Deven Gupta

Class of 2026
Majors in Biophysics (BS) and Classical Civilizations (BA), Certificate in Health Policy

I'm a fourth-year student double majoring in Biophysics and Classical Civilizations with a certificate in Health Policy. In the Biomedical Interferometry, Optics, and Spectroscopy Lab, I conduct research using advanced microscopy techniques to analyze the impact of glaucoma on glial cells. On campus, I organize events celebrating the ancient world with Classics Collegium, sing and beatbox for Duke Deewana, and play tabla with Duke Sangeet. Beyond Duke, I volunteer with the Root Causes Fresh Produce Program, helping provide weekly fresh produce distributions to food-insecure community members in Durham. I am a Goldwater Scholar and member of the Sigma Pi Sigma Physics National Honor Society. Previously, I have also served as a Duke Margolis Intern, Bass Connections student, and Applied Ethics+ fellow.

Favorite Class: Biophysics I with Professor John Mercer. We focused a lot on allostery, which is how molecules act like switches, changing shape to turn signals on or off. That simple idea helps explain everything from how hemoglobin carries oxygen, to how our muscles move, to how bacteria sense their surroundings. I loved how the course gave me a new way of seeing biology by tying all these examples together under one physical framework.