Dr. Catherine Denning-Jannace Named 2022 Outstanding Postdoc!

Dr. Catherine Denning-Jannace and Kathy Franz
Dr. Catherine Denning-Jannace, 2022 Outstanding Postdoc, with her faculty mentor, Prof. Katherine Franz.

Dr. Catherine Denning-Jannace Named 2022 Outstanding Postdoc at Duke! Dr. Catherine Denning-Jannace was nominated by numerous current and former research group members and her faculty mentor. Dr. Jennifer Lodge, Vice President for Research and Innovation, presented the award for Outstanding Postdoc to Catherine at the 15th Annual Postdoctoberfest held on October 7th. 

Read more about Catherine's nomination below or at the Duke Postdoctoral Services webpage

Dr. Denning-Janace’s faculty mentor, Dr. Katherine Franz, wrote: Catherine joined my laboratory in February 2020. What impressed me most was her desire to stretch fearlessly into a new research area. She was interested in applying her biophysical mindset to questions about how cellular metals influence biological regulatory events, which would require that she learn new skillsets. Given the timing of her arrival at Duke just one month before coronavirus laboratory shutdowns, the opportunity to gather preliminary data for her project was seriously curtailed. During that time, she showed impressive adaptability, resilience, and fearlessness to try new things. In the work-from-home phase, she dug into a large dataset generated by a former group member but not yet fully analyzed. She very quickly learned the new software required to analyze this incredibly rich dataset. When her analysis is completed, we will have an unprecedented look at the whole proteome level, of how expression of metalloproteins in C. albicans changes as a function of time and drug exposure.

The challenges of the coronavirus pandemic of course are far from over. The negative impact on women with care-giving roles is glaring. As a mother of twin toddlers, Catherine has persevered amid the daunting realities of day-care closures, Covid scares, and constantly shifting work schedules. Not only does she adapt and persevere, she provides strength and motivation to others.

Catherine’s leadership ability and commitment to inclusion is always evident. She is a phenomenal mentor to coworkers and younger students in the lab. I have seen her go out of her way to help graduate and undergraduate students work through challenges, both experimental and personal. In the broader departmental community, she stepped up to be a member of our Duke Chemistry Diversity, Inclusion and Community committee. Catherine’s voice within that committee is helping shape a positive and inclusive climate in the department.

A graduate student wrote: Catherine is incredibly hard working and an exceptional scientist. Catherine acts as a mentor and friend to all 10 graduate students here in lab. As a senior graduate student, I have found Catherine to be an invaluable part of my PhD journey. She is always willing to help you talk through experimental design, read through a paper draft, give general life advice, or just let you vent about dissertation writing.

Catherine is an inspiration to us all with the way she manages her research and her home life as a mother of 3-year-old twin boys. Despite having her own responsibilities as a mother, a scientist, and as an advocate for women in STEM, Catherine never fails to find time for all of us. Whenever I need guidance or support, she is there. I cannot wait to see what she will achieve in her independent career and am thankful to her for all of the support and friendship over the past three years.

An undergraduate student wroteCatherine is an outstanding lab mentor who went above and beyond in training me. She is one of the busiest people I have met yet constantly seeks to mentor others. My first project was not under Catherine’s supervision, and I struggled greatly. Catherine realized that I was struggling and entirely of her own accord, designed a small research project that fit my skills. I made more progress in those first two weeks working with Catherine than I had in my entire previous year in lab. Under Catherine’s mentorship I was finally able to reach a point where I felt proud of my research and confident enough to continue in science after graduation. I am now a post-baccalaureate researcher at the National Cancer Institute, and the skills that Catherine taught me have given me a strong start.