Grace Byfield earned her Ph.D. in Microbiology from North Carolina State University in 2005 after completing a M.S. in Biology at North Carolina Central University in 2002. Her postdoctoral tenures included research in Human Genetics at Duke University School of Medicine, and Ophthalmology at UNC-CH School of Medicine.
Currently, Grace leads the initiative in Promoting Advocacy and Research Awareness for Diversity in Genomic Medicine (PARADIGM) under the UNC Program for Precision Medicine in Healthcare (PPMH). The PARADIGM initiative focuses on advocacy efforts to increase understanding of genomics in health care among underrepresented communities, raise student awareness about genomics-related careers, and address disparities in genomic medicine through research. She is also actively involved in other PPMH projects and initiatives.
Grace’s scientific career spans 15 years of research and teaching in industry and academia. She has published her work in peer-reviewed journals and contributed to several book chapters. Before joining the UNC-CH Department of Genetics, Grace was the Interim Director for the Center for Outreach in Alzheimer’s, Aging and Community Health (COAACH) at NC A&T State University. There she was involved in community outreach and research initiatives geared towards increasing education and awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and promoting Healthy Aging among African Americans.
Grace is from Jamaica where she completed her undergraduate degree in Botany at the University of the West Indies.
