Amy Smith

Amy Smith is an Assistant Professor in Biology at Bard College at Simon's Rock, affiliated with the Science, Mathematics, and Computing department. Her research focuses on subsurface microbiology, astrobiology, and oceanography, with an emphasis on understanding how life emerged on Earth and its potential existence on other planetary bodies. Dr. Smith holds a PhD in Ocean, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences from Oregon State University (2017) and an M.S. in Biology from Portland State University (2011). Prior to joining Simon's Rock, she conducted postdoctoral research at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the Marine Biological Laboratory, studying microbial communities in deep-sea hydrothermal vents and coastal zones.

Her teaching interests include astrobiology, microbiology, and marine biology, with courses such as Introduction to Biology and Microbiology. Dr. Smith collaborates with NASA and international institutions to advance techniques for detecting extraterrestrial life, leveraging state-of-the-art methods to analyze microbial life in extreme environments like the deep subsurface and seafloor. Her work integrates molecular biology, geology, and planetary science to address fundamental questions about life’s origins and potential beyond Earth.

Key research themes include microbial metabolism in ocean crust, protistan grazing impacts on carbon cycling, and astrobiology-driven exploration of ocean worlds. Her recent projects include the SUBSEA expedition to Loʻihi Seamount and interdisciplinary efforts to model geochemical gradients in extraterrestrial environments.