Science Starts Here: James Leif Smith
James Leif Smith.
Name
James Leif Smith.
Age
36.
Current position
Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences,
Mississippi State University.
Role and time at the Mag Lab
Graduate research assistant in Arthur Edison’s lab at the Advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy program, located at the Mag Lab's University of Florida branch (1997-2002).
Current work
James and his team work to develop new approaches to cure and prevent human infection, including developing a new class of antibiotics called “lantibiotics.”
In his own words
"My experience at the lab differentiated me from the rest of the horde that was working toward their Ph.D's. Most laboratories now utilize molecular biology techniques, but very few are familiar with structural biology techniques. The use of structural biology, along with a proper understanding of the experiments involved, is by far the most important aspect of my career-shaping experience at the lab.
My experience at the lab differentiated me from the rest of the horde.
"The most important lesson I took away from my period of study at the lab is patience; discovery is a slow and gradual process, but richly rewarding.
"I believe my Mag Lab experience is unique to my other experiences. It creates an “alumni association” mind-set. For instance, I have established collaborations with other scientists based on their association with Mag Lab."
How mentors make a difference
"Dr. Edison has an enormous amount of enthusiasm for NMR and academic research. His positive energy and true concern for others was inviting. My experiences with Dr. Edison and with others in his lab molded me into the scientist that I am today."
Published in the Winter 2007-2008 issue of Mag Lab Reports. (Download this issue in
PDF format, 10.1 MB).
