Byron Smith, Ph.D.
Bioinformatics Fellow
My work in the Pollard Lab focuses on the analysis of microbial metagenomic time-series data, particularly in light of strain-level gene content variation. Previously, I received my PhD in 2018 from the University of Michigan in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, advised by Thomas Schmidt.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Outreach Activities
I value broad and equitable access to scientific knowledge and its benefits, as well as diversity and inclusiveness in academia and STEM careers. Towards this end, I teach introductory programming to researchers as a certified Carpentries instructor, am a member of the Software Carpentry Curriculum Advisory Committee, and was active in the University of Michigan Software Carpentry organization. During my PhD I organized and led statistics office hours to assist trainees in overcoming programming and analysis challenges. At Gladstone I advocate for a diverse and inclusive community on the Postdoc Advisory Committee. I also believe in open data, open science, and open access publication, and strive to remove barriers to the dissemination of scientific knowledge. At the University of Michigan I participated in a graduate student–led initiative to address student concerns about our departmental culture, with a particular focus on how we protect students of color from the harm caused by white supremacy at the local and national level. I received bystander intervention training organized by the department.
Contact Information
byron [dot] smith [at] gladstone [dot] ucsf [dot] edu