Bio

Dr. Natalia Duque-Wilckens Memorial Endowment Fund

The NC State University community and the global scientific world mourn the devastating loss of Natalia Duque-Wilckens, a beloved Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, who tragically passed away on November 12, 2025. She was 41 years old.

Natalia was more than a gifted researcher; she was, as described by her fiancé, a soul who “beamed with a bright light” and possessed “the best soul you’ll ever meet.” Her presence enriched the lives of all who knew her, leaving an indelible mark of warmth and intellectual curiosity. She was a pioneering neuroscientist dedicated to understanding the complex connections between the brain, the immune system and emotional well-being. Holding a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Chile and a Ph.D. from UC Davis, her multidisciplinary research was groundbreaking.

At NC State, Natalia’s lab focused on identifying neuroimmune mechanisms that govern resilience and susceptibility to illness. Specifically, she explored how early-life adversity and environmental factors influence the brain and body. Her ultimate goal was deeply humane: to “create new therapeutic tools for the prevention and/or treatment of depression and anxiety.” She spent her career trying to heal the emotional pain that so many experience, a mission that speaks volumes about her profound empathy.

Natalia Duque-Wilckens’ life was defined by her passion for discovery and her deep desire to improve the lives of others. Her spirit lives on not only in the hearts of her family, friends, and colleagues, but also in every future breakthrough made by the scientists who benefit from her lasting legacy. We are profoundly saddened by this loss, but eternally grateful for the light she brought into the world.