Bradley Smith

Supported STEM students (primarily from the Ogden College of Science and Engineering; OCSE) with their applications for and applying to nationally and internationally prestigious undergraduate and graduate scholarships, fellowships, and study abroad opportunities. Worked alongside students to assist them with becoming involved in research opportunities both internal to and external to WKU. Assisted students with the selection process for and application to graduate school programs.

Participated in and helped to create workshops pertinent to STEM students and their advisors, focusing on topics such as letters of recommendation and application for external research opportunities.

Specialist, STEM Research and Nationally Competitive Scholarships at Western Kentucky University (WKU) (2024-07 – Present)

Supported STEM students (primarily from the Ogden College of Science and Engineering; OCSE) with their applications for and applying to nationally and internationally prestigious undergraduate and graduate scholarships, fellowships, and study abroad opportunities. Worked alongside students to assist them with becoming involved in research opportunities both internal to and external to WKU. Assisted students with the selection process for and application to graduate school programs.

Participated in and helped to create workshops pertinent to STEM students and their advisors, focusing on topics such as letters of recommendation and application for external research opportunities.

• Full time, 40 hours/week.
• Fostered positive relationships between the OSD and OCSE departments and administration, helping each to better recognize and cultivate prospective students as well as helping to facilitate discussion of students and practices between offices and departments.
• Created pipelines through which OCSE departments could follow to funnel students towards OSD for future and further development.
• Created standard operating procedures for most common scholarships and fellowships (NSF GRFP, NSF REU, Goldwater, Gilman), using their application to standardize efforts and maximize effective time spent at all stages of scholar development (attraction, retention, application, and award/rejection).
• Personal efforts helped lead to WKU's first DAAD RISE Germany scholar in 13 years and first Udall scholar in 15 years.
• Increased number of applicants for and applications to NSF REU and GRFP, Udall Scholarship, and Goldwater Scholarship, meeting and exceeding goals set by WKU administration for these opportunities.

Proofreader/Videographer at Kentuckiana Court Reporters (2022-12 – 2023-07)

Edited, corrected and assisted with collaborative projects related to court documents and depositions. Assisted with and shot video recordings of depositions for in house and contract clients.

• Full time, 40 hours/week.

Scientist – Entomologist at BASF (2020-10 – 2022-01)

Participated in laboratory assays for advanced testing of de novo engineered proteins as well as in situ proteins for insecticidal efficacy and activity at multiple levels including in planta and in vitro studies. Assays were performed against 10+ lepidopteran larval pests. Used and helped to maintained robotic hardware to prepare, image, and analyze effects of proteins on larval insects.

• Full time, 40 hours/week.
• Collected, collated, and analyzed all historical data relating to most recent iteration of optical algorithm to help discover discrepancies within output as well as to categorize and quantify discrepancies for further analysis.
• Created and presented weekly, monthly, and historical health reports using JMP, SAS, and R statistical programs to assist in multidisciplinary analysis of overall health of the most important and most often used assays.
• Primary liaison between insect assay and protein engineering groups to relay weekly health reports to assist in validation of weekly tests as well as to guide further development of de novo proteins and future directions of protein engineering.
• Provided and participated in quality assurance of weekly laboratory assays to build and give confidence to downstream scientists about quality and health of data supplied.
• Helped to develop specific algorithms for each lepidopteran larval pest for more accurate and precise optical, continuous data for analysis.

Laboratory Manager/Research Associate at Purdue University (2016-05 – 2020-10)

Managed laboratory activities, supplies, experiments, colony maintenance, and graduate student projects for postharvest research. Developed, coordinated, and led international and domestic research projects and teams. Planned and participated in international workshops and domestic conferences.

Wrote, edited and published multiple peer-reviewed journal articles. Personally interviewed and hired seasonal and undergrad workers; along with Principal Investigator, selected and accepted incoming graduate students.

• Full time, 40 hours/week.
• Developed relationships with university, domestic and international research teams, business partners and supply-chain actors to promote collaborative investigations and increase awareness of PICS projects and achievements.
• Managed laboratory activity, supplies and equipment for teams of postdoctoral associates, graduate and undergraduate students, and international enumerator teams.
• Independently led international, single and multi-week research projects in Colombia, Nepal and Peru by establishing and maintaining connections with facilitators in-country, developing logistical plans for efficient travel routes and usage of grant funds, and leading survey and enumerator teams.
• Supervised maintenance and care of four species of invasive insect pests for experiments.
• Created and improved novel, custom pieces of laboratory equipment to facilitate innovative research projects.

Associate Investigator at E.I. DuPont (2013-06 – 2016-05)

Coordinated laboratory, greenhouse, and field assays for advanced testing of compounds for insecticidal efficacy and activity. Wrote and edited reports detailing results, including statistical analyses and recommendations to supervisors. Was a member of the new employee Associate Investigator hiring committee, input of which went towards new Principal Investigator and Associate Investigator hires.

• Full time, 40 hours/week.
• Developed, conducted, and evaluated assays to discover novel insecticides, including designing, conducting, and evaluating field trials, establishing efficacy of superior chemical analogs.
• Provided support for advancement of established chemical structures, furthering stages of development through statistical analyses, experimental summaries, and development of field trials.
• Independently selected and evaluated novel chemical analogs for advanced attribute testing, including developing and validating new and improved assay procedures.
• Maintained host cultures of plants from multiple families, aiding in advanced attribute testing.
• Promoted continued education and learning within department by initiating monthly associate seminars and journal club meetings.

Senior Biological Scientist at University of Florida (2008-07 – 2012-01)

Maintained colonies of ecologically invasive insects (Metamasius callizona and Aulacaspis yasumatsui) and potential biological control agents (Lixadmontia franki and Phaenochilus kashaya). Performed statistical analyses, and budgeted for and purchased necessary laboratory supplies.

• Full time, 40 hours/week.
• Supervised and participated in multiple field studies and releases of biological control agent organisms throughout mid- to southern Florida, attempting to control invasive insect populations.
• Coordinated retrieval of plant material for maintenance of colonies of study organisms by expanding pickup locations to neighboring cities and towns.
• Established database for data organization, elucidating trends in parasitism and population dynamics of colony insects.
• Maintained colonies under strict quarantine and disposed of all material associated with insect as biohazardous material.
• Presented research findings at national and state meetings, exhibiting laboratory skills and strengths.

Research Technologist II at University of Louisville (2023-01)

Chemical Inventory Manager at Western Kentucky University (2004-01 – 2006-12)

Laborer at Miller Pipe Organs (2004-01 – 2004-12)

Laborer at Kentucky Farm Bureau (2003-01 – 2003-12)

Veterinary Technician at Shively Animal Clinic (2001-01 – 2002-12)

Master of Science (MS) in Entomology – University of Florida (2009-01)

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology – Western Kentucky University (2006-01)