Participants

Students and staff pose for picture at the conclusion of the 2022 Annual BioCoRE Retreat on Lake Jordan

BioCoRE is open to all graduate student members of the Duke Biosciences community and will be selected on a competitive basis. Duke BioCoRE program is committed to increasing diversity within Duke’s Biosciences community, and we consider diversity in a broad sense (e.g., racial and ethnic, first-generation, unique life experiences, religion, disadvantaged backgrounds, disabilities, LGBT, etc).

In this video, hear from Associate Dean, Johnna Frierson, BioCoRE Program Director, Dr. Debra Ragland, and several BioCoRE Scholars about the benefits of the program and why you should consider applying.
Hear from Briana Davis, BioCoRE Cohort 6, Advisor: John Rawls, PhD, Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology on why she came to Duke!
Our society is increasingly enriched by the unique ideas and perspectives of individuals from different backgrounds and life experiences, and this diversity of experience results in novel ideas and theories that ultimately propel academia forward and benefit society as a whole. If you want to chat with a current student, please email biocore@duke.edu, and we will connect you with one of our scholars!


What Our Scholars Have to Say:

  • "BioCoRE actually provided the funding for my trip to Vienna for a conference, where I ended up working with a collaborator for 3 months!"

 

  • "BioCoRE is a wonderful program and I love chances like this to get involved."
  • "It’s important to increase diversity in the sciences because it increases understanding among people working in the same job, while also allowing conversations that span various cultures and backgrounds. I think this will help improve discussions related to scientific questions, while also improving the atmosphere of the workplace"

We're excited to welcome our new BioCoRE program director, Dr. Jennifer Ocasio Adorno in March 2025!

Jennifer K. Ocasio Adorno, PhD was born and raised in Puerto Rico. She earned her PhD in Neuroscience from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she trained under Dr. Tim Gershon. She then joined Dr. Suzanne Baker’s lab at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as a postdoctoral fellow to further her studies in pediatric brain tumors. After completing her postdoctoral training, she joined the Academic Programs Office at St. Jude, where she works with trainees at all stages to further their career and professional development. Throughout her career, Dr. Ocasio has demonstrated remarkable commitment to mentoring and furthering the next generation of scientists and professionals. She has developed and led multiple programs, workshops and events to engage and enhance professional and career development training for more than 100 undergraduate, postbaccalaureate, graduate, and postdoctoral trainees. She is very excited to continue helping individuals develop their strengths and find success as she transitions to direct the BioCoRE Program at Duke University.

Picture of the incoming BioCoRE program director, Jennifer Ocasio Adorno, PhD

Incoming BioCoRE director, Jennifer Ocasio Adorno, PhD (March 2025)