Zachary Smith
استادیار · Epigenetics
Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Geneticsمعرفی
Zachary Smith is an Assistant Professor (Adjunct) in the Department of Genetics at Yale School of Medicine, with additional affiliations at the Yale Stem Cell Center, Center for RNA Science and Medicine, and the Genomics, Genetics, and Epigenetics program. His research focuses on epigenetic regulation during mammalian development.
Dr. Smith received his B.S. in Biology from M.I.T. in 2008 and his Ph.D. in Biology from Harvard University in 2019. His doctoral work focused on applying cutting-edge genomic technologies to understand chromatin dynamics during mammalian development. He joined the Yale Stem Cell Center and Department of Genetics as an Assistant Professor in September 2020.
Dr. Smith's research program investigates three critical developmental processes: fertilization, implantation, and gastrulation. His lab seeks to understand how the genome is reconstructed after fertilization, how distinct epigenetic states are established in embryonic versus extraembryonic lineages, and how chromatin regulators orchestrate the complex process of gastrulation. They employ advanced genomic techniques including single-cell sequencing, Cas9-mediated genome editing, and novel molecular recording technologies.
His recent publications highlight significant contributions to understanding DNA methylation dynamics in development and disease, X-chromosome biology, and the development of innovative genomic technologies. Dr. Smith's work bridges fundamental developmental biology with potential applications to understanding developmental disorders and cancer.
- Epigenetic regulation of mammalian development
- Chromatin dynamics during embryogenesis
- DNA methylation reprogramming
- Single-cell genomic analysis
- Novel molecular recording technologies
Dr. Smith's lab collaborates extensively with researchers at Yale and other institutions, including Michael Caplan, Berna Sozen, and Biff Forbush. His interdisciplinary approach combines expertise in genetics, developmental biology, and technology development to address fundamental questions about how epigenetic mechanisms shape development.
Students and postdocs in Dr. Smith's lab have opportunities to work at the forefront of developmental epigenetics, gaining expertise in both experimental and computational approaches to studying genome regulation during development.
