DR. JAYE C. GARDINER
CANCER RESEARCHER & ILLUSTRATOR
IF/THEN SERIES
Dr. Jaye C. Gardiner is a scientist who works to understand why and how cancer makes us sick. She also uses illustration and comics to communicate science so everyone can understand and learn about scientific subjects no matter what they've chosen as their career.
Dr. Gardiner highlights individual scientists by creating unique illustrated portraits and trading cards! If you like the trading card on this page you will definitely love hers too!
To explain her research studying cancer cells, Dr. Gardiner provides a metaphor:
“Think of the cells that make up your body as seeds. Seeds need a certain environment around them, like soil and water, to grow into a healthy plant. If the soil doesn’t have the right nutrients the plant will become unhealthy, or not grow at all.
Like seeds, the cells in your body need a certain environment around them to stay healthy. In cancer, cells grow uncontrollably when they are not supposed to, creating tumors and making people sick. I study the environment around cells, (the “soil” in the seed metaphor), to understand what makes the cells grow and what makes them stop growing.”
Dr. Gardiner wants you to know that she is a proud first generation American and college student! Her parents are from Belize, Central America and she was born and raised in Chicago, IL.
Educational Pathway: Dr. Gardiner majored in biology and minored in chemistry and linguistics in college. She earned her PhD in cancer biology studying viruses.
Further resources
(some links may be repeated from above)
Dr. Gardiner’s personal webpage - find her comics and trading cards here.
Watch: “Meet AAAS IF/THEN AMBASSADOR Jaye Gardiner!” from IF/THEN.
Watch: “Jaye Gardiner, PhD - Interview with a Super Cool Scientist!” from YouTooBio.
Follow her on Twitter: @jayeperview
Follow her on Instagram: @jayeperview
Follow her on Instagram: @ajayeinthelife