Professor Alison Smith (Emerita)
- Head of Plant Metabolism
Contact
Connect
About
Alison Smith is Head of Plant Metabolism at the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge.
Previous Positions
2017 to 2022 - Head of Department - Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, England
2014 to 2015 - Acting Head of Department - Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, England
2007 to present - Professor of Plant Biochemistry - University of Cambridge, England
2001 to 2007 - Reader in Plant Metabolism - Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, England
1989 to 2001 - University Lecturer - Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, England
1984 to 1989 - University Demonstrator/Assistant Lecturer - Department of Botany, University of Cambridge , England
1984 to present - Fellow of Corpus Christi College - University of Cambridge, England
1984 to present - Head of Group - Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, England
1983 to 1984 - Temporary Lecturer - Department of Botany, University of Cambridge, England
1981 to 1983 - Postdoctoral Research Associate - Department of Botany, University of Cambridge, England
1981 to 1981 - Promotions Assistant - Academic Press Inc, London, England
Qualifications
1981 - PhD in Biochemistry - University of Cambridge, England
1978 - MPhil in Biochemistry - University of Cambridge, England
1977 - BSc in Biochemistry - University of Bristol, England
-
Awards & Fellowships
2017 - Fellow - Marine Biological Society of the UK
2012 - Fellow - Royal Society of Biology
2009 - Erskine Fellowship - University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
2008 - Best Paper Award - Rebeiz Foundation for Basic Research
2001 - Leverhulme Study Abroad Fellowship
Committees
University Committees (since 2009)
2020 to present - Member -VC Financial Strategy Advisory Group
2019 to present - Member -International Strategy Committee
2017 to 2020 - Chair -Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology Syndicate
2016 to 2017 - Chair - General Board Teaching and Learning Review Committee, Department of Pathology
2014 to present - Core Member- Cambridge Forum for Sustainability and the Environment
2017 to 2019 - Co-Director -Energy@Cambridge Interdisciplinary Research Centre
2013 to 2020 - Member -Steering Committee of Energy@Cambridge Interdisciplinary Research Centre
2012 to 2018 - Director - Cambridge BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership
2014 to 2015 - Member - Faculty of Biology Senior Academic Promotions Committee
2014 to 2015 - Chair - Safety Committee, Department of Plant Sciences
2013 to 2014 - Chair - Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology Syndicate
2013 to present - Member - Reviewers for University complaint and review procedures
2012 to present - Director - CambPlants, a knowledge-exchange hub for plant science research
2012 to 2013 - Chair - Graduate Education Committee, Department of Plant Sciences
2011 to present - Member - Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology Syndicate
2011 to 2015 - Member - University Energy and Carbon Reduction Project Board
2011 to 2012 - Chair - General Board Teaching and Learning Review Committee, Department of Chemistry
2010 to 2015 - General Board Representative - Faculty of Physics and Chemistry Senior Academic Promotions Committee
2009 to 2012 - Representative of Biological Sciences - Gates Cambridge Trust and Cambridge Overseas/European Trusts
2009 to 2012 - Member - Faculty of Biology Senior Academic Promotions Committee
External Committees (since 2000)
2015 to present - Board Member - Niab
2013 to present - Monitoring Editor - Plant Physiology
2013 to 2014 - Editorial Board Member - Journal of Biological Chemistry
2013 to 2014 - Member - BBSRC People and Skills Expert Working Group
2012 to 2016 - Member - Strategic Advisory Board for EU FP7 Projects GIAVAP and BIOFAT
2012 to 2016 - Pool Member - BBSRC Responsive Mode Committees
2011 to present - University of Cambridge Governor - Council of Marine Biological Association of the UK
2011 to 2015 - Member - BBSRC Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy Strategy Advisory Panel
2010 to 2013 - UK Representative - European Energy Research Alliance
2010 to 2011 - Member - Assessment Panel for BBSRC Enhancing Photosynthesis for Increased Productivity
2008 to 2013 - Member - Strategy Board, InCrops Enterprise Hub, funded by EEDA/ERDA
2007 to present - Co-Editor - New Phytologist
2000 to 2015 - Secretary - UK Tetrapyrrole Discussion Group
External Examining & Appointments Committees
2021 UKRI IMP Panel
2016 to 2021 - External Examiner - School of Biosciences, University of Durham, Scotland
2016 to 2016 - Member - Review Panel for Plant Science Centre, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
2014 to 2014 - Search Committee - Plant Sciences Faculty, Plant Sciences Centre, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
2012 - Member - Review Panel of International Max Planck Research School at Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne, Germany
1985 to present - External Examiner - for 3-4 PhDs and MPhil degrees from UK and overseas universities annually, including University College London, Imperial College London, University of Queensland, Wageningen University, University of Kent, University of Delft and University of Copenhagen
Public Engagement
2021 - 'Algae: Food for the future, introducing the algal species that could be a bigger part of your diet in the future' - Cambridge Festival Event
2021 - 'How our improved understanding of algae is helping develop new sustainable and nutritious ingredients for future kitchens and animal feed' - Cambridge Global Food Security Seminar
2019 - 'Expressing transgenes in Chlamydomonas and Phaeodactylum: A guide to commonly used methods for transformation of their nuclear genomes' - Workshop
Research
Research Group
Research Overview
I’m interested in the biochemistry of microalgae, in particular vitamin and cofactor metabolism. My group works on characterising the biosynthetic pathways for these compounds, how the pathways have evolved and how they are regulated. We use a range of approaches including physiological studies, molecular biology and genomics, and the tools of synthetic biology and systems biology. The knowledge gained from these studies is being used to develop industrial biotechnology platforms for metabolic engineering of high value products in algae. In parallel, studies of symbiotic interactions between algae and bacteria for the exchange of vitamins are providing insights into algal communities in natural ecosystems. To facilitate translation of our scientific discoveries, we set up the Algal Innovation Centre, where we can test scale-up of some of these technologies to allow sustainable exploitation of microalgae, such as for remediation of waste streams and biomass production to increase nutritional value of food and feed. We interact with industry partners to bridge the gap between research and commercialisation in these sectors.