westover |
Class of 2020 |
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Maya Sheth |
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Giselle Vargas |
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Mallissa Vuong |
CLASS OF 2019 |
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Serene Cheng |
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Parker Matthews |
How to Apply
Each fall, the 91社区福利 Marine Lab and Duke Comparative Oncology Group will select Scholars in Marine Medicine for the upcoming academic year. First-years, sophomores and juniors are eligible to apply. Scholars will be announced in December.
Deadline
October 17, 2025 by 11:59 PM
Application
The application process includes submitting the following items as one PDF document with the file name LastName_FirstName_GradYear_SMMApplication:
- Statement. Prepare a one-page (12-pt font, 1-inch margins) statement describing how you will benefit from the Scholars in Marine Medicine Program and how this program will help you reach your academic and career goals. The application statement should also include ideas for research projects and a discussion of why a specific research theme is of interest.
- Resume. Your resume should be one page and include relevant experience, coursework, and your GPA.
All application materials should be emailed to the Scholars in Marine Medicine Program at mmscholars@duke.edu by the deadline. Applications with statements or resumes not meeting the formatting standards listed above will not be considered. Semi-finalists will be selected from the pool of applicants for interviews with the Program Director or may be asked to provide additional information.
questions?
Have questions about the Scholars in Marine Medicine Program or how to apply?
Visit our for answers to common application queries.
If you would like to learn more about the program or the application process, join our informal drop-in information session:
- Date: Wednesday, October 8th
- Time: 12:00鈥2:00 PM
- Location: Brodhead Center (WU), Room 241
- Format: Drop in at any time. No registration required.
The NSOE Undergraduate Research Scholars Program Director Dr. Meagan Dunphy-Daly and Program Coordinator Erin Voigt, as well as current scholars, will be there to answer any questions you have.
You are welcome to reach out with any questions by emailing mmscholars@duke.edu.
Partner Organizations
Outreach
HackBio Brings Scientists and High-schoolers Together
During the HackBio event 鈥 a two-day program to engage high school students in experiential learning and broaden their exposure to STEM careers 鈥 Duke Scholars in Marine Medicine advised high-schoolers on the importance of finding schoolwork/life balance in college and building strong relationships with mentors, and even offered tips on preparing for medical school.
Outreach
HackBio Broadens Exposure to STEM, Environmental Health Fields
Members of Duke Cancer Institute and The Nicholas School for the Environment hosted HackBio 鈥 a two-day program to engage high school students in experiential learning and broaden their exposure to STEM careers.
Senior Honors Thesis
How Do Whales Fight Off Cancer?
Oxford University epidemiologist Richard Peto was puzzled by a paradox: If cancer is a function of individual cells going haywire, wouldn鈥檛 an organism with a lot more cells, say a whale, have a greater chance of getting cancer than a human or a mouse? 2019 Duke graduate Serene Cheng explored this paradox 鈥 specifically as it relates to whales 鈥 in her senior honors thesis.
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