Stephen Lisberger, PhD, George Barth Geller Distinguished Professor for Research in Neurobiology, will step down from his role as chair of the Department of Neurobiology as of November 30, 2025. He will stay on as a member of the faculty.
Under Lisberger’s leadership, the department has been rebuilt into an interdisciplinary community. He has recruited and mentored a cohort of junior faculty who have gone on to achieve remarkable success, and he has fostered a culture of collaboration and innovation that continues to shape the future of neuroscience at Duke.
“Since joining Duke in 2011, Dr. Lisberger has led the Department of Neurobiology with vision, integrity, and a deep commitment to excellence,” said Mary Klotman, MD, executive vice president for health affairs at Duke University and dean of the School of Medicine. “I am deeply grateful for his leadership and service, and we look forward to his continued contributions as a member of our faculty, including devoting considerable effort to work supported by the Raynor Cerebellum Project.”
Beyond departmental boundaries, Lisberger played a central role in guiding the Neuroscience pillar of the Translating Duke Health initiative, and he was instrumental in initiating the process that led to the restoration of the Duke’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Program. His efforts in philanthropy have significantly strengthened the department and the broader research enterprise, and his steady leadership through challenging times has been a source of stability and inspiration. In recognition of his scientific achievements, Lisberger was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2022.
To ensure continuity during this transition, Staci Bilbo, PhD, will serve as interim chair of the department beginning December 1, 2025. Bilbo is a distinguished neuroscientist whose primary appointment is in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience.
A national search for the next chair of neurobiology will be launched soon. Raphael Valdivia, PhD, Nanaline H. Duke Distinguished Professor of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology and chair of the Department of Integrative Immunobiology, will serve as chair of the search committee.