Associate Professor Giselle López, MD, PhD, served as the keynote speaker at the Duke FEMMES+ Hacks event on Sat., Jan. 17, 2026, at Duke University. FEMMES+ (Females and Allies Excelling More in Math, Engineering, and Science) is an undergraduate volunteer group whose members encourage local students in grades 4-12 to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). The day-long event engaged high school participants in coding workshops and small group discussions with Duke faculty.
It also featured inspiring speakers like López, who spoke about her career path as a physician scientist and pathologist.
“I discussed things I learned along the way, including work-life balance, showing respect and kindness to everyone, the importance of mentoring–including peer mentors, and the value of giving back to the community,” said López.
López actively mentors Duke Pathology graduate students, residents, and faculty members, in addition to mentoring undergraduate students interested in pursuing MDs and PhDs. She was appointed as associate director of Graduate Studies in October 2025. Her lab is focused on searching for cures for brain tumors.