How to be a GREAT* Mentor
Dr. Jamaine Davis
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry & Cancer Biology
Vanderbilt University and Meharry Medical College, USA
Session Date: Wednesday October 25th
Session Time: 7am PT (Pacific Time), 9am CT (Central Time), 10 am ET (Eastern Time), 2 pm UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) 4pm CET (Central European Time)
*Give opportunities, Reach out, Encourage, Advise, & Train
Dr. Jamaine Davis completed his PhD in Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics at the University of Pennsylvania. Currently, he is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Cancer Biology and Neuroscience at Meharry Medical College and member of the Center for Structural Biology at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Davis is a pioneering scientist at the intersections of biophysics, health disparities and community. Upon joining Meharry he recognized two major gaps in medicine that contribute to health inequities. The first gap is the lack of integration between structural biology and health disparities. Dr. Davis’ work focuses on defining the molecular basis of aging and age-related diseases and seeks to understand how the mechanisms of genetic variants identified in patient samples, impact the three-dimensional structure and functions of proteins, and how they contribute to human diseases. Understanding this information will enable the development of novel and precise treatments for aging-related diseases, such as cancer and Alzheimer’s. Another major gap is the lack of diversity in clinical and research trials. His work with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy revealed that the public wants to know the science behind vaccines and viruses in simple terms. This information has to be simple and clear and come from a trustworthy and reliable source. In turn, the public will be able to make more informed decisions to improve health and health outcomes within the community. Beyond his innovative research, Jamaine is deeply committed to mentoring and promoting diversity in STEM fields. He actively engages in community outreach, inspiring the next generation of underrepresented scientists and advocating for greater inclusivity in scientific research.
