Join us.

If you are an enthusiastic, self-motivated, and aspiring life-long learner interested in protein engineering, directed evolution, cancer biology, or solving biological problems through data-driven science, we’d love to hear from you!

Please note that our ability to take on new PhD students varies year to year and is dependent on lab capacity, funding, and fit. We encourage you to carefully review our research focus and consider whether our lab aligns well with your interests before applying.

Joining the Lab Through Duke BME

PhD students in our lab are admitted through the Duke Biomedical Engineering (BME) program. Duke BME uses a lab-matching admissions process, meaning students are admitted directly into a lab based on alignment with their interests, experience, and fit.

To be considered for our lab, you must:

• Select Professor Emma Chory as a preferred advisor in your application

• Mention specific research areas or projects in the Chory Lab that interest you

– How to apply –

Submit your application through Duke Biomedical Engineering (BME). Applications open in the fall and close mid december (please check the application site for the current deadline dates). Duke BME has a unique application process where students are admitted directly into a lab – so you’re matched directly into the research group based on your interests, experiences, and fit with our research group. Therefore, make sure to select Professor Chory as your preferred advisor when you apply so that your application can be flagged for her review. Be sure to also mention in your application which research projects in the Chory Lab are of most interest to you.

The Application Process:
How to Apply

1. Familiarize Yourself With Our Work
   Explore our publications and current research themes to ensure strong alignment with your goals.

2. Attend the Duke BME Info Session
   The department hosts virtual open houses each fall—these are a great way to learn more about the program and connect with faculty and students.

3. Reach Out (Optional)
   While not required, we welcome brief, thoughtful inquiries from applicants. If you’d like to introduce yourself, please send a CV and short cover letter to chorylab [plus] apply [at] gmail [dot] com, outlining your background and why you’re interested in our lab. Please note that we may only respond to applicants who are shortlisted for interviews.

4. Submit Your Application
   All prospective students must apply through the Duke University Biomedical Engineering PhD application portal. Application deadlines are typically in early December—check the site for exact dates. You can start your application here.

5. Interview Process
   Selected applicants will be invited for virtual interviews, and possibly for an on-campus visit as part of the admissions process.

If you have or are applying for external funding (e.g., NSF GRFP, NIH F30/F31), be sure to highlight this in your materials.

• For peer advice, the Duke Engineering Graduate Ambassadors program offers mentoring and can connect you with current graduate students.

• For personalized guidance, consider reaching out to the Duke Engineering Graduate Ambassadors program, which offers mentorship from current graduate students. More information is available here.

– How to apply –

If you are interested in joining as a postdoctoral fellow, please send your cover letter and CV directly to Professor Chory at chorylab [plus] apply [at] gmail [dot] com. In the cover letter, please describe your research interest and career path with emphasis on why the Chory Lab is uniquely equipped to help you achieve your research goals and prepare you for the next stage of your career.

For postdoc-specific resources at Duke, visit: https://research.duke.edu/prospective-postdocs/

We’re thrilled you’re interested in joining the Chory Lab! Professor Chory is committed to providing meaningful research opportunities for undergraduates, particularly those eager to gain hands-on experience and grow as future scientists and engineers.

Our lab occasionally takes on motivated Duke undergraduates, but space is limited and mentorship capacity varies throughout the year. We consider opportunities on a case-by-case basis, depending on the availability of mentorship and alignment with current projects.

How to Get Started

1. Fill Out Our Interest Form
   We ask all interested undergraduates to complete our research interest form, even if we are at capacity:
   👉 bit.ly/chorylab-interestform
   This helps us get to know you and your interests better. Please respond as thoroughly as possible!

2. Check Muser
   We also post opportunities on Muser at the beginning of each semester. If you see a listing there, feel free to apply directly.

Important Notes

• Mentorship Bandwidth
  Taking on new undergraduates, especially in the wet lab, is a significant commitment. If our mentorship bandwidth is low, we may not be able to accept new students immediately—but we still encourage you to reach out via the interest form to be considered for future opportunities.

• Pratt Research Fellowships
  If you’re a sophomore or junior in your first semester, we highly recommend considering a Pratt Research Fellowship. These fellowships are long-term research experiences that span your junior and senior years and provide a great opportunity to dive deeper into a project. If you're eligible, we encourage you to apply!

• Computational and ML Projects
  Students interested in computational biology, machine learning, or data science may be able to engage in more hands-off, independent projects under the guidance of a postdoc or graduate student. These positions are generally better suited for students with prior coding experience and require less intensive wet lab involvement.

Undergraduates in our lab typically work closely with a PhD student or postdoc mentor, and we encourage you to explore lab website and lab handbook to learn more about our team, projects, and expectations.

Let us know if you have questions—and thanks again for your interest!

We occasionally host Master’s students from the Duke BME program for research in the lab. At this time, we are only able to consider students who have already been admitted to the Duke BME MS program.

To apply to the Duke BME Master’s Program, visit:
👉 https://bme.duke.edu/academics/masters/ms-bme/

If you have been admitted and are interested in joining the lab, please complete our research interest form:
👉 bit.ly/chorylab-interestform

More info:

• Research opportunities are considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on project alignment and mentorship availability.

• Most students work closely with a PhD student or postdoc mentor.

• If you have experience in computational biology or machine learning, there may be opportunities for more independent, hands-off projects.

• We also encourage you to explore our lab website and lab handbook to learn more about our research areas and expectations.