Duke University

Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

Pratt School of Engineering

The Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University is one of the fastest rising, highly ranked engineering schools in the nation. The school consists of four departments with 130 tenure-track faculty members, 1250 undergraduate students, 1400 master’s students, and 600 PhD students. Housed within a university renowned for its programs in the liberal arts, medicine, business and law, Pratt prepares future engineering leaders to address complex challenges with solutions that consider the complexities and nuances of implementing them. Pratt takes a whole-student approach to education, ensuring students are well supported throughout their journeys and graduate with the grit and determination required to persevere in their careers and their lives. Pratt is dedicated to the values of diversity, equitability, inclusivity and community in its pursuit of knowledge and service to society.

PreMiEr ERC

The National Science Foundation (NSF) funded Engineering Research Center (ERC) for Precision Microbiome Engineering (PreMiEr) is a multi-university, multi-disciplinary scientific research organization housed in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the Duke Pratt School of Engineering. PreMiEr’s mission is to improve human health through modification of built environment microbiomes. PreMiEr comprises approximately 150 faculty and scholars from Duke University, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, North Carolina State University, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and The University of North Carolina at Charlotte in addition to external partners. The ERC is in Year 3 of a potential 10-year funding period.

Position Summary:

The PreMiEr Engineering Research Center (ERC) at Duke University is seeking a highly motivated, creative student to support website management and digital communications. This part-time position is ideal for someone who is interested in visual storytelling, public engagement, and enhancing the visibility of complex scientific research through accessible content and modern communication tools.

Work Performed:

·       Maintain and update PreMiEr’s WordPress-based website, ensuring information is accurate, accessible, and visually engaging.

·       Assist with implementing homepage redesigns, visual metrics sections, and new content sections.

·       Translate scientific concepts and research outcomes into engaging content for general public, students, and industry partners.

·       Create and schedule posts for social media platforms, using content aligned with outreach priorities and trending formats.

·       Design infographics, flyers, tables, and visuals using Canva and other tools to support internal and external communication.

·       Support content planning and knowledge-sharing workflows across newsletters, blog posts, and outreach updates.

·       Create graphics, charts, summaries, or other materials for presentations, posters, advertising, outreach, and reporting.

·       Oversee the update and maintenance of the PreMiEr website content and functionality, social media accounts, and YouTube channel.

·       Create and distribute a biweekly internal newsletter and quarterly external newsletter

·       Collect information and document all activities that occur within the center for reporting purposes.