Dr. Maria Smith completed her Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences at the St. Jude Graduate School, where she specialized in Infectious Diseases. She is the first black female and Caribbean student to complete the Ph.D. program at the St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
Born and raised in Pottersville, Dominica, Maria credits her success to her supportive parents, Jude and Avis Smith. She attended the Convent Preparatory School and Convent High School where she quickly realized her interest in the sciences. In third form, she participated in a one-week externship at the Princess Margaret Hospital where she shadowed laboratory technicians, confirming her interest in laboratory work.
After graduating from CHS, Maria moved to upstate New York to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology and Molecular Biosciences at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). There, she received a total of 10 awards for her academic performance, leadership, and community service, graduating summa cum laude in 2018. During her undergraduate studies, Maria also participated in three research projects focused on microbiology and cancer biology. These opportunities allowed her to present her research findings at 7 national conferences and solidified her decision to pursue graduate studies.
Maria moved to Memphis, Tennessee to pursue her Master’s and Ph.D. degrees at the St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Her doctoral research investigated mechanisms by which an epithelial integrin dampened immune responses at the lung interface during influenza virus infection and provided insights into an overlooked therapeutic target that could potentially boost host immunity against flu infection. Throughout her Ph.D. Maria shared her work in 3 scientific publications and presented her findings at over 8 national conferences around the United States as well as at 2 international meetings in Singapore and Glasgow, Scotland. Other accolades include her acceptance into: the Yale Ciencia Fellowship for Career Advancement and Professional Development at the Yale University (1 of 16 accepted across the U.S.), the Scientist Mentoring and Diversity Program for Biotechnology (SMDP Biotech), and the Advancing and Developing a Diverse STEAM (ADDSTEAM) Program.
Due to the lack of representation, participation and retention of underrepresented students in the sciences, this fueled Maria’s commitment and efforts to provide mentorship, resources and guidance to other minority scientists. She has served as one of the teaching assistants for a semester-long, online undergraduate Principles of Biomedical Research course at the University of Puerto Rico, where she revamped course curriculum, facilitated course discussions and delivered a 90-minute lecture on persuasive science communication to over 30 students. She has also served as a guest lecturer and an invited speaker for 5 additional courses and workshops.
Maria’s outreach efforts extend beyond academia. She has shared her academic journey through panel discussions with the Education USA Program, the National Society of High School Scholars, the RIT Collegiate Science Technology and Entry Program, and undergraduates from the historically black LeMoyne Owen College in Memphis. Within the Memphis community, she also led interactive microbiology and infectious diseases courses to introduce elementary and high school students to the sciences. Maria’s commitment to community outreach recently led to an invitation to participate in a local radio program, where she simplified information on viruses and vaccines while addressing a wide range of questions from numerous callers during a live radio segment.
As a proud Dominican, it is also important for Maria to give back to communities at home. Currently, she serves on the board of the Dominican Health and Education Initiative (DAHEI), where she collaborates and fundraises with Dominican scientists, medical doctors and science educators to reduce educational inequities and minimize healthcare disparities within Dominica. This month marks her one-year anniversary working with this non-profit organization. In 2024, DAHEI partnered with local organizations such as the Dominica Association of Diabetes, the Dominica-China Friendship Hospital and the Kalinago Child Support Foundation. This year, DAHEI’s fundraising efforts also awarded 7 scholarships to 6 high school students and 1 undergraduate nursing student at the Dominica State College.
In January 2025, Maria will begin a new position at Pfizer. She is passionate about helping others and encourages students to reach out for guidance on navigating higher education and careers in the sciences. Maria plans to continue to advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion throughout her career as she hopes for a future where more female and Caribbean students can thrive and lead in the science field.
