Contact: Crystal Roberts

Office: 919-516-4190

Fax: 919-516-4360

E-mail: ckroberts@st-aug.edu

RALEIGH - President Barack Obama's desire to "launch a new effort to conquer a disease that has touched the life of nearly every American ... by seeking a cure for cancer in our time" will get some help from a Saint Augustine's College student. The president indirectly mentioned the loss of his mother to the disease during his recent address to Congress.

Janay Jones, a senior Biology major with a minor in Theatre and Film, plans to pursue a

Ph. D. in cancer biology after graduation this May. She has committed her life to discovering more about this disease, particularly lung cancer and its effect on African-Americans. Her decision was not "fly-by-night," but rather, planned since her middle school days.

Though she can't name a particular person or event that influenced her to become a scientist, her interest has motivated and propelled her through some very interesting and scholastic experiences.

"I've just always had a keen interest in science," said Jones, who has earned a full scholarship to several Ph. D. programs in cancer biology. Since middle school, she has prepared her way with internships, attendance at a biomedical conference, volunteer hospital work, and, believe it or not—grant writing.

"I identified four primary genes that undergo genetic changes resulting in increased pre-disposition to lung cancer. Everyone has these genes. The research will study how environmental stimuli affect those genes in smokers and non-smokers alike," said Jones, who wrote the grant last summer and submitted the completed document to the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program. The grant, if funded, will pay for Jones' graduate education and provide the money needed to conduct her research on cancer disparities among African-Americans.

Jones' interest in lung cancer was piqued when she learned that it is the third leading cause of death among African-Americans. Additionally, lung cancer's rate of occurrence is 50 percent higher compared to other ethnicities.

"Science answers basic questions about life and our surroundings and more importantly, how we interact with our surroundings as well as ourselves," she said.

Before she walks across the stage at Saint Augustine's College on May 9, Jones wants to complete her work on a collaborative project with North Carolina A & T University that she began in the summer of 2007 in a lab at North Carolina State University. The research experience, sponsored by the National Science Foundation's Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professorate, enabled her to work as a research associate in conjunction with NC A & T. After completing her summer work in superb fashion, she was invited to join the research staff.

During her freshman and sophomore years, she was involved in the National Science Foundation's HBCU- Undergraduate Program (NSF HBCU-UP) Living and Learning Science Retention Program.

"This program provided me with my first research experience at NC State on breast cancer and gave me a scholarship to continue my studies in molecular biology," Jones said. "It also prepared me for preparation into the NIH-MARC U*STAR (National Institutes of Health Minority Access to Research Careers Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research) program during my junior and senior year."

She then became an NIH-MARC U*STAR Trainee. The program provides minority access to research careers and prepares targeted students for a Ph.D. in a research-related field. Students also receive GRE preparation, sound advice, and complete special course requirements, according to Jones. The two-year appointment includes summer rotations at different universities. Jones last summer rotation was at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor cancer center, where she worked on a protein that is found to be associated with several lymphoid and epithelial cancers. Participants in the program also present at conferences throughout the school year. Currently, Jones has three posters and a publication demonstrating her work. The posters feature research on breast cancer, asthma (ongoing), and lymphoid and epithelial cancers.

Jones worked two summers as a research assistant at North Carolina State University. It was this experience that convinced her to change her major from pre-medicine to biology. Her experience also has included volunteer work as a pathology assistant, organizing slides according to patient diagnosis. It required extensive training, said Jones. "It was an honor to do something like that, to be on the floor with physicians was great," said Jones. Now at Duke Raleigh Hospital, she works with same-day surgery and post-operative care staff. As a result, she has seen two surgeries.

"My experiences really shaped my commitment to pursue a career in research and my summer experiences helped me in my coursework," Jones said. "It's a great way to see the textbook come to life."

Her hard work and the prospect of a stellar career have resulted in acceptances to three programs in cancer biology thus far. She will make her decision as to where she will pursue a Ph. D. after hearing from all of the schools to which she has applied. In the meantime, Jones has advice for peers who also have dreams and aspirations.

"Time management is key. You have to be goal-oriented and you have to be proactive at pursuing those goals early on. Explore different opportunities so you can figure out what you're going to do at the next level. Know how to balance if you want to be a proactive member of society."

Jones balances work with other interests. She serves as President of the Saint Augustine's College Chapter of the National Pan-Hellenic Council as well as President of the Nu Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. She also serves as a mentor in her department, and works with Falcons for the Cause and the Christian Fellowship Organization. Jones also has an interest in community theatre work as a lighting technician. Plans for her minor include doing lighting design for a Tyler Perry production.

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