Noor Tasnim is an aspiring biomechanist and practicing dancer with research interests in human lower-limb biomechanics, musculoskeletal injuries, and performance. He graduated from Duke University in 2018 with dual-honors in Evolutionary Anthropology and Global Health. In his junior year, Noor traveled to Guatemala and assessed knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about sexually transmitted infections among Mayan women as part of the Duke Global Health Institute’s Student Research Training Program. He and his teammates hosted interactive lectures to discuss methods to reduce indoor air pollution, water contamination, malnutrition, and STIs. Near campus, he served as a visual arts instructor at Duke Children’s Hospital for patients and their families. After joining an urban dance team, Noor developed an interest in barefoot locomotion and lower limb injuries.
In 2017, Noor conducted his thesis research in Mandena, Madagascar. He examined differences in foot shape between men and women in a minimally shod population, and showed that orthopedic problems, already well documented in the West, were a global phenomenon reaching even remote agrarian communities. He presented his findings at the 9th Annual Global Health Conference of The Consortium of Universities for Global Health in New York, where his poster was recognized as a Top 10 Poster by an Undergraduate Student. As a first-generation, low-income college graduate and child of first-generation immigrants, Noor understands the importance of guidance and mentorship for students. He is currently the Ubben Fellow for Student Programs at Duke Alumni Affairs and is continuously thinking of innovative methods to connect alumni to students seeking guidance throughout their time at Duke University.
After his Luce Year, Noor plans to pursue a doctoral degree and return to the classroom as a professor and lab director. He also performs as a member of the Origin Urban Dance Crew in Cary, North Carolina and is continuing his training in urban and contemporary dance.
