Zachary Smith

Zachary Smith is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Genetics at Yale University's School of Medicine. He is affiliated with the Yale Stem Cell Center and the Center for RNA Science and Medicine. He holds a B.S. in Biology from MIT (2008) and a Ph.D. in Biology from Harvard University (2019).

Education:

• B.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Biology, 2008
• Ph.D., Harvard University, Biology (Molecules, Cells, and Organisms Program), 2019

Research Interests:

His work focuses on epigenetic and genome regulation during early mammalian development, including fertilization, implantation, and gastrulation. Key areas include:

• Mechanisms of DNA methylation dynamics in embryos
• Epigenetic differences between embryonic and extraembryonic lineages
• Role of chromatin regulators in cell fate decisions
• Development of novel technologies like molecular recorders for lineage tracing

Labs/Teams: Leads research at the Yale Stem Cell Center, collaborating with labs such as those of Dr. Alex Meissner and Dr. Michael Caplan.