Parker Smith
Post Doc

About Me 
I completed my Ph.D. in microbiology at Oregon State University in 2023. My Ph.D. research used molecular methods to study social interactions in Pseudmonas aeruginosa with my focus primarily being on quorum sensing regulated behaviors. During my Ph.D. I explored the possibility of cyanide as an agent for policing quorum sensing cheaters, I characterized the role of antiactivators in preventing self-sensing in the las quorum sensing circuit, I studied competition for iron via siderophore cross-feeding, and I developed an apparatus for imaging bacterial colonies on agar plates.

Current Research Interests 
As a postdoc my interest is in chronic and acute Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections and the role that genetic heterogeneity plays in the antimicrobial resistance of these infections.