Chancellor Awards Ph.D. Excellence
What do termite mounds and E. coli have in common? For Ph.D. candidates Meron Dibia and Truman Dunkley, they represent the frontiers of scientific inquiry—and the focus of their groundbreaking dissertation research.
Both students, currently completing their doctorates in the Computational and Integrative Biology program, have been awarded the 2025 Chancellor’s Dissertation Completion Award. Part of Rutgers–Camden’s “15-in-5” initiatives, this competitive award provides key financial support in a scholar’s final year of doctoral study, recognizing excellence, originality, and persistence.
Meron’s research investigates the “Water Harvesting Behavior of Termite Closed Mound Structures,” while Truman is exploring the “Modulation and Regulation of ATP Synthase within E. coli.” These projects reflect the depth, rigor, and interdisciplinary spirit of Computational and Integrative Biology at Rutgers–Camden.
Congratulations to Meron and Truman on this well-earned recognition.
Related to this Story:
Bridging Disciplines: The Center for Computational and Integrative Biology
The Center for Computational and Integrative Biology (CCIB) at Rutgers–Camden combines experimental and computational methods to address complex biological questions. CCIB offers graduate programs leading to M.S. and Ph.D. degrees, emphasizing a holistic understanding of biological systems from molecular to population levels. The curriculum equips students like Basirat with the skills to conduct innovative research at the intersection of biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and physics.
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