The Horatio Alger Foundation of Distinguished Americans, Inc. selected biochemistry PhD candidate Dalal Azzam as a recipient of the 2026 Dennis Washington Graduate Leadership Scholarship program.
“It is a tremendous honor to have received this award and know that the foundation believes in my ability to be a leader in my community,” Azzam said.
The scholarship is a prestigious and highly sought after opportunity that empowers graduate students to become agents for change in their respective fields. “This award will allow me to enhance my work as a researcher, educator, and community builder,” she said.
Azzam is currently working on her thesis in the lab of Lorna Beese, PhD, James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry, and focuses on characterizing key proteins in the human DNA mismatch repair pathway and understanding their roles in cancers and neurodegenerative diseases.
Awardees receive $250,000 in funding that supports professional development opportunities, conference participation, and additional post-graduate certificates.
“Duke University is an incubator for collaboration, scientific achievement, and innovation. I look forward to continuing my journey of making research and scientific knowledge more accessible to all,” Azzam said.