The Duke Department of Medicine proudly recognizes the recipients of its annual Research Awards.
Research Staff Excellence Award
Tyffany Locklear
Research Program Leader
2026 Recipient
Research Program Leader
2026 Recipient
Emily Hecker
Senior Clinical Research Nurse Coordinator
2025 Recipient
Senior Clinical Research Nurse Coordinator
2025 Recipient
Francine Kelly
Senior Laboratory Research Analyst
2024 Recipient
Senior Laboratory Research Analyst
2024 Recipient
Scott Crown
Senior Research Associate
2025 Recipient
Senior Research Associate
2025 Recipient
Virginia "Christy" Walters
Research Program Leader
2024 Recipient
Research Program Leader
2024 Recipient
Research Support Excellence Award
Kristy Johnson
Research Program Leader
2026 Recipient
Research Program Leader
2026 Recipient
Julia Rasmussen, RN, MSN
Research Practice Manager
2025 Recipient
Research Practice Manager
2025 Recipient
Katherine Link
Senior Regulatory Coordinator
2024 Recipient
Senior Regulatory Coordinator
2024 Recipient
Edna Scarlett
Senior Clinical Research Coordinator
2025 Recipient
Senior Clinical Research Coordinator
2025 Recipient
Amy Pierson
Senior Grants & Contracts Administrator
2024 Recipient
Senior Grants & Contracts Administrator
2024 Recipient
Vlayka Liotcheva, PhD
Assistant Research Practice Manager
2024 Recipient
Assistant Research Practice Manager
2024 Recipient
Distinguished Research Publication Award
Preston Anderson
Student, Duke Medical Scientist Training Program
2026 Recipient
Student, Duke Medical Scientist Training Program
2026 Recipient
Michael Plebanek, PhD
Postdoctoral Associate (first author)
Brent Hanks, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Medicine (senior author)
2024 Recipients
Postdoctoral Associate (first author)
Brent Hanks, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Medicine (senior author)
2024 Recipients
Thomas Holland, MD
Professor of Medicine
2025 Recipient
Professor of Medicine
2025 Recipient
Rising Star Research Excellence Award
Neelima Navuluri, MDm MPH
Assistant Professor of Medicine
2026 Recipient
Assistant Professor of Medicine
2026 Recipient
Aparna Swaminathan, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
2024 Recipient
Assistant Professor of Medicine
2024 Recipient
Nicholas Turner, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
2025 Recipient
Assistant Professor of Medicine
2025 Recipient
Senthil Selvaraj, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
2024 Recipient
Assistant Professor of Medicine
2024 Recipient
Research Mentoring Award
Susanna Naggie, MD
James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Medicine
2026 Recipient
James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Medicine
2026 Recipient
Susan "Nicki" Hastings, MD
Professor of Medicine
2024 Recipient
Professor of Medicine
2024 Recipient
Deverick Anderson, MD, MPH
Professor of Medicine
2025 Recipient
Professor of Medicine
2025 Recipient