2 minute read
More Than a Scientist
Jada Suber ’15 held medical aspirations from a young age. As a kid, she wanted to be a doctor—specifically, an allergist, due to her experience with severe food allergies.
Suber’s education at PC redirected her path toward scientific research. A chemistry major, Suber was encouraged by her professors to apply for a minority mentoring program at the Medical University of South Carolina. The program led to the opportunity to conduct research at MUSC during the summers.
Suber also attended a post-baccalaureate research program at MUSC before pursuing a PhD in microbiology and immunology at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, which conducts cutting-edge food allergy research.
“It was weird for me to think that maybe I didn’t want to go to medical school anymore,” Suber said. “But the goal had always been to do research specifically on food allergens, so I entertained [the idea of a PhD].”
At UNC, Suber has researched her own peanut allergy and alpha-gal allergy, an allergy to sugar found in red meat. During her studies, she has also had the opportunity to be an example for young, aspiring scientists who are underrepresented in the field.
Last year, Suber was a panelist at Black in Immuno Week, an event that amplifies and celebrates Black immunologists. She was also named “Scientist of the Month” by the Society for Black Biomedical Scientists in December 2020.
“A lot of people shy away from the idea of being a scientist because they don’t see themselves in the stuff that they usually learn about,” she said. “The field of Black scientists is definitely growing, but we still have so much work to do.”
Suber is considering going in several directions as she nears the end of her PhD program. She is interested in continuing allergy research at a lab or teaching at a small institution like PC.
Either way, Suber plans to give kids in her hometown—Clinton, S.C.—a chance to see what a career in science could look like.
“One of my goals, whatever it is that I choose to do, is to try to create a science dinner somewhere back home to spark interest in little kids who wouldn’t otherwise have certain opportunities,” she said.
Suber’s interests extend beyond science, however. At PC, Suber minored in creative writing, and was the Outstanding Senior in Creative Writing in 2015.
“In order to thrive and be excited and continue to be excited about what it is that I’m doing, I need other things, too,” she said. “I love being able to use the other side of my brain.”
In addition to writing, she merges her creative and scientific interests with an Etsy shop that sells clothing and accessories with science-related logos—including a t-shirt that reads, “Pretty girls love science.” It’s one more way Suber tries to make science more relatable.
“Yes, science can be difficult and hard and nerdy,” she said. “But there’s a fun and cute side to science, and if nobody believes it, I’m going to make it.”
