Our Mission
Established in the early 1980s, Vertices is Duke University’s premier student-run science magazine and semesterly undergraduate research journal (read our earliest issues here: Fall 1984, Spring 1985). Our organization aims to spotlight innovative scientific research and news at Duke and beyond. With a diverse team of writers, editors, peer reviewers, artists, website designers, social media managers, and more, we are committed to making science engaging and accessible to all. We hope you join our community of over 100 students and hundreds of international subscribers as we share stories in science that inspire and inform.
2025-2026 Team
Executive Board
President & Co-Editor-in-Chief of Research Journal
Eric (Trinity ’26) is from Jacksonville, Florida and is majoring in computer science. Eric is particularly interested in the intersections of computer science with psychiatric medical research. Outside of Vertices, Eric enjoys playing ping-pong, practicing the piano, singing with friends, and playing Mario Kart.
Co-Editor-in-Chief of Research Journal
Eliza (Trinity ’26) is from New York and is majoring in Psychology with a minor in Global Health. She is interested in clinical and social psychology, specifically the intersections and variance of psychopathology among differing backgrounds and experiences. At Duke, she is the Lab Manager for the Culture Lab and a Research Assistant for the Zucker Lab. Outside of research, she enjoys biking, reading, and spending time with her friends.
Editor-in-Chief of Science Magazine
Grace (Trinity ’26) is from Minneapolis, MN and majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Spanish. Outside of Vertices, Grace studies astrocytes in the Eroglu Lab, plans events for the Duke Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity, and enjoys watching movies, exploring Durham, and spending time with her friends.
Website Director
Zishen (Trinity ’27) is from Xi’an, Shaanxi, China, planning on majoring in biology and minoring in visual arts on the pre-med track. Zishen is interested in medicine as well as how art and science intersect. Outside of Vertices, she is a part of the TIRTL Lab studying the immune responses to transplants. She also enjoys listening to music, acting with Duke Chinese Theater, playing ball sports, and exploring new things!
Co-director of Outreach & Staff Writer of Science Magazine
Will (Trinity ’27) is originally from San Jose, California and plans on majoring in Biology. In his free time, he enjoys collecting keychains, playing basketball, and going on walks.
Co-director of Outreach & Senior Editor of Science Magazine
Jaemin (Trinity '28) is originally from New York City and plans on majoring in Mathematics with a certificate in Health Policy. Beyond his interest in scientific writing, Jaemin researches antibiotic resistance and bacterial community dynamics in the You Lab and loves to sing and play Among Us with his friends.
Treasurer & Senior Editor of Science Magazine
Sophia (Trinity ’27) is from New Jersey, majoring in Biology with a Decision Sciences certificate and a Computational Biology minor. Beyond Vertices, Sophia studies biomaterial platforms in the Collier Lab. Outside of class, she loves watching movies and helps projects them for DUU.
Community Events Director
Daliya (Trinity ’27) is studying biochemistry and applied ethics on the premed track. Outside of Vertices, she is passionate about music, research, reading, and running track.
Undergraduate Research Journal
Senior Editor
Vishruth (Trinity ’27) is from Allentown, Pennsylvania and plans to major in neuroscience. He loves doing research in the lab, and he joined Vertices because he can read other people’s work and help them publish the best possible version of their projects. Outside of Vertices, Vishruth also loves to play basketball and try new foods!
Science Magazine
Senior Editor
Ashleigh (Trinity ’26) is from North Carolina and is majoring in Neuroscience. Outside of school, she enjoys hiking, baking, reading, and painting pottery.
Senior Editor
Ainsley (Trinity ’26) is from New York, NY and majoring in Biology with a concentration in Cell & Molecular Biology. Beyond her interest in scientific writing, Ainsley researches starvation resistance and metabolism in C. elegans in the Baugh Lab and loves to try Wilson workout classes and visit the Arts Annex with her friends.
Senior Editor
Michelle (Trinity ’27) is from Rockville, MD and majoring in Biology on the pre-med track. Outside of Vertices, Michelle researches the implications of IL-33 in HER2+ breast cancer metastasis in the Cancer Initiation and Cancer Cell Behavior Lab. In her free time, she enjoys running, biking, and hiking, as well as trying out new restaurants in the Triangle!
Staff Writer
Cathy (Trinity ’25) is from Plainsboro, New Jersey and hopes to major in Global Health and Biology on the pre-med track. She is excited to help provide an accessible platform on science news and research through Vertices!
Staff Writer
Carlota (Trinity ’27) is from Barcelona, Spain and majoring in physics and mathematics with a minor in political science. Outside of class, she is interested in a variety of sports, watching good documentaries, and going to the beach.
Staff Writer
Gage (Trinity ’28) is from Austin, Texas and is majoring in neuroscience with minors in art history and chemistry. Outside of Vertices, he studies optogenetics in the Mooney neurobiology lab and eating disorders in the Duke Center for Eating Disorders Lab. He also organizes events for Duke's National Alliance on Mental Illness as its Executive Publicity Officer. In his free time, he enjoys thrifting at local stores, collecting vinyl, ranking cafes, and writing art descriptions and visual analyses for incarcerated artists' works through the local Impartial non-profit.
Staff Writer
Arjun Saha Choudhury (Pratt '28) is from New Jersey and is majoring in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science. Outside of Vertices, he likes to play piano, listen to music, and play table tennis with friends.
Staff Writer
Harry (Trinity ’27) is from New York City and is pursuing the field of medicine while majoring in biology with a minor in chemistry. He enjoys engaging with science through Vertices and through research at the Sanders Lab in the Department of Neurology. He also enjoys practicing and performing music and playing sports with friends.
Staff Writer
Ruth (Trinity ’28) is from Mooresville, North Carolina and plans on majoring in Biology with a minor in Chemistry and Music on the pre-med track. Outside of class, Ruth enjoys playing piano, scrapbooking, listening to music, and hanging out with friends.
Staff Writer
Julia (Trinity ’28) is from Ashburn, Virginia, and is majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Global Health on the pre-med track with aspirations to work in pediatric cardiology. At Duke, she is active in volunteer and health-based organizations, including NeuroCare, Camp Kesem, Hearts for Hope, GANO, MedLife, and the Duke Children’s Ambassador Program. In her free time, Julia enjoys exercising, spending time with friends, and exploring new restaurants.
Past Presidents
Reed Lessing, '24 - '25
Julia Davis & Reed Lessing, '23 - '24
Julia Davis, '22 - '23
Cydney Livingston, '21 - '22