Jess is an applied economist whose research focuses on improving educational outcomes and closing gender gaps in education and the labour market in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Inspired by her work with the Girls Education and Empowerment (GEE) team at J-PAL Africa and the What Works Hub for Global Education (WWHGE), she is dedicated to understanding the gender-related barriers to girls' and women's advancement in education and the labour market, as well as identifying cost-effective policy strategies to dismantle these barriers.

Jess holds a Bachelor of Social Science in Economics and Psychology and a Master's in Applied Economics from the University of Cape Town. Prior to beginning her DPhil in Public Policy, she worked as a policy intern with the GEE team at J-PAL Africa, a research assistant with the Mind and Behaviour Research Group, and a predoctoral research fellow on the Outcomes Fund Study at the WWHGE. Jess is a Clarendon Scholar.