William Smith

William Smith is a Professor in the Department of Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). He earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Biology from UC Santa Cruz, followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Strasbourg (France) and UC Berkeley. His laboratory focuses on understanding chordate nervous system development and function, using the amphibian Xenopus and tunicate Ciona as model organisms. Key research areas include neural tube closure mechanisms, sensorimotor circuitry, and the evolution of central nervous system structures.

Smith's work has advanced understanding of how T-type calcium channels regulate neural tube closure in both Ciona and vertebrates. Recent studies explore glutamate receptor roles in Ciona's sensorimotor circuits and the integration of visual and gravitactic behaviors. His lab employs cutting-edge techniques in neuroimaging, computational biology, and behavioral analysis. Collaborations with groups like the Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Dynamical Neuroscience at UCSB highlight his interdisciplinary approach.

Publications since 2024 investigate deep homologies in chordate CNS structures and reveal conserved neural circuit architectures. His research bridges developmental genetics, molecular biology, and neurophysiology, contributing to both basic science and evolutionary biology. The Smith Lab is actively engaged in training graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in these areas.