James graduated from The National University of Ireland, Galway, with a Ph.D. in Microbiology under the supervision of Dr. Conor P. O’Byrne, of the Bacterial Stress Response Group. James’s previous research centered on the effects of homocysteine on Escherichia coli and the possible implications for human pathology. His work in Dr. Oberholzer’s lab involves investigating pancreatic beta-cell proliferation, as well as being a member of the human islet isolation team.