Postdoctoral Fellow
Email leah.smith@otago.ac.nz
Tel +64 3 479 6465
PhD (Microbiology,University of Otago); MS (Biology, University of Massachusetts); BS (Biology, Rhode Island College)
Appointment: 2020
Research interests
- Bacteriophages
- Genomics
- CRISPR-Cas
- Deep-sequencing
- Biofilms
- Gene regulation
Current research
My research focuses on bacterial interactions with mobile genetic elements, including bacterial viruses (phages). My postdoctoral work focuses on elucidating the mechanisms of bacterial CRISPR-Cas defense systems against nucleus-forming jumbo phages. My PhD work investigated the regulation of bacterial defenses, where I developed a high-throughput screen (SorTn-seq) to identify regulatory networks in bacteria.
Using my newly-awarded Marsden Fast-start grant, I aim to apply my research expertise to enhance the efficacy of phage therapy for clinical and environmental applications.
Postgraduate student supervision
PhD
- Marina Mahler, current
- Kate Harding, current
- Natalie Kyte, current
BSc (Hons)
- Lela Hassan, 2022
Research Funding and Awards
- 2024: PI on Marsden Fast-Start Grant, Royal Society of New Zealand
- 2023: PI on BMS Kickstarter Funding, University of Otago
- 2022: AI on Dean's Bequest Grant, University of Otago
- 2022: Awarded an International Society for Viruses of Microorganisms (ISVM) Early Career Scientist Grant
- 2022: Thesis placed on the University of Otago Health Sciences Divisional List of Exceptional Doctoral theses
- 2019: Awarded a University of Otago Division of Health Sciences Travel Grant
- 2016: University of Otago Doctoral Scholarship, University of Otago, New Zealand
- 2015: Chancellor’s Centennial Scholarship. University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, USA
- 2014: Robert Young Scholarship Award for Excellence in Research. Rhode Island College, USA