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NIH-KI Collaborative Doctoral Program in Neuroscience

About the program.

Karolinska Institutet (KI) in Stockholm, Sweden is home to one of the best neuroscience research centers in Europe. NIH is the largest and best-equipped biomedical research facility in the world, with 20% of NIH's faculty describing themselves as neuroscientists. Thus, NIH is also the largest neuroscience research facility in the world. These two prestigious institutions seek 1) to encourage research collaborations between them, and 2) to train future leaders in neuroscience research. For these reasons, the joint program offers unparalleled opportunities for training and research to a very select group of accomplished and goal-directed students who are expected to emerge as future research leaders within neuroscience.

Institutional Goals

The NIH-KI joint PhD program had its first class of four U.S. and four Swedish students in 2002. Graduate students admitted to the program through either the NIH or the KI intake are co-mentored by an NIH faculty member and a KI faculty member in a collaborative research project. Students thus have the advantage of two mentors with different but overlapping perspectives, as well as special facilities and opportunities at each institution. Students will be admitted to doctoral education at KI and thus obtain their PhD degree from KI. Approximately half of the PhD dissertation research time is spent at each institution, with a minimum of 18 months spent at either location.

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English Language Requirement for Doctoral Education

You can show that you meet the English language requirement through English language proficiency tests, previous university studies or upper secondary school studies. The requirement is a level of English equivalent to the level of the Swedish upper secondary school course English 6. No exception from meeting the English language requirement is approved. We do not make any assessment of equivalent knowledge in English. English language proficiency must be proved by formal documentation.

In the information below, we refer to University Admissions website for more information on how you can meet the English requirement. However, note that you should not submit your application to University Admissions, nor should you send any documents to them for verification. Submit your application and supporting documents through the Varbi recruitment system. The available PhD positions are posted here .  

Meeting the English requirement through internationally recognised English test

You can meet the requirement by achieving the required score on an internationally recognised English test. Karolinska Institutet accepts the following tests:

• IELTS Academic/IELTS UKVI . According to IELTS, test results are valid for two years. Please note that KI can accept older test results as long as they are available online for verification. Contact IELTS with questions about test result availability.
• TOEFL iBT.   The TOEFL test results are valid for two years.
• Cambridge Michigan Language Assessments
• Pearson PTE Academic
• Cambridge English Qualifications

Please note that there are different types of English language tests in different levels, even among those tests listed above.  You find information about the  internationally recognised tests and the minimum score requirements here .

Meeting the English requirement through previous university studies

You can meet the English language requirement through previous university studies. Please make sure you follow the general  documentation requirements .

Previous university studies from the Nordic countries 

Applicants who meet the general entry requirements (points 1. or 2. , chapter 7, 39§) through academic credentials from a Nordic higher education institution are assessed to meet the English language requirement. This means that prospective doctoral students who fulfill the general entry requirements through academic credentials from a Nordic higher education institution, only need to submit documents that certify the general entry requirements. A prospective doctoral student meets the general entry requirement for doctoral education if he or she:

• has been awarded a degree at the advanced (second-cycle) level, or
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded at the advanced level.

Previous university studies from outside the Nordic region 

Ongoing and completed university studies in some other countries can also fulfill the English requirement. You can find more information on how to meet the English language requirement through  previous university studies outside the Nordic region here . Furthermore, applicants who have completed their university degrees (usually a medical doctor degree with English as language of instruction) from a program on a university which according to World Directory of Medical Schools has English as the only language on instruction. The degree must not have been awarded more than ten years ago to be able to show that you meet the entry requirement regarding knowledge in English in this way.

Meeting the English requirement through upper secondary school studies

Please make sure you follow the general  documentation requirements .

Swedish upper secondary school credentials

If you are already registered (folkbokförd) in Sweden, you can complete the Swedish upper secondary school course English 6 at your local kommunal vuxenutbildning (KomVux) which is upper secondary school for adults. You may also be able to take English 6 as an exam. Please check the application dates with your municipality.

Foreign upper secondary school credentials

You may also meet the English language requirement through your foreign upper secondary school education . This will depend on in which country you have completed your upper secondary school, in which year and which courses you have completed. Please scan the original upper secondary school diplomas and transcripts in color and upload them on your application at Varbi.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

I have a bachelor’s and master’s degree with English as Language of Instruction. Do I still need to take a language proficiency test in English?

It depends on the documentation of your diplomas and which country you studied in . Note that the language requirement in English is the same for doctoral education level at KI as it is for master level studies.

I was born and raised in an English-speaking country, or I have citizenship in an English-speaking country. What applies for me?

Even you who have English as native language (mother tongue) or have citizenship in an English-speaking country is obligated to prove your language proficiency in English formally to meet the KI specific eligibility requirement.

Which English language proficiency tests do KI accept? Could you tell med exactly where does KI place the cut-off for accepting the language test score?

KI accepts several English language proficiency tests. The scores differ among the different tests.

Can I meet the specific eligibility requirement in English proficiency through upper secondary studies or Municipality Adult education?

You who have Swedish upper secondary studies or Municipality adult education in English B/6 can submit your grades, or an excerpt, from central Admission  to your application in Varbi.

Will KI accept a letter from my home University about the language of instruction, or does the language of instruction need to be stated on the officially issued Degree, Transcript of Records or Diploma Supplement?

It depends on  which country  your bachelor's and master's degree studies are from. 

You are welcome to contact  [email protected]  for your questions about the entry requirement for doctoral education at KI. 

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• Young Scientists

Doctoral Programs

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As part of the University of Excellence concept at KIT, doctoral programs are important building blocks to ensure optimal conditions for doctoral candidates at KIT. Doctoral programs offer the opportunity to do a doctorate in an interdisciplinary research environment and within the framework of a structured qualification and supervision concept. Doctoral programs focus on qualifying doctoral researchers in promising research topics and supporting them in their personal career development and scientific independence. In addition, doctoral programs promote internationalization, early networking and interdisciplinary cooperation among early career researchers.

At KIT, early career researchers can conduct research and gain qualifications in various types of doctoral programs. For example, in graduate schools and research training groups. These differ primarily in the range of topics and in their size (number of doctoral researchers). In addition to graduate schools and research training groups, there are also various other doctoral programs at KIT.

Graduate Schools

Graduate schools are characterized by a broad, usually highly interdisciplinary field of research and comprise a large number of doctoral researchers (approx. 50 - 100). As part of the the University of Excellence concept, six new graduate schools (KIT Graduate Schools) were established at six KIT Centers in strategically important research areas in 2021 with the "Graduate School Support Program" (GradeUP). Together with the existing graduate schools at KIT, including two Cluster of Excellence graduate schools, there is at least one graduate school at each KIT Center . 

Research Training Groups

Research Training Groups are home to a medium number of doctoral researchers (approx. 10 – 25) working within a more narrowly defined research topic. In addition to the doctoral researchers directly funded by the research network, doctoral researchers funded in other ways can also be members of the Research Training Group and benefit from its offerings (as associated doctoral researchers).

Collaborative Research Centers at KIT

The Collaborative Research Centers (CRC) funded by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG) are long-term research institutions at universities in which scientists collaborate within the framework of an interdisciplinary research program (sometimes across locations). The structured promotion of young researchers is one of the central goals of Collaborative Research Centers and they may therefore also have Integrated Research Training Groups offering excellent research opportunities for doctoral researchers.

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions are international research networks of at least three European institutions. These doctoral programs usually include a small number of doctoral researchers (approx. 2 – 4) per location, who have the opportunity to spend up to one third of their doctorate at one of the partner institutions. 

Other Doctoral Programs

KIT is strongly networked within the (international) scientific community as well as industry. KIT cooperates with its partners in particular in the area of doctorate, for example in the form of double degree doctoral programs, doctoral research groups with applied universities, and industrial doctoral programs.

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Doctoral degree Conferment Ceremony

Karolinska Institutet holds a Conferment Ceremony for new doctors twice a year. In the spring ceremony honorary doctors are welcome and in the autumn ceremony jubilee doctors are welcome. The ceremony takes place in the Blue Hall of Stockholm City Hall and is followed by a banquet in the Golden Hall and dance.

The dates for the ceremonies of 2024 are:

April 26: ceremony for those who defended their thesis in the fall of 2023 and granted postponements caused by the pandemic.

November 1: ceremony for those who defended their thesis in the spring of 2024.

Practical information for new doctors (promovendi)

Who is entitled to the conferment.

If you are a new doctor at KI who have satisfactorily defended your thesis and have applied for the doctor's degree certificate.

Postponement

For particular reasons there is the possibility to postpone your conferment within 2 years, but you have to contact the unit for academic ceremonies as soon as possible at: [email protected]

An invitation will be sent to you approximately three months before the Conferment Ceremony by e-mail.

Please make sure to notify us of any change of e-mail address in order for the invitation to reach you at [email protected]

Your supervisor will get an invitation after we have received your reply. This is in order to be sure that KI invites the supervisor whose promovendi has accepted the invitation.

You are welcome free of charge together with a guest to the ceremony and to the banquet that will follow.

Guests:  

Promovendi can bring one guest to ceremony and banquet and up to two guests to the ceremony.

One supervisor per promovendi will be invited by KI to the ceremony and the banquet at no cost, provided their former doctoral student is attending. The new doctor decides if KI shall invite the supervisor. The supervisor will thereafter receive a separate invitation from KI. The supervisor can register a guest attending both ceremony and banquet but has to pay the fee for the guest. More information about that comes with the invitation.

For the new doctors the dress code is full evening dress: white waistcoat, white tie and tails/ long evening gown. An alternative may be to wear the national costume.

For supervisors and other guests who will even participate to the banquet the dress code is also full evening dress. Guests just attending the ceremony are not required to wear evening dress, smart casual is appreciated.

• You are welcome from 3:00 pm. in order to participate in the general rehearsal. 

All other guests are welcome from 4:15 pm. Everyone should have taken their seats at 4:50 pm.

The Ceremony starts at 5:00 pm.

Getting to the City Hall

Entrance tickets

All guests (included promovendi) need entrance tickets. Entrance tickets will be sent digitally to the promovendi's and the supervisor's e-mail address approximately 1-2 weeks before the ceremony. The QR code includes ticket/-s for you and your registered guests, please  forward it to your guests as it is requested to show the code at the entrance. Please notice also that the e-mail containing the tickets may come to your spam box.

The ceremony comprise the conferment of new doctors (promovendi) and of jubilee doctors (doctors who had been conferred their degree 50 years ago, autumn occasion) or honorary doctors (spring occasion) . You will be called on stage in groups. When on stage, the chief usher will announce your name and the Deputy Vice-President of Doctoral Education confer you the doctor's degree by placing the doctoral hat on your head and thereafter hand over a diploma. After a fanfare and applauds the group is lead back to the seats. The hats stay on during the remains of the ceremony.

At the banquet you are primarily seated together with your accompanying guest and your supervisor. Thereafter you are seated in order of department and division as far as it is possible.

The diploma handed at the Conferment Ceremony is not an official document. It is only a document attesting that you have attended the ceremony following the Swedish tradition and it is not to be considered an official validation of a doctoral degree. The official document is the degree certificate which testifies the receipt of the doctoral degree. See more here to apply for it: degree certificate

Dress code and doctoral hat for the new doctors

Doctoral hat.

It is mandatory for new doctors to wear a doctoral hat at the Conferment ceremony. You can either buy a hat, borrow from a colleague or hire a hat from KI.

You can hire a doctoral hat from KI. The cost is 400 SEK. For more information contact: [email protected] , you can read more about that in the document attached to the invitation.

Please contact well in advance: Hattmakarna

The dress code is full evening dress: white waistcoat, white tie and tails/ long evening gown. An alternative may be to wear the national costume

Tail coats and evening dresses may be hired/bought from, among others:

• Bröllopsbutiken , Sankt Eriksgatan 74, Stockholm, tfn 08-30 79 30
• Wedding Bells by Little Faires , Skidvägen 21, 129 49 Hägersten, tfn 08-646 08 00
• Kungs Skräddare & Uthyrning , S:t Göransgatan 65, Stockholm, tfn 08-653 25 86

Tail coats may be hired or ordered from, among others:

• Månberg & Bagge , Drottninggatan 112, Stockholm, tel 08-24 30 32
• Grosshandlarn , Vasagatan 11, Stockholm tel 08-21 22 11 - Odengatan 34, Stockholm, tel 08-612 50 55
• Steens Herrmode AB , Odengatan 106, Stockholm, tel 08-34 93 00
• Östermalms Smoking & Frackuthyrning, Almlöfsgatan 3, Stockholm, tel 08-660 28 29
• House of Steens , Odengatan 106, 2 tr, Stockholm, tel 08-997700
• Brudgummen, Vattugatan 1, Stockholm, tel 08 30 01 12

Doctoral ring (not mandatory)

Doctoral rings can be ordered from:

• Atelier Borgila AB (AB Heymann & Kuhlmann), Vegagatan 7, Stockholm, tfn 08 673 41 00
• Oskars Guld & Silver , Västerlånggatan 55, Stockholm, tfn 08-22 80 29
• Sundbybergs Guldsmedsaffär , Sturegatan 28, Sundbyberg, tfn 08-28 14 24
• Guldsmed Stefan Carlsson , Vaksalagatan 40 Uppsala, tfn 018-12 57 08

Anne Heikkinen Sandberg

Maria Lancella

Karin Björklund-Jonsson

Honorary doctors, previous conferment ceremonies.

• Ambedkar Speech
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• Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Writings & Speeches Vol. 1
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• Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Writings & Speeches Vol. 9
• Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Writings & Speeches Vol. 10
• Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Writings & Speeches Vol. 11
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• Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Writings & Speeches Volume 13
• Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Writings & Speeches Volume 14-02
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• Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Writings & Speeches Volume 21
• The Annihilation of Caste
• Who were the Shudras?
• Castes in India: Their Mechanism, Genesis and Development
• Philosophy of Hinduism
• Riddles in Hinduism – Dr. Ambedkar
• Buddha And His Dhamma
• Buddha Or Karl Marx – Dr. Ambedkar
• The Problem Of The Rupee : Its Origin And Its Solution
• Waiting for a Visa – Dr. Ambedkar
• Pakistan or Partition of India – Dr. Ambedkar
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• Administration and Finance Of The East India Company – Ambedkar
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• Dalit History Month
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Dr. Ambedkar’s Education Degree list, Qualification

Apart from two master’s and Bar-at-Law, he had four doctoral degrees plus he knew several European languages (and quite a few Indian languages including Sanskrit). He also wrote the Pali language dictionary and was the first person from South Asia to have been conferred a Degree of Ph.D. in Economics. Dr. Ambedkar was only 24 years old when he wrote his paper on “Castes in India – Their Mechanism, Genesis, and Development”. In his paper, he challenged many well-established scholars who had already written on caste.

What are Dr.Ambedkar’s educational qualifications?

Below is Dr. Ambedkar’s education history , starting with elementary education. It is almost impossible to state his extraordinarily vast educational experience. No wonder he is also popularly known as the “ Symbol of Knowledge ”

• Elementary Education, 1902 Satara, Maharashtra
• Matriculation, 1907, Elphinstone High School, Bombay Persian, etc.,
• Inter 1909, Elphinstone College, Bombay-Persian and English
• B.A, 1913, Elphinstone College, Bombay, University of Bombay, Economics & Political Science
• M.A, 1915 Majoring in Economics with Sociology, History Philosophy, Anthropology, and Politics
• Ph.D., 1917, Columbia University conferred a Degree of Ph.D.
• M. Sc 1921 June, London School of Economics, London. Thesis – ‘Provincial Decentralization of Imperial Finance in British India’
• Barrister-at- Law 30-9-1920 Gray’s Inn, London
• (1922-23, Spent some time reading economics in the University of Bonn in Germany.)
• D. SC Nov 1923, London School of Economics, London ‘The Problem of the Rupee – Its origin and its solution’ was accepted for the degree in Economics
• L.L.D (Honoris Causa) 5-6-1952 Columbia University, New York For his achievements, Leadership and authoring the constitution of India
• D.Litt (Honoris Causa) 12-1-1953 Osmania University, Hyderabad For his achievements, Leadership, and writing the constitution of India 

Even though Dr. Ambedkar is well known as one of the greatest intellectuals of his time, ethics were more important to him than intellectual acumen because he knew that ethical people were more likely to be of greater service to society than mere intellectuals. If they were both, ethical and intellectual, that would be of the greatest value to humankind.

What makes Dr B.R Ambedkar even greater is that he came from the most humble background with an almost impossible task of rising to the heights that he did, eventually becoming the chief architect and chairman of the drafting committee of the Indian constitution, a symbol of knowledge and a champion of human rights. To begin with, Dr Ambedkar had nothing more than his personal qualities to rely upon and the most fantastic dream of liberty, equality, fraternity, and justice for all. His name will always be amongst the greatest in Indian history.

[ This article was appeared first in Global Ambedkarite and written by Anti caste Activist Shekhar Bodhakar ]

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The Immortal Voice of Ambedkar

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A journey through the brain 2024

The Strategic Neuroscience Research Network (StratNeuro) at Karolinska Institutet celebrated the International Brain Awareness Week with an open symposium on Monday 11 March 2024.

Between 11 and 17 March 2024, neuroscientists worldwide spearheaded efforts to illuminate the significance of brain science during " Brain Awareness Week." The Strategic Neuroscience Research Network (StratNeuro) at Karolinska Institutet contributed to the “Brain Awareness Week” by hosting their outreach event, aimed at sharing enthusiasm and raising awareness for neuroscience research.

If you were around Karolinska Institutet and BioClinicum the 11 th of March, chances are you were enveloped in the bustling energy of more than 300 participants mingling with our researchers! PhD students, postdocs, and researchers at Karolinska Institutet delved into the brain fair, "En resa genom hjärnan" (translated as "A Journey Through the Brain"), immersing themselves in hands-on demonstrations, games, and experiments with the participants. Additionally, over 500 participants followed the event live online.

Anders Hansen (Din hjärna, SVT), well-known psychiatrist and author, moderated the symposium held during this eventful day. Lectures and Q&A sessions enriched the audience's understanding of diverse neuroscience topics, led by the experts  Armita Gölkar (SU),  Johan Lundberg (KI),  Johan Lundström (KI) and  Kristiina Tammimies (KI). Armita Gölkar kicked off the discussions with an exploration of "(In)security in the teenage brain," shedding light on the complexities of adolescent psychology. 

Following this, Johan Lundberg delved into "New treatments for depression," offering insights into innovative approaches to tackle this prevalent mental health condition. After a brief coffee break, the session resumed with Johan Lundström's intriguing presentation on "Our amazing sense of smell and its importance for our health and well-being," providing fascinating insights into olfactory science. 

Finally, Kristiina Tammimies shared insights into "Genetic keys to autism," exploring the genetic underpinnings of this neurodevelopmental disorder. The event culminated in a dynamic discussion panel moderated by Anders Hansen, where all speakers engaged in robust discourse and exchanged valuable perspectives on the forefront of neuroscience research.

Our public demonstration stations proved to be a hit, offering engaging experiences such as exploring neurons and the brain's electrical rhythms, controlling robotic claws, and conducting experiments related to genetic headache research. 

"En resa genom hjärnan 2024" was arranged and organized by Thomas Contesse , Marina Slashcheva , Liesbeth Voorbraeck , Asimenia Gkogka , Alina Aaltonen , Julia Spielbauer , Abishek Arora , Ljerka Delac , Vilma Alanko and Vasco Sousa . We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all contributors and volunteers who made this event possible. Special thanks to  Ziwei Liu , Wei Li , Lauren Phipps , Sanghita Banerjee , Joana Catarino , Loran Heymans , Johanna Mayer , Josephine Nilsson , Esra Öncel , Jan Johansson , Sebastian Blomé and Julie Klinke . Thanks also to our collaborators from INCF and Tekniska Museet.

Closing arguments set in trial of University of Arizona grad student accused of killing a professor

TUCSON, Ariz. — Closing arguments are scheduled for Monday in the trial of a former University of Arizona graduate student accused of killing a professor on campus two years ago.

Murad Dervish, 48,  faces seven felony charges  including first degree murder in the death of Thomas Meixner, 52, who was shot nine times near his office and was pronounced dead at a Tucson hospital.

Defense attorney Leo Masursky told jurors that the killing wasn’t premeditated and that Dervish is “guilty except insane to second-degree murder,” an insanity defense.

Pima County prosecutors said Dervish planned the shooting and knew what he was doing.

Meixner headed the university’s Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences and was an expert on desert water issues.

Dervish was in the master’s degree program in atmospheric sciences, which is within the Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences.

Authorities said Dervish was banned from the school in January 2022 and later expelled for ongoing issues with professors after he received a bad grade.

According to a criminal complaint, a flyer with a photograph of Dervish had been circulated to university staff in February 2022 with instructions to call 911 if he ever entered the John W. Harshbarger Building, which houses the hydrology department.

The complaint also said Dervish was barred from being on school property and he had been the subject of several  reports of harassment and threats  to staff members working at Harshbarger.

Witnesses said Dervish was wearing a surgical mask and baseball cap as a disguise when he showed up outside Meixner’s office on the afternoon of Oct. 5, 2022, and shot the professor.

Dervish was arrested after Arizona state troopers stopped his car on a highway more than 120 miles northwest of Tucson.

Authorities said a loaded 9mm handgun was found in the vehicle and that the ammunition was consistent with the shell casings found at the shooting scene.

The Associated Press

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Day to remember

Choose bravely, Ressa tells Harvard grads

‘Be that voice for compassion, learning, understanding, and unity’

Six receive honorary degrees.

Honorary degree recipients Jennie Chin Hansen (clockwise from top left), Sylvester James Gates Jr., Lawrence S. Bacow, Joy Harjo-Sapulpa, Gustavo Adolfo Dudamel Ramírez, and Maria Ressa with interim President Alan Garber and interim Provost John Manning.

Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer

Recipients include an educator, conductor, theoretical physicist, advocate for elderly, writer, and Nobel laureate

Part of the commencement 2024 series.

A collection of stories covering Harvard University’s 373rd Commencement.

The University will confer the honorary degrees during Thursday’s Commencement ceremony in Tercentenary Theatre.

Lawrence S. Bacow

Doctor of laws.

President emeritus of Harvard University, Larry Bacow is widely admired for his decades of distinguished leadership in higher education. As Harvard’s 29th president from 2018 to 2023, he worked to advance interdisciplinary initiatives in areas including climate change, quantum science and engineering, the future of cities, natural and artificial intelligence, and the legacy of slavery. He is known for his efforts to expand educational opportunity, to promote international exchange, to encourage public service, and to guide Harvard through the COVID-19 pandemic. A scholar of environmental studies, Bacow served as president of Tufts University from 2001 to 2011, strengthening its commitment to academic excellence, inclusion, and civic engagement. He previously served for 24 years on the faculty of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he led centers on environmental initiatives and real estate and rose to become chancellor. He has served as chair of the Association of Governing Boards’ council of presidents, chair of the executive committee of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts, a member of the American Council of Education’s executive committee, and a Fellow of Harvard College. His numerous honors include the ACE’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Gustavo Adolfo Dudamel Ramírez

Doctor of music.

Known for his dynamic musicianship and his devotion to the power of the arts, Gustavo Dudamel is an internationally renowned conductor. Currently the music and artistic director of both the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, he will become the music and artistic director of the New York Philharmonic in 2026. He has conducted major orchestras worldwide, featuring works by composers from Beethoven to Mahler to John Adams, and his discography includes more than 65 recordings. Born in Venezuela, he began violin studies as a child through the celebrated El Sistema program. By his teens he had distinguished himself as a conductor, becoming music director of the Simón Bolívar Youth Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela at 18 and winning the inaugural Gustav Mahler Competition at 23. He is a passionate advocate for music education through his work with Youth Orchestra Los Angeles as well as the Dudamel Foundation. Named one of Time’s most influential people in 2009, he has received such honors as Spain’s Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts, the Konex Foundation Classical Music Award, and the International Society for the Performing Arts’ Distinguished Artist Award.

Sylvester James Gates Jr.

Doctor of science.

Sylvester James (Jim) Gates Jr. is an eminent theoretical physicist known for his contributions to supersymmetry, supergravity, and superstring theory and for his dedication to promoting public understanding of the wonders of science. With two S.B. degrees and a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Gates holds the Clark Leadership Chair in Science and a joint appointment in the Department of Physics and the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland. He is also a Distinguished University Professor and a University System of Maryland Regents Professor. A member of the National Academy of Sciences, Gates also received the 2011 National Medal of Science. He served on the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) under Barack Obama and was the vice president of the Maryland State Board of Education. Gates was the recipient of the American Institute of Physics’ 2021 Andrew Gemant Award, given in recognition of contributions to the cultural, artistic, or humanistic dimension of physics. In addition, he has served as Ford Foundation Professor of Physics and director of the Theoretical Physics Center at Brown University, as well as chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Howard University. He is past president of both the American Physical Society and the National Society of Black Physicists. He co-authored both “Superspace,” a groundbreaking book on supersymmetry, and “Proving Einstein Right: The Daring Expeditions that Changed How We Look at the Universe.” He has appeared in numerous documentaries about science.

Jennie Chin Hansen

Doctor of humane letters.

Jennie Chin Hansen is an innovative and influential leader in care for older people. Raised in Boston, she received her B.S. at Boston College and her M.S. in nursing at the University of California, San Francisco. She served for more than 25 years as the leader of On Lok, a California nonprofit that pioneered new models of comprehensive community-based care for older adults. Its programs became a prototype for the federal Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), available to states nationwide. She went on to serve as president of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), playing a key role in advocating for the Affordable Care Act. She next served as CEO of the American Geriatrics Society, dedicated to the care of older adults. She continues her work on issues important to older Americans, such as dementia, emergency medicine, and health equity. Past president of the American Society on Aging and a former member of the U.S. Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, she has been honored by such organizations as the American Academy of Nursing, the American Society on Aging, the National Council on Aging, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.

Joy Harjo-Sapulpa

Doctor of literature.

Joy Harjo is an acclaimed poet, educator, author, playwright, and musician. She served as the 23rd U.S. Poet Laureate, only the second Poet Laureate to serve three terms (2019–22). A member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, whose work draws deeply on Native histories and traditions and on themes of remembrance and transcendence, she is the author of 10 books of poetry, including “Weaving Sundown in a Scarlet Light: 50 Poems for 50 Years.” She has also written several plays and children’s books, and two memoirs. Her many honors include lifetime achievement awards from the National Book Critics Circle and the Poetry Foundation, as well as Yale University’s Bollingen Prize and the Academy of American Poets’ Wallace Stevens Award. She is a chancellor of the Academy of American Poets and former chair of the board of the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation. She is also an award-winning musician who has released seven albums. A graduate of the University of New Mexico and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, she has taught at UNM and several other universities, and she is the inaugural artist-in-residence of the Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Maria A. Ressa

Principal speaker doctor of laws.

Maria Ressa is an intrepid journalist and media innovator known for her fierce commitment to safeguarding freedom of the press and advancing the pursuit of truth. Her many honors include a share of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 for her efforts to promote free expression, to combat disinformation, and to expose abuses of power in her native country, the Philippines. She is co-founder and CEO of Rappler, a digital news outlet in the Philippines focused on investigative journalism, editorial independence, and building communities of action for a better world. Before launching Rappler online in 2012, she served as chief of CNN’s bureaus in Manila and Jakarta and as senior vice president of multimedia news operations at ABS-CBN, the largest news organization in the Philippines. She is the author of books on terrorism, social media, and defending democracy against authoritarianism. A graduate of Princeton University and a former Shorenstein Fellow and Hauser Leader at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, she will become a professor of professional practice at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs in July 2024. She was named a Time Person of the Year in 2018.

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She Just Earned Her Doctorate at 17. Now, She’ll Go to the Prom.

Dorothy Jean Tillman II of Chicago made history as the youngest person to earn a doctoral degree in integrated behavioral health at Arizona State University.

By Alexandra E. Petri

When Dorothy Jean Tillman II successfully defended her dissertation in November 2023 to earn her doctoral degree from Arizona State University, she couldn’t wait to share the news with her best friend.

“It was a surreal moment,” Dr. Tillman said, “because it was crazy I was doing it in the first place.”

Dr. Tillman, at only 17, became the youngest person to earn a doctoral degree in integrated behavioral health from Arizona State’s College of Health Solutions, all before she was eligible to vote. Earlier this month, Dr. Tillman, now 18, took part in Arizona State’s commencement ceremony and delivered remarks as the outstanding 2024 graduate at the College of Health Solution’s convocation.

Lesley Manson, program director for the doctorate of behavioral health at Arizona State and Dr. Tillman’s doctoral chair, said Dr. Tillman displayed extraordinary perseverance, hard work and dedication for her young age, tackling every challenge head-on.

“She can serve as a real role model,” Ms. Manson said.

Dr. Tillman, called D.J. by her family and friends, was an early bloomer. She grew up in Chicago and was home-schooled from a young age, first in a group setting through online classes, and then by her mother, Jimalita Tillman, a single parent with a background in community theater.

Dr. Tillman was part of a gifted program before transitioning to home-schooling. Jimalita Tillman continued her daughter on an accelerated track: By the time she was 8, she was taking high school classes. While most 9-year-olds were learning math and reading, Dr. Tillman was starting college online.

At the time, they lived with Jimalita Tillman’s mother, Dorothy Wright Tillman, a civil rights activist who worked alongside the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and was a Chicago alderman. Dr. Tillman is her grandmother’s namesake (hence the II at the end of Dr. Tillman’s name).

During her early college days, Dr. Tillman’s classroom was often a Starbucks in Chicago, and her days began as soon it opened, she said. Her go-to order was an iced peach green tea with lemonade.

“Around the time when kids went to lunch, we’d be closing the computer,” said Dr. Tillman, who said her discipline and focus come from her grandmother.

Because of her age, Dr. Tillman lived at home while pursuing her higher education, and most of her coursework was online — a challenge for a self-described social butterfly. “I do love meeting new people and talking to people and understanding them and how their brains work,” she said. She found other ways to stay connected with friends through after-school activities.

At 10, she earned her associate degree in psychology at the College of Lake County in Illinois. At 12, she received her Bachelor of Science in humanities at Excelsior College in New York, and at 14, she earned a Master of Science from Unity College in Maine. She chose those fields because they can help scientists “understand why people treat the environment the way they do,” she told Time for Kids in a July 2020 interview.

Ellen Winner, a professor of psychology at Boston College and the author of “Gifted Children: Myths and Realities,” said that children like Dr. Tillman have a motivational intensity she calls a “rage to master.”

“One of the reasons they push themselves is they have a high, innate ability of some kind, and so learning, in whatever they are gifted in, comes easily to them and it’s very pleasurable,” she said. Schools are often not equipped for such gifted children, she added, which may lead parents to home-school their children. The trade-off, she and some experts say, is missing out on socialization and learning with children their age.

“There’s no perfect solution to kids like this,” Ms. Winner said.

Jimalita Tillman said she was sure her daughter was finished with higher education after earning her master’s degree. Dr. Tillman had just launched an organization to support Black youth in Chicago interested in STEM and the arts called the Dorothy Jeanius STEAM Leadership Institute. It was 2020, just after the beginning of the pandemic.

She was surprised when her daughter said she wanted to pursue her doctorate, and even tried to dissuade Dr. Tillman. But Dr. Tillman wanted to help young people with their mental health. She told her mother to trust her.

“I had to follow her lead,” Jimalita Tillman, 42, said.

Dr. Tillman was accepted into the management concentration at Arizona State’s College of Health Solutions, an online doctorate program. Her thesis on developing programs to reduce the stigma for college students seeking mental health services was based on a study she conducted for an in-person internship at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. Dr. Tillman hopes her story resonates with girls who are talkative, outgoing “out-there kind of girls who are trying to figure themselves out but are very smart.”

“I want them to see someone who has taken that energy, sparkle and excitement and packaged it in a way that is classy and beautiful,” she said.

Dr. Tillman may now have her doctorate, but she’s also excited about teenage things — like attending a prom. On Saturday, she going as her best friend’s date to his senior dance. They’re taking an Escalade outfitted with stars on the ceiling, she said, a feature she requested and that her mother made happen.

Dr. Tillman has been focused on school and her professional pursuits, and she plans to host her institute’s summer camp again. Then, she said, she plans to take a beat and have a “fun teenage summer,” doing things she loves, discovering new hobbies and figuring herself out in the process.

“I want to focus on who I am,” she said.

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Campus protests over Israel-Hamas war scaled down during US commencement exercises

Police scuffled with a few dozen pro-Palestinian protesters who tried to block access to Sunday evening’s commencement for Southern California’s Pomona College. (AP video shot by Ryan Sun)

A graduate twirls with her Palestinian flag cape during the Emerson College commencement ceremony at Boston University’s Agganis Arena, Sunday, May 12, 2024, in Boston. Many students verbally protested throughout the ceremony. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP)

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CORRECTS PHOTOGRAPHER’S NAME TO JARED LAZARUS FROM BILL SNEAD - In this photo provided by Duke University, commencement speaker Jerry Seinfeld laughs on stage during the school’s graduation ceremony, Sunday, May 12, 2024, in Durham, N.C. A tiny contingent of Duke graduates opposed the pro-Israel comedian speaking at their commencement Sunday, with about 30 of the 7,000 students leaving their seats and chanting “Free Palestine!” amid a mix of boos and cheers. (Jared Lazarus/Duke University via AP)

Pro-Palestinian students hold white t-shirts stating the message, “DIVEST,” as they protest during the UC Berkeley graduation at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, Calif., on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Graduates have their photo taken by the Old Well as pro-Palestinian protesters chant behind them at UNC Chapel Hill on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Ethan Hyman/The News & Observer via AP)

A graduate displays a message on his shirt, “No Grad in Gaza,” during the Emerson College commencement ceremony at Boston University’s Agganis Arena, Sunday, May 12, 2024, in Boston. Many students verbally protested throughout the ceremony. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP)

Protests over the Israel-Hamas war have spread across U.S. university and college campuses in recent weeks, leading to disruptions and arrests. Some demonstrations extended into weekend graduation celebrations, although they were muted in comparison to the encampments and rallies that have roiled campuses and resulted in nearly 2,900 arrests of students and other protesters.

Most of the commencement exercises took place as scheduled and remained largely peaceful . Here is a look at some of the ceremonies that included protests:

DUKE UNIVERSITY

Dozens of the 7,000 graduates at Duke University left their seats to protest pro-Israel speaker and comedian Jerry Seinfeld during the commencement in Durham, North Carolina, on Sunday.

Some waved the red, green, black and white Palestinian flag and chanted “Free Palestine” amid a mix of boos and cheers.

Seinfeld, whose decade-long namesake show became one of the most popular in U.S. television history, was there to receive an honorary doctorate from the university.

In this photo provided by Duke University, commencement speaker Jerry Seinfeld laughs on stage during the school’s graduation ceremony, Sunday, May 12, 2024, in Durham, N.C. (Bill Snead/Duke University via AP)

The stand-up comedian and actor has publicly supported Israel since it invaded Gaza to dismantle Hamas after the organization attacked the country and killed some 1,200 people in southern Israel on Oct. 7. The ensuing war has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians , according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

POMONA COLLEGE

Southern California’s small Pomona College moved Sunday evening’s commencement 30 miles (48 kilometers) to the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles after pro-Palestinian protesters set up an encampment last week on the campus’ ceremony stage. A few dozen pro-Palestinian demonstrators tried to block access to the graduation event.

Anwar Mohmed, a Pomona senior, said the school repeatedly ignored calls to consider divesting its endowment funds from corporations tied to the war in Gaza.

“We’ve been time and time again ignored by the institution,” Mohmed said outside the Shrine on Sunday. “So today we have to say, it’s not business as usual.”

EMERSON COLLEGE

Student protesters at Emerson College in Boston occasionally erupted into chants during Sunday’s commencement ceremony, trying to disrupt the event.

Several speakers stopped briefly and then spoke louder while the chants died down and ended. Some graduates wore Palestinian keffiyeh scarves. Others took off their graduation gowns and dropped them on the stage after receiving their diplomas.

VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY

Dozens of graduating students at Virginia Commonwealth University walked out Saturday during an address by Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

While some of the estimated 100 students and family members who left during the Republican governor’s speech showed support for Palestinians, others held signs signaling opposition to Youngkin’s policies on education, according to WRIC-TV .

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY

At the University of California, Berkeley, on Saturday, a small group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators waved flags and chanted during commencement and were escorted to the back of the stadium, according to the San Francisco Chronicle . There were no major counterprotests, but some attendees voiced frustration.

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill splattered red paint on the steps of a building hours ahead of the school’s commencement and chanted on campus while students wearing graduation gowns posed for photos, the News & Observer reported .

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON

A small group of demonstrators at the University of Wisconsin-Madison staged what appeared to be a silent protest during commencement at Camp Randall Stadium. A photo posted by the Wisconsin State Journal showed about six people walking through the rear of the stadium. Two carried a Palestinian flag.

Marc Lovicott, a spokesperson for campus police, said the group, which he believed included students because they were wearing caps and gowns, “was kind of guided out, but they left on their own.” No arrests were made.

Pro-Palestinian protesters at the campus had agreed Friday to permanently dismantle their 2-week-old encampment and not disrupt graduation ceremonies in return for the opportunity to connect with “decision-makers” who control university investments by July 1.

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN

At the University of Texas at Austin, a student held up a Palestinian flag during Saturday’s commencement ceremony and refused to leave the stage briefly before being escorted away by security.

NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY

In Boston, commencement ceremonies for Northeastern University were held peacefully in the rain on May 5 at Fenway Park.

Some students waved small Palestinian and Israeli flags, but those were dotted among flags from India, the U.S. and other nations. Undergraduate student speaker Rebecca Bamidele drew brief cheers when she called for peace in Gaza.

Police arrested about 100 protesters at Northeastern last month when they broke up an encampment on campus.

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

A 53-year-old woman fell from the stands to her death during the May 5 graduation ceremony for Ohio State University, university officials said. The woman’s daughter was among those receiving a diploma.

The fall happened around midday near where the last graduates were filing into Ohio Stadium. The Columbus Dispatch reported the death was being investigated as an apparent suicide, citing coroner documents.

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

Police officers stood nearby as some graduates holding Palestinian flags and shouting pro-Palestinian messages protested during commencement at the University of Michigan on May 4. One banner said, “No universities left in Gaza.”

The protests were located away from the stage and didn’t stop the nearly two-hour event. Protesters have demanded Michigan cut financial ties with any companies connected to Israel. The university allowed protesters to set up an encampment in the middle of campus.

Max the cat receives honorary doctorate in 'litter-ature’ from Vermont university

The tabby has been a staple on campus at vermont state university for about five years after he began leaving his home to explore the school and get plenty of attention from its students.

Max the campus cat? Try Dr. Max the Cat, thank you very much.

Vermont State University Castleton's 2024 graduating class had the honor of sharing their commencement celebrations over the weekend with none other than Max, a tabby cat who has become something of a local celebrity during his time at the university.

Max, recognized by the college by his formal name Max Dow, has become something of a fixture on campus since moving into his nearby home with his mom, Ashley Dow, about five years ago.

A former feral kitten of a nearby town, Max moved onto the very same street that leads to the campus's main entrance. The curious kitty soon learned that, while school can be a slog for some, college can be lots of fun for felines.

When Max was about a year old, he began exploring his neighborhood, Dow told USA TODAY. One day, he went missing and his family began the search. That's when they first found him on campus and, soon, they began hearing from the students.

"They just love him," Dow told USA TODAY. "I get students giving me welfare checks on him throughout the day."

Max the cat's campus life

For Max, paying a visit to the Castleton campus means getting lots of attention, taking rides on backpacks, scaling the greenhouse, posing for endless selfies, basking anywhere he pleases and even leading tour groups.

"He's been on the dean's desk, he made himself at home on the dean's desk," Dow said. "He's been in the coffee house, he walked right up to the head of the graduate program and she tracked me down and asked if I was Max's mom."

Max even attempts to visit the campus during breaks but returns disappointed after discovering no students are there, said Dow. Once, he got confused and stopped visiting after classes resumed, prompting students who thought he had disappeared to make a memorial for him, complete with framed photos and candles.

"The college has called a couple of times asking if he's OK and I say, 'No he's fine, he's just fat and lazy,'" Dow joked. "We brought him up a couple of times and ... told him don't forget the people up there because they miss you."

Vermont State University students help keep an eye on Max

Dow said that students at the campus often look out for Max.

Ever since an attack by a feral cat left Max injured, Dow posted signs around campus asking students to text, call or bring him home if they see him hanging outside after 5 p.m. The students do just that, on top of providing periodic updates throughout the day.

In one case, a since-graduated student returned to town and stopped by Dow's business to ask how Max was. In another, a post on social media led students to believe Max had been injured, prompting a full-blown search that included not only students but the campus police.

"(People) ask 'Are you Max's mom?' And I'm like, 'How did you know that?'" said Dow, who has come to accept her new moniker as mom to the most famous cat in town.

A doctor of litter-ature

The college couldn't put Max on the payroll (likely thanks to his lack of valid ID and tax documents), so they've offered him the special honor instead.  

"Max the Cat has been an affectionate member of the Castleton family for years," the university shared in posts on Instagram and Facebook.

"With a resounding purr of approval from the faculty, the Board of Trustees of the Vermont State Cat-leges has bestowed upon Max Dow the prestigious title of Doctor of Litter-ature, complete with all the catnip perks, scratching post privileges, and litter box responsibilities that come with it," the university said.

According to Dow, who was floored and amused when the school contacted her about the degree, some people in her life didn't believe the turn of events at first. A coworker she told thought she was a little "crazy," she said, until Max started appearing on the news.

"She said 'Ashley, I'm sorry, I thought you were crazy but now I see it's true,'" Dow said. "Everyone loves it except people who don't get it because they haven't met Max."

Max − that's Dr. Max to you − did not get to walk on the stage but did make an appearance on campus this weekend, said Dow, and will likely start popping up in graduation photos all across social media. His official diploma will be sent to his home via mail.

"I'm so super happy he makes everyone so happy, he's a great cat and it's awesome," Dow said. "(The students) were talking about how during finals they saw him and he made them less stressed and I get it ... I'm glad it makes people happy and I'm glad to share."