Dr Jacqueline Smith

Group Leader/Senior Research Fellow

Biography

Background

After obtaining my PhD in genetics from St. Andrews University I started working as a post-doc at The Roslin Institute, where I’ve been ever since. During this time, I worked alongside Prof Dave Burt in the field of avian genomics and now lead my own group in the same area. My interests lie primarily in examining the host response to avian viral infections and trying to understand the genetic mechanisms of resistance; particularly with regard to Marek’s Disease Virus and avian flu. I also work as part of the Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and health (CTLGH), which is a collaboration between Roslin, SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College) and ILRI (International Livestock Research Institute) in Africa.

Area of Expertise

Research Expertise: Avian Genomics

Collaborative Activity

  • Dr. Janet Fulton, Hyline International, Iowa, USA

  • Prof. Wes Warren, U. Missouri, USA

  • Prof. Jim Kaufman, Cambridge/Edinburgh, UK

  • Dr. Andrew Mason, York, UK

  • Dr. Kirsty Short, Queensland, Australia

  • Dr. Laurent Frantz, Munich/London

  • Prof. Emiliano Lasagna, Perugia, Italy

  • Prof. Morris Soller, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

  • Prof. Olivier Hanotte, ILRI, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia/Nottingham, UK

  • Prof. Zhuo-Cheng Hou, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China

  • Prof. John Wingfield, UC Davis, USA

  • Dr. Lingzhao Fang, Aarhus University, Denmark

Qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of St Andrews Bachelor of Science, University of St Andrews

Qualifications

PhD - Genetics - University of St. Andrews (1997)

BSc - Biochemistry with Microbiology - University of St. Andrews (1992)

Responsibilities & affiliations

Editorial Board of Genes

Senior Editorial Board Member for BMC Genomics

Section Editor for British Poultry Science

Associate Editor for Cytogenetic and Genome Research

Open to PhD supervision enquiries?

Yes

Current PhD students supervised

Md Ataul Goni Rabbani (PhD student) (2022 - current)

Past PhD students supervised

Research students

Joshua Mountford (MScR) (2020-2021)

Callum Donnelly (PhD student) (2017 to 2020)

Elvire Berthenet (internship from ENSTBB, Bordeaux) (2013-2014)

Research summary

I work in the field of avian genomics with a particular interest in ‘resilience’ of birds, whether that be with respect to disease resistance (with a focus on Marek's disease and avian flu) or environmental adaptation. I also work as part of  the Centre for Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH), investigating the genetics of indigenous African chickens.

Current research interests

I work in the field of avian genomics, and my focus is on ‘resilience’ in birds – whether that be through disease resistance or adaptation to environmental stress. One of my prime interests is in investigating the host response to avian viral infections, increasing the understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying resistance, particularly with regard to Marek’s Disease Virus (MDV) and avian flu (AI). Projects are also ongoing where we use wild birds as a model to study seasonality and environmental adaptation. I also work as part of the Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH), which is a collaboration between The Roslin Institute, SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College) and ILRI (International Livestock Research Institute) in Africa. This work aims to improve backyard poultry production in sub-Saharan Africa by investigating the genetics of traits related to environmental adaptation and resilience. I am a member of several research consortia including GeneSWitCH (FAANG), FarmGTEX and the Global Chicken Diversity Consortium.

In the press

Media articles:

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