We Rep STEM aims to promote the work of inspiring people in the STEM community. Today, we’re featuring Jazmine Benjamin, Ph.D. student in Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology at The University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Read on to learn more about Jazmine and what her work entails, in her own words.

My name is Jazmine Benjamin. I am a Ph.D. student in Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology at The University of Alabama at Birmingham. My research is focused on cell signaling in diabetes, particularly related to the relationship between insulin and glucagon.  

Diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot efficiently use the insulin produced by the pancreas. Insulin regulates blood sugar. When blood sugar is too high, many of the body’s organs and processes can be severely affected. 

My research is important because diabetes remains one of the top ten reported causes of death in the United States. In Alabama, where I am doing my Ph.D., nearly 15% of adults are affected by diabetes. While Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) onset can be treated with changes in diet, physical activity level, and regular screenings, the need for medications still lingers for more severe cases of T2D and T1D. My research could ultimately contribute to the development of new treatment options for those affected by diabetes and could help on our path to someday finding a cure (hopefully!)

You can find more information relating to diabetes at the American Diabetes Association or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund. 

You can connect with me on twitter at: @J_I_Benjamin or on instagram at @jibenjamin . 

If you’d like to have your work featured on We Rep STEM, get in touch! We can be reached via email at werepstem@gmail.com.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Minor grammatical edits were made to the original text.

All photos courtesy of Jazmine Benjamin.