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Thomas Mark Newpher

Associate Professor of the Practice of Psychology and Neuroscience
Psychology & Neuroscience
308 Research Drive, LSRC B030, Box 91003, Durham, NC 27708

Research Interests


The mission of the Duke Team-Based Learning Lab is to identify teaching practices that enhance learning for all students. The Duke Team-Based Learning Lab prioritizes collaboration and inclusiveness.

​Our goals include identifying factors that improve team dynamics, increase a student's sense of belonging, and promote a positive learning environment. We focus primarily on active learning strategies in STEM courses. The lab's aim is also to mentor undergraduate students, whose active contributions shape the research program.

Selected Grants


The Endocytic Machinery of Dendritic Spines

ResearchResearch Associate · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2003 - 2011

Regulation of excitatory synapses by local zones of endocytic cycling

FellowshipPI-Fellow · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2008 - 2011

Fellowships, Gifts, and Supported Research


Equipment Loan Program Awardee · July 2024 - June 2026 Awarded by: Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience
Emerging Pedagogies Seed Grant · May 2024 Awarded by: Office of the Vice Provost for Learning Innovation and Digital Education
Summer Course Development Grant · 2023 - 2024 Faculty Partner · Awarded by: Office of Interdisciplinary Studies & Office of Undergraduate Education
Carry the Innovation Forward · 2021 - 2022 Co-PI · Awarded by: Duke Learning Innovation Understanding the student experience in STEM courses during the pandemic: a comparison of traditional face-to-face versus online course versions – Thomas Newpher, Minna Ng and Dorian Canelas. https://learninginnovation.duke.edu/carry-the-innovation-forward/
Research Seed Grant · 2021 - 2022 Awarded by: Charles Lafitte Foundation Program in Psychological and Neuroscience Research at Duke University
Equipment Loan Program Awardee · July 2024 - June 2026 Awarded by: Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience
Emerging Pedagogies Seed Grant · May 2024 Awarded by: Office of the Vice Provost for Learning Innovation and Digital Education
Summer Course Development Grant · 2023 - 2024 Faculty Partner · Awarded by: Office of Interdisciplinary Studies & Office of Undergraduate Education
Carry the Innovation Forward · 2021 - 2022 Co-PI · Awarded by: Duke Learning Innovation Understanding the student experience in STEM courses during the pandemic: a comparison of traditional face-to-face versus online course versions – Thomas Newpher, Minna Ng and Dorian Canelas. https://learninginnovation.duke.edu/carry-the-innovation-forward/
Research Seed Grant · 2021 - 2022 Awarded by: Charles Lafitte Foundation Program in Psychological and Neuroscience Research at Duke University
Impacts of Collaborative Learning in STEM · 2020 - 2021 Awarded by: Bass Connections
Collaborative Learning in STEM: Impacts on Student Motivation, Retention, and Self-Efficacy · 2019 - 2020 Awarded by: Bass Connections
Research Seed Grant · 2019 - 2020 Awarded by: Charles Lafitte Foundation Program in Psychological and Neuroscience Research at Duke University

External Relationships


  • OpenStax

This faculty member (or a member of their immediate family) has reported outside activities with the companies, institutions, or organizations listed above. This information is available to institutional leadership and, when appropriate, management plans are in place to address potential conflicts of interest.