Jessica Bryant

Jessica Bryant is a Research Fellow in the Biology of Host-Parasite Interactions Unit within the Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors at the Institut Pasteur, Paris. She conducts cutting-edge research on epigenetic and transcriptional regulation in Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest malaria parasite, focusing on the var multigene family and antigenic variation.

• Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Pennsylvania (2008–2014)
• B.S. in Cellular Biology, University of Georgia (2004–2008)

Her research expertise lies in chromatin biology, gene regulation, and CRISPR-based technologies in parasitology. She investigates how epigenetic mechanisms control virulence gene expression and immune evasion in malaria parasites. Her work integrates molecular biology, genomics, and functional assays to dissect transcriptional networks in Plasmodium.

The recent publications highlight a strong focus on CRISPR applications, m6A mRNA methylation, noncoding RNA regulation, and chromatin remodeling in Plasmodium. These studies reveal complex regulatory layers controlling antigenic variation and stage-specific gene expression, with implications for malaria pathogenesis and therapeutic development.

Scientific Awards and Fellowships:

• EMBO Long-term Postdoctoral Fellowship (2015–2017)
• Institut Pasteur Roux-Cantarini Postdoctoral Fellowship (2015–2016)
• Goldwater Scholar (2008)
• Biomedical Graduate Studies Travel Grant (2012, 2013)
• University of Pennsylvania Genetics T32 Training Grant (2010–2012)

Jessica Bryant has contributed significantly to mentoring and scientific community building, having served as Departmental Postdoc Representative at the Institut Pasteur. She has taught epigenetics and next-generation sequencing courses at Sorbonne University and the University of Bern. She co-organized the international CRISPR in Parasitology Symposium, fostering collaboration across the field. Her research is supported by prestigious grants and conducted within a leading parasitology research unit, with no indication of retirement or former status.