Jada Allen

About Jada Allen

I am currently a DIRECT Cancer Fellow at the Duke Cancer Institute, where I work as a post-baccalaureate clinical research fellow with Dr. Meria Epplein, focusing on gastric cancer research.I am an alumna of Duke University, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) in Public Policy, with a minor in Global Health and a Certificate in Health Policy. I was a recipient of the prestigious Benjamin N. Duke Merit Scholarship in recognition of leadership and service to the community, and was named a Margolis Scholar in Health Policy & Management for demonstrated commitment to health policy through the Margolis Institute for Health Policy.I am a proud citizen of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina and am deeply committed to addressing health disparities in rural and BIPOC communities through community-based policymaking. I am a detail-oriented scholar with strong skills in communication, project management, and problem-solving, seeking opportunities to further integrate health policy, population research, and tribal sovereignty.

Experience

1. Clinical Research Fellow

   Duke Cancer Institute

   Jan 2026 — Present · Durham, NC, US

   As a DIRECT Cancer Fellow, I study modifiable risk factors for gastric cancer, working with Native American and Indigenous communities in North Carolina and nationally.

Education

• Duke University

  Public Policy (AB), Health Policy Analysis

  2021

• Lumberton Senior High School

  High School Diploma