Five faculty from the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology have been awarded distinguished professorships by Duke University. They will be honored at the university’s annual distinguished professorship event on May 18.
Distinguished professorships are awarded to faculty who have demonstrated extraordinary scholarship in advancing science and improving human health.
MGM’s 2026 cohort of new distinguished professors are:
Alter Geller Distinguished Professor for Research in Immunology
Jorn Coers, PhD
Jorn Coers, PhD, is a professor in molecular genetics and microbiology, professor of integrative microbiology, and professor in cell biology. He is recognized for his groundbreaking contributions to microbiology, infectious diseases, host-pathogen interactions, and innate immunity. His research focus is on understanding fundamental aspects of the immune response to microbes as well as the corresponding immune evasion strategies evolved by human pathogens to undermine immunity and establish infections. His work has led to paradigm shifts in the field, uncovering novel immune pathways and mechanisms that could inform therapeutic strategies for combating infections and inflammatory diseases.
Pelham Wilder Distinguished Professor of Chemistry
Emily Derbyshire, PhD
Emily Derbyshire, PhD, is Eads Family Professor and Professor of Chemistry with appointments in molecular genetics and microbiology and in cell biology. She is also an associate of the Duke Initiative for Science and Society. A fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, her interdisciplinary collaborative research program integrates chemical biology, molecular biology, and biochemistry to globally interrogate parasite biology. She studies the chemical biology of the liver stage of malaria, and she has been recognized for the development of new therapeutics to address a major global health challenge.
Minnie Geller Distinguished Professor of Research in Genetics
Nicholas Heaton, PhD
Nicholas Scott Heaton, PhD, is a professor of molecular genetics and microbiology who also has appointments in cell biology and integrative immunobiology. He is an internationally recognized virologist whose pioneering research in influenza biology, host–pathogen interactions, and innovative vaccine engineering has significantly advanced the fields of microbiology and immunology. His research spans fundamental discovery, translational science, and cutting‑edge molecular engineering approaches, focusing on how viruses such as influenza and SARS‑CoV‑2 infect and damage the respiratory epithelium, how host cells survive viral challenge, and how innate and adaptive immune responses can be harnessed or enhanced.
Duke School of Medicine Distinguished Professor in Neuroscience
Debra Lynn Silver, PhD
Debra Lynn Silver, PhD, is a professor in cell biology with appointments in molecular genetics and microbiology and neurobiology. Her research program bridges developmental neurobiology, RNA biology, and evolution, focused on elucidating genetic and cellular mechanisms controlling cortical development and contributing to neurodevelopmental pathologies and brain evolution. She studies neural progenitors, essential cells which generate neurons and are the root of brain development. She is an internationally recognized geneticist and developmental neurobiologist whose work has significantly advanced our understanding of how the mammalian and human brain develops, and how these processes fail in congenital disorders such as microcephaly.
Minnie Geller Distinguished Professor for Research in Genetics
David M. Tobin, PhD
David M. Tobin, PhD, is a professor of molecular genetics and microbiology who also has appointments in cell biology and integrative immunobiology. His research focuses on understanding the interplay between mycobacteria and their hosts, using model organism genetics, human genetics, pharmacology, and high-resolution microscopy. By identifying key pathways utilized by the infecting bacteria and the host innate immune system, he seeks to discover new therapeutic targets and interventions to combat tuberculosis. His work integrates zebrafish genetics with mechanistic studies of mycobacterial pathogens, advancing fundamental understanding of host–pathogen interactions relevant to human diseases including tuberculosis and leprosy.
Read about all 38 faculty members at Duke University (22 in the School of Medicine) who have been awarded distinguished professorships.