James grew up in the Research Triangle Park area of North Carolina and received his Bachelors degree from Appalachian State University. He obtained his doctorate from Duke University in 2004 and then moved on to do a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Minnesota. He joined the Tulane Department of Microbiology and Immunology in 2009. In 2015, he was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure. In his spare time, James enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons, running with his dog, reading, dining at the many fine New Orleans restaurants, and watching movies.