Robert Smith

Dr. Robert Smith is a Lecturer in Responsible Research & Innovation at the University of Edinburgh's School of Social and Political Science. He joined the University in April 2018 to work with Jane Calvert as part of the Engineering Life Project and Centre for Mammalian Synthetic Biology. Previously, he conducted research at the Department of Global Health & Social Medicine, King's College London. His academic background includes a PhD from the University of Nottingham and a BSc (Hons) in Animal Science.

Dr. Smith's educational journey began with a BSc (Hons) in Animal Science, reflecting his original training as a biologist. He completed his PhD at the University of Nottingham, where he examined the development of a biofuel controversy in the UK, focusing on how various stakeholders navigated this complex issue.

Dr. Smith works in the field of Science and Technology Studies, examining the social, political and policy dimensions of the life sciences. His research focuses on how science and technology are made and governed, with particular interest in democratic and environmentally beneficial approaches to scientific governance. Key areas include the role of funding organizations in science policy, the governance of gene drive technologies, and synthetic biology at the organism scale. His work often involves collaboration with natural scientists and policy makers to develop practical governance methodologies.

Analysis of Dr. Smith's publication record reveals a clear trajectory from UK-focused biofuel controversies to international collaborations on emerging biotechnologies. His recent work demonstrates increasing engagement with global health applications (particularly gene drive technologies for malaria control in Africa) and more-than-human perspectives in responsible research and innovation. A notable trend is the expansion from theoretical STS frameworks to practical governance tools implemented in multinational funding programs.

Dr. Smith's research has been supported by prestigious funding bodies including the ESRC, BBSRC, Research England Global Challenges Research Fund, and British Academy Knowledge Frontiers awards. His projects demonstrate strong international collaboration, particularly with institutions in Uganda, Germany, France, Spain, and the United States.

Dr. Smith actively supervises PhD students including Mayline Strouk (researching seabird ornithologists' mobilities) and Vardev Sachdev (exploring neocolonial notions of Biosafety and Biosecurity in Southeast Asia). His grant portfolio includes significant projects such as 'Future Organisms: Synthetic Genomics and Responsible Research and Innovation in the UK, the USA and Japan' (ESRC-NSF SBE Lead Agency Award 2021-2024) and 'Strengthening gene drive governance for malaria control in Africa' (Research England GCRF 2021).

Dr. Smith is affiliated with the Centre for Mammalian Synthetic Biology at the University of Edinburgh and works closely with the Engineering Life Project. His research involves interdisciplinary teams comprising natural scientists, policy makers, and social scientists across multiple international institutions, with particular emphasis on collaborative governance approaches for emerging scientific fields.