Jan Low is currently a principal scientist with the International Potato Center (CIP), based in their regional office for Africa in Nairobi, Kenya. She manages the Sweetpotato Action for Security and Health in Africa (SASHA) project and co-leads the Sweetpotato for Profit and Health Initiative (SPHI) with the director of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA). The SPHI seeks to improve the lives of 10 million African households in 17 target countries by 2020, through access to improved varieties of sweetpotato and their diversified use.

An agricultural economist by training, Dr. Low has a strong background in nutrition, and has focused with her team on developing and promoting biofortified orange-fleshed sweetpotato to combat vitamin A deficiency. She served as President of the African Potato Association (APA) from 2011-2013.