11/20/2024
ECU's Office of Research is pleased to announce Dr. Karen Litwa as the new Faculty Fellow of Research Development. Dr. Litwa is currently an associate professor of ECU Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at the Brody School of Medicine and holds adjunct positions in the departments of Biology and Psychology. She is also a member of the East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, as well as the NC State University Center for Human Health and the Environment.
In addition to her academic roles, Dr. Litwa directs the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology’s graduate studies committee and serves on the Brody Research Committee and the Faculty Advisory Committee for the Office of Faculty Excellence. She has held numerous leadership positions, including president of the Eastern Carolina Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience, president of the Brody Women Faculty Committee, and co-chair of the NC Biotechnology Center’s Intellectual Exchange Group, Laser TAG, where she launched the annual Capturing the Art of Science competition.
Dr. Litwa’s research on synapse formation in the developing brain has been supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), including a prestigious NSF CAREER award.
In her new role as Faculty Fellow, Dr. Litwa will support research development activities across the university, promote professional development for researchers, enhance ECU’s sponsored activities portfolio, and help strengthen the university's reputation for innovation and research excellence. She will also lead efforts in grant writing, engage with external proposal development programs, and promote strategic growth in institutional research.
Dr. Litwa began her role on November 18.