Sarah Smith

Sarah Smith serves as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Bucknell University, holding a B.S. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. from the University of California, San Diego. Her interdisciplinary work bridges chemical and biological sciences with practical medical applications.

Her research program focuses on peptide-based systems, with core interests including:

• Mechanisms of protein structure and metalloprotein function
• Design of metallopeptides for therapeutic and diagnostic platforms
• Antibacterial properties of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) at the amino acid level
• Bioinorganic chemistry principles in biological contexts

The Smith Group laboratory investigates how peptide sequence dictates structural and functional outcomes, particularly in metal-binding systems and antimicrobial activity. Their approach combines synthetic chemistry, biophysical analysis, and biological testing to develop novel solutions for antibiotic resistance and diagnostic challenges. Current work emphasizes engineering peptide-metal complexes that interact with natural biological targets.

Contact details are available at 216 Rooke Chemistry Building, phone 570-577-1509, or via email sjs065@bucknell.edu.