Research Award Recipients

The Duke Department of Medicine proudly recognizes the recipients of its annual Research Awards.

Research Staff Excellence Award

Emily Hecker Research Award
Emily Hecker
Senior Clinical Research Nurse Coordinator
2025 Recipient
Francine Kelly research day
Francine Kelly
Senior Laboratory Research Analyst
2024 Recipient
Scott Crown Research Award
Scott Crown
Senior Research Associate
2025 Recipient
Christy Research Award 2024
Virginia "Christy" Walters
Research Program Leader
2024 Recipient

Research Support Excellence Award

Julia Rasmussen Research Award
Julia Rasmussen, RN, MSN
Research Practice Manager
2025 Recipient
Katherine Link research day
Katherine Link
Senior Regulatory Coordinator
2024 Recipient
Vlayka research day
Vlayka Liotcheva, PhD
Assistant Research Practice Manager
2024 Recipient
Edna Scarlett Research Award
Edna Scarlett
Senior Clinical Research Coordinator
2025 Recipient
Amy Pierson research day
Amy Pierson
Senior Grants & Contracts Administrator
2024 Recipient

Distinguished Research Publication Award

Thomas Holland Research Award
Thomas Holland, MD
Professor of Medicine
2025 Recipient
Hanks research day
Michael Plebanek, PhD
Postdoctoral Associate (first author)
Brent Hanks, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Medicine (senior author)
2024 Recipients

Rising Star Research Excellence Award

Nicholas Turner Research Award
Nicholas Turner, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
2025 Recipient
Aparna Research award
Aparna Swaminathan, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
2024 Recipient
Senthil research day
Senthil Selvaraj, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
2024 Recipient

Research Mentoring Award

Dev Anderson Research Award
Deverick Anderson, MD, MPH
Professor of Medicine
2025 Recipient
Hastings Research day
Susan "Nicki" Hastings, MD
Professor of Medicine
2024 Recipient