Jules Girdner came to Duke from Baltimore and California, and she graduated from UCLA, where she earned a B.S. in Biochemistry and a B.S. in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics. While there, she conducted research in the lab of Melody Li, focusing on alphaviruses and the type I IFN response. She also played for UCLA Women’s Rugby.
Girdner knew she wanted to attend graduate school on the east coast. Her choice narrowed to either Duke or UNC-Chapel Hill, but her in-person visit won her over. “I immediately loved the program, Durham, and people I met while on my Duke visit,” she said. “I'm figuring out my path, but I hope to work at the intersection of science and society and explore the public health and infectious diseases fields."
In her free time, she loves cooking and trying new restaurants, science outreach, watching and playing sports, board games, yoga, and running. She competes for Duke Club Rowing and is a coach for Chapel Hill’s Highlanders Rugby high school girls’ team.