Dominican-born St. Jude’s PhD candidate focused on effects of infectious diseases on home turf

Dominican-born Maria Smith is a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate at the St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, working in the Department of Infectious Diseases at the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Her concentration is on developing cost-effective treatments for neglected populations.

The 2018 Rochester Institute of Technology alum conducts research on elucidating the mechanisms at the lung epithelium that modulate host antiviral responses during influenza. More specifically, she hopes to understand how these mechanisms suppress innate immunity and contribute fundamental knowledge to developing therapeutic interventions that can improve protection against influenza virus infection.

“Due to the limited research conducted in the Caribbean, I want to focus on how infectious diseases affect Caribbean residents, particularly those in the Commonwealth of Dominica,” she says.

Being a “first-generation student, Caribbean native, and woman of color” in science, Smith has a passionate approach to diversity in health-related research and careers and is committed to the diversification of the science field. She wants to encourage the representation, empowerment, and participation of underrepresented students in this discipline.  

Smith reportedly began studying scientific concepts while attending high school in Dominica. She admits that her exposure to laboratory work was limited, but credits a one-week internship at the main hospital on the island with piquing her interest in the field.  

The intellectual and creative freedom used by scientists to tackle scientific investigations fascinated her and set her on the path to furthering her education.  

 “With the help of my dad, we searched for academic institutions in New York where the science curriculum was supplemented with practical lab training and basic research internships were available. During our search, we found the Biotechnology and Molecular Bioscience major at RIT, and I fell in love with how the curriculum was structured,” Smith stated.  

The school, boasting a mandatory laboratory component on almost all of the core science courses, provided Maria with the opportunity to learn and apply fundamental lab techniques while earning her bachelor’s degree.

“RIT is an institution with a plethora of resources to ensure that you are well supported and excelling academically. I was pleased by the availability of research opportunities and academic support, which allowed me to put my knowledge into practice and apply them to research studies.” 

During her undergraduate studies, taking full advantage of faculty office hours, teaching assistant sessions, and external course workshops was crucial for her excelling at the institution. Yet availing herself of any available resources that could help her establish a strong foundation in biological and chemical sciences was even more important.

Active involvement in the  Multicultural Center for Academic Success (MCAS) introduced her to various programs instrumental to her academic success and she took up membership in various sub-groups at the school including the   Collegiate Science Technology Entry Program, the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Program, and the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program. 

These programs assisted her in attending eight local and national research conferences, where she strategically expanded her network with other scientists and identified institutions of interest for her transition into graduate school, placing her on the path to her tenure at the prestigious St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Maria has also credited her mentor,  Dr. Robert Osgood, in the biomedical sciences program at the College of Health Sciences and Technology of RIT, as a phenomenal scientist and acknowledged him as a professor who genuinely cares about the success of each student.

 “For all my students of color – admittedly, constantly being a minority in the field can be daunting. But remember that you are more than capable, regardless of your academic, cultural, and social backgrounds. In fact, this is our superpower! Your participation and involvement in the science field will introduce unique perspectives, redefine how we think about science, and improve the quality and ingenuity of our scientific innovation and advancements,” she expressed.