Stephanie Smith

Tell us about yourself (Who are you? Where are you from? What is your educational background?)

Hello, my name is Stephanie Smith, I am a Post doctorate at Scotland’s Rural College, Edinburgh, having completed my undergraduate at the University of Aberdeen (2008) and then my PhD at the University of Edinburgh (2013).

What is your area of expertise?

Evolutionary biology, molecular ecology, population genetics.

Where does your focus lie within your current project(s)? (related to methane)

Completed work analysing data from the laser methane detector (LMD) used on SRUC’s Dairy Research Farm in order to better understand the heritability of methane emissions and assess the potential to breed for lower emitters via genetic improvement.

What would be the added value for you of joining an international researchers network? (such as the METHAGENE network)

Communication in research is crucial. The value to me in joining an international network such as METHAGENE would be to learn. To maintain a more holistic approach to the issue and mitigation of methane emissions in agriculture, from the expertise from across the network.

What and/or who inspired you to make a career in science?

Early school teachers and my parents.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

Tackling a real-life issue which I feel passionately about.

What is your most stand-out or surprising moment in science so far?

The places research has taken me and the people I have met.