Christina King Smith

Christina King Smith is Professor and Chair of the Department of Biology at Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia. She earned her BS in Biology from Bucknell University (1982), MS in Marine Studies from the University of Delaware (1985), and PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (1992), followed by postdoctoral training at UC Berkeley.

Education:

• BS, Biology, Bucknell University, 1982
• MS, Marine Studies, University of Delaware, 1985
• PhD, Biological Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 1992

Her research centers on intracellular transport mechanisms in eukaryotic cells using fish retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. She investigates pigment granule migration dynamics, emphasizing actin cytoskeleton regulation, myosin motors, and cAMP/PKA signaling pathways. Her work also extends to microbial genomics through the SEA-PHAGES program, studying mycobacteriophages and choanoflagellate phagocytosis to explore evolutionary biology.

Recent publications reveal a dual research trajectory: 1) Deepening mechanistic understanding of retinomotor movements and melanosome transport in RPE cells, and 2) Expanding into microbial genomics and evolutionary cell biology. This interdisciplinary approach bridges cell neuroscience with microbiology, yielding insights applicable to vision science and microbial evolution.

Scientific awards:

• Tenglemann Award for Research and Teaching (2014)
• SJU Faculty Merit Award for Teaching (2009)
• NIH National Research Service Award Senior Fellowship (2004-2005)
• SJU Faculty Merit Award for Research (2003)

Dr. King-Smith actively mentors undergraduate and master's students, with over 20 advisees appearing as co-authors on her publications. Her grant portfolio demonstrates sustained funding success including NSF MRI awards (2019, 2008-2010), NIH R15 (2002-2005), and HHMI Undergraduate Science Education leadership (2008-2014), significantly enhancing research infrastructure for undergraduate training.

Her laboratory maintains active research programs in RPE cell biology and participates in the SEA-PHAGES initiative, providing undergraduates with hands-on genomic research experiences while advancing understanding of intracellular transport mechanisms and microbial evolution.