Deborah Smith, OBE, DSc, PhD, FRSB, FHEA
Emeritus Professor

Profile

Biography

Deborah Smith trained as a biochemist at the University of Southampton and carried out postdoctoral research at MRC Mill Hill, NIH Bethesda and Imperial College London before joining the academic staff of Imperial. She moved to the University of York in 2004 to establish the Centre for Immunology and Infection and further her research interests in neglected tropical diseases, particularly human leishmaniasis. Her research and teaching career embraced molecular and cell biology, biochemistry and genomics, latterly addressing the translation of fundamental research in the development of new drugs and vaccines.

Deborah was Head of the Biology Department at York before appointment as Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research with responsibility for institutional research strategy and policy. In that role, she led the University submission for REF 2021. Deborah sat on the University Executive Board, the University Council and was York lead for Athena-Swan activities, while also representing the university externally at the Russell Group, N8 Research Partnership and the World Universities Network.  She has chaired the Medical Research Council Infection and Immunity Board and the Wellcome Trust Science Interview panel, been a member of the Wellcome Trust/Royal Society Sir Henry Dale Fellowships committee and the Council of Research England. She has also participated extensively in evaluation of international research. 

Deborah joined the Board of the Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, as a Trustee Director in 2021 and was awarded an honorary DSc by Imperial College in 2023. She is the President of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society and an Honorary Member of the British Society for Parasitology.

Career

• University of York
  • Special Advisor to the VC (2020)
  • Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (2019-2020)
  • Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research (2014-2020)

• University of York, Department of Biology, Centre for Immunology and Infection
  • Head of Department (2010-2013)
  • Director of Graduate Studies (2008-2010)
  • Professor of Pathogen Biology (2004-2013)

• Imperial College London, Department of Biochemistry
  • Deputy Chair of the Graduate School of Life Sciences and Medicine (2000-2004)
  • Deputy Head of Department (2000-2001)
  • Professor of Molecular Parasitology (1999-2004)
  • Lecturer, Reader (1984-1998)

• National Institute of Medical Research (Mill Hill London), National Institutes of Health (Bethesda, USA), Imperial College London
  • Post-doctoral scientist (1977-1983)

•  University of Southampton
  • BSc, PhD in Biochemistry

Publications

Selected publications

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