The Duke University School of Medicine community came together on April 28 for the 2026 Advancing Excellence in Research Symposium to connect and discuss ways to help shape a healthier research culture.
Sponsored by the Office for Culture, Engagement, and Impact and the Office for Faculty, the event featured a keynote address by Rebekah Layton, PhD, CMC, PCC, associate chair of education and training in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at UNC-Chapel Hill. Her talk, “Career development, mentoring, and wellness: Setting the stage for graduate and postdoctoral trainee success,” highlighted the critical role of supportive training environments.
Drawing on her research in graduate education, Layton emphasized that strong training environments — including professional development opportunities, internships, and effective mentoring — are essential to trainee success and well-being. She highlighted evidence that these experiences expand career readiness with little impact on research productivity. She encouraged a “coach approach” to mentoring that uses curiosity and open dialogue to help trainees navigate career paths and build skills that translate across a wide range of careers. She also shared actionable strategies for supporting trainee wellness.
Attendees also participated in a workshop, "Finding our footing and remembering our roots: Momentum for moving our research forward,” led by Leigh-Anne Royster, PhD, associate vice president for strategy and education development in Duke’s Office for Institutional Equity.
The symposium concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing recipients of the 2025 and 2026 Michelle P. Winn Inclusive Excellence Award.