From Rutgers-Camden to Doctoral Study at Duke

Posted January 8, 2024December 14, 2025 in Alumni, Biology

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Rooted in South Jersey and shaped by early research experiences at Rutgers-Camden, Katrina DeWitt built a foundation in Biology that carried her from undergraduate study through a master’s degree and into doctoral research. Now a PhD candidate in Biology at Duke University, she studies microbial communities and their responses to predation and environmental pressures. Katrina credits the academic rigor, research training, and teaching experience gained at Rutgers-Camden with preparing her for advanced scholarship and her anticipated doctoral completion in the coming year.

Educational Background & Research Foundations

I graduated from Delsea Regional High School in 2015. I immediately enrolled in Rutgers University-Camden, where I got involved with research. A pivotal moment that influenced my decision was my participation in the research showing program during my first year. I applied to a lab (Dr. Angelica Gonzalez) and quickly fell in love with research and ecology. This led me to participate in Rutgers University-Camden’s Research Experience for Undergraduates program, where I got to go to Poland in 2016 with Dr. Angelica Gonzalez to study spiders and their webs to assess atmospheric pollution. I have always had a deep love of nature, and being able to study it (even just identifying insects under a microscope) was fulfilling. I received my Bachelor of Science in Biology from Rutgers-Camden in 2018.

Without the academic and research foundations instilled in me at Rutgers-Camden, I would not be where I am today.
Katrina DeWitt

Motivation for Graduate Study at Rutgers-Camden

My choice to pursue graduate studies at Rutgers University-Camden stems from the supportive academic atmosphere I encountered during my undergraduate studies. Throughout my bachelor’s program, I was struck by the abundance of resources accessible to students, where professors knew us personally and offered consistent support, mentorship, and access to essential tools for academic growth. The faculty and staff at Rutgers University-Camden extended a warm welcome, cultivating a sense of belonging that deeply resonated with me. I consider Rutgers-Camden a second home and miss being a part of the community daily.

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Research Experience, Teaching Roles, & Current Focus

Rutgers University-Camden shaped my love for research and teaching. As a graduate student, I was awarded a Teaching Assistantship to fund my master’s program, where I taught ecology and microbiology labs to undergraduate biology and nursing students. I received the Dean’s Graduate Student Research and Travel Grant and graduated with a thesis with distinction. This led me to start a Ph.D. in Biology at Duke University under Dr. Jean-Phi Gibert, from which I will graduate in the spring of 2025. At Duke, I study microbial communities and their responses to predation and environmental pressures.

The skills I learned at Rutgers University-Camden have carried me through my career and have been incredibly important. Without the academic and research foundations instilled in me at Rutgers-Camden, I would not be where I am today..