Duke Establishes Fellowships to Honor Jo Rae Wright
Awards will recognize women researchers who follow path of former graduate school dean
Duke University has established two fellowships to honor Jo
Rae Wright, who stepped down in October after serving more than five years as
dean of the university's graduate school.
The Jo Rae Wright Fellowship for Outstanding Women in
Science will annually recognize one Ph.D. student in the biomedical sciences
and one in the natural sciences whose research shows particular creativity and promise.
The graduate school will select the recipients, beginning with the next
academic year.
"We hope these awards will encourage women to pursue
research careers in fields that show promise for translational applications,"
said Provost Peter Lange. "It's an appropriate way for us to honor our
wonderful friend and colleague, whose own research shed light on cellular
systems in the human lung and whose work as dean enhanced the lives of so many
students and enabled so much research throughout the university."
Wright, a professor of cell biology, medicine and
pediatrics, has published extensive research showing how pulmonary epithelial
and immune cells prevent infection and inflammation and promote normal
breathing within the lung. Previously the vice dean of basic science at Duke's
medical school, she cited her continuing battle with breast cancer in her
decision to step down from the graduate school. David Bell, who was the school's
senior associate dean, is serving as interim dean while the university conducts
a search for Wright's successor.
Sally Kornbluth, who succeeded Wright in the medical school
position, said, "Jo Rae is an inspiration to people across the university,
but most especially to women who have served with her on the faculty and worked
alongside her in the lab."
Dr. Nancy Andrews, the medical school's dean, called Wright "a
role model and mentor for people across the university, providing a powerful
example for both women and men of how to be productive at the highest levels of
science while enriching your community and enhancing the lives of those around you."