Caitlyn B. Smith
Connect
caitlynbsmith@uky.eduPositions
- Graduate Research Assistant - M. Ashfaqul Alam Lab
- Founder and Coordinator - UK's Biomedical Sciences Trainee Club
College Unit(s)
Biography and Education
Biography
Caitlyn is a fifth year PhD student, focusing on the intestinal host-bacteria interactome in bacterial pathogenesis.
Education
Education
- 2020 - Present --- Graduate School at University of Kentucky College of Medicine
- 2020 --- Graduated Loyola University Chicago with a B.S. in Biochemistry, with a minor in Biology
Experience and Organizations
- Markey Cancer Center Trainee MOMENTUM Mentorship Awardee, 2024
- MCC STRONG Scholar Program Lecturer, since 2023
- CRLA Certified Level 1 Peer Mentor, since 2022
- Kentucky Science Advocate, since 2022
- American Society of Microbiology, UK Student Chapter Member, since 2021
- Public Relations Officer 2022-2023
- Secretary 2023-2025
- Biomedical Graduate Student Organization (BGSO) Member, since 2021
- Social Committee Member 2021-2022
- SURES/SURF Near-Peer Mentor
- Summer 2021, Summer 2022
- Founder and Primary Coordinator - UK's Biomedical Sciences Trainee Club
- Started November 2021
- Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Member, since Dec 2017
Summary:
Current Year: G5Research
In the Laboratory of Dr. Ashfaqul Alam, currently, I have been elucidating the influence of metabolites and proteins utilized in bacterial infections of the gastrointestinal tract and the mechanisms of Campylobacter jejuni pathogenesis. Further investigating into the interactions and functional roles between the host, and commensal bacteria in assisting or impeding pathogenesis of C. jejuni.
Selected Publications
Smith CB, Gao A, Bravo P, Alam A. Microbial Metabolite Trimethylamine N-Oxide Promotes Campylobacter jejuni Infection by Escalating Intestinal Inflammation, Epithelial Damage, and Barrier Disruption. Preprint. bioRxiv. 2024;2024.04.10.588895. Published 2024 Apr 10. doi:10.1101/2024.04.10.588895