Dr. Jamaal J.

Dr. James began his academic training at Alcorn State University, where he earned a BS in biology and later completed an MS in biology through Alcorn State University and Penn State University. Throughout his training, Dr. James has secured funding to present his research at national and international meetings, such as the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) in Lisbon and the American Association of Immunologists (AAI) annual meeting. He also received funding to conduct research at St. John’s Medical College in Bangalore, India, and to present findings at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists.

Dr. James’ research integrates molecular biology, immunology, and translational medicine to better understand immune responses in cancer, allergy, and autoimmune disease. In addition to presenting his work at scientific conferences, Dr. James has published multiple papers in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Immunology, the Journal of Biological Chemistry, and Cancer Research. He has worked as Lead Author on a cancer immunology study conducted at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and on a nutritional immunology study conducted at Penn State University. 

In addition to his research career, Dr. James has held leadership roles centered on building pathways and support systems for trainees. He served as Assistant Director of the Alcorn State–Penn State Bridges to Doctorate Program, mentoring participants as they transitioned into graduate training and acclimated to research environments. He also mentored graduate students at Penn State University and undergraduate and graduate students who worked in his lab at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dr. James is also a co-founder and the Chief Financial Officer of Bridge the GapSci, Inc., a nonprofit organization that grew out of a first-place finish and a $1,500 seed funding award in a Penn State business startup competition.

Dr. James has supported students conducting research in multiple disciplines, including cancer and tumor biology, molecular biology, genetics, genomics, and immunology. Students he has mentored have progressed to programs at Penn State University, Meharry Medical College, and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dr. James has extensive experience guiding students through the research and publication process. He specializes in helping students develop strong research projects, improve scientific writing, and build competitive applications for medical and graduate schools. His mentorship focuses on developing critical thinking, research independence, and the skills needed to translate scientific ideas into impactful publications.