Jazmyn Bess

Ms. Jazmyn Bess is a first year PhD epidemiology student under the mentorship of Dr. Lauren McCullough, studying ovarian and endometrial cancers in Black women. She earned a M.S. in Microbiology and Cell Science from University of Florida, and a B.S. in Microbiology and Immunology from The University of Texas at San Antonio. Prior to matriculating to Emory University, Ms. Bess acquired cancer epi field work experience as a postbaccalaureate fellow and iCURE Scholar in the Clinical Genetics Branch (CGB) and the Trans-Divisional Research Program (TDRP) within the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics at the National Cancer Institute. Here she worked on a variety of projects including the Connect for Cancer Prospective Cohort Study under the mentorship of Drs. Nicolas Wentsezen and  Mia Gaudet, systematic review to estimate cancer risk in Cardiofacioctaneous patients under the mentorship of Dr. Doug Stewart, SEER stat analysis to understand all-cause mortality disparities between Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders under the mentorship of Drs. Jacqueline Vo and Jaimie Shing, and the HPV35 Project analyzing HPV 35 variation in HPV 35-associated cervical cancer cases and benign infections among Malawian women and other countries under the mentorship of Dr. Lisa Mirabello, among other subprojects.

Ms. Bess is passionate about gynecological cancers and benign conditions including uterine fibroids, PCOS, and endometriosis among Black women. She is particularly interested in understanding genetic-environmental interplay, early detection methods, and precision-based treatments across these conditions for the Black female population.