Jay was raised in Michigan, but has also lived in many places across the country, including Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and Indiana. During his time moving across the United States, he developed a passion for a variety of activities, but eventually followed his curiosity for microbiology to the University of Michigan. While earning his B.S. in Ann Arbor, Jay spent two years studying bacterial biofilm development at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, which strengthened his interest in pursuing a research-based graduate degree. A desire to focus more on human pathogens of global health importance led him to apply to the Pathobiology program and to the Rajagopal Laboratory. He now targets his energies toward understanding the interaction between Group B Streptococci and the human host, and how this interaction leads to preterm labor. When Jay is not in class or in the lab, he can be found playing french horn as a member of the official band of the Seattle Sounders FC, the Sound Wave, teaching marching band at local high schools, or working on a new recipe in the kitchen.