Orientation Interview- Erica Smith (Chem110)

Ben and Kim were joined in the studio by Dr Erica Smith to discuss her area of teaching and her professional research interests.

Dr Erica Smith completed a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Theoretical Chemistry at the University of Sydney, then relocated to the United Kingdom to work for Unilever as a Research Chemist. She completed a Master of Science in Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Greenwich in London and then held several corporate roles within the European and Australian chemical and healthcare industries before moving to the United States to complete a PhD in Theoretical and Computational Chemistry at the University of Houston. We asked her all about her teaching, her history, and her areas of interest.

Dr Smith is the Unit Coordinator of Chem 110- Chemistry 1. This fundamental and 100-level unit comprises the first half of an introduction to the chemical principles required for further study in chemistry within the BSc, as well as in other disciplines including biochemistry, genetics, geology, molecular biology, physiology, soil science and zoology. It is an important unit in the Bachelor of Pharmacy, Bachelor Biomedical Science, Bachelor Ecology, Bachelor of Engineer Technology, Bachelor of Rural Science, Bachelor of Animal Science, Bachelor of Environmental Science, Bachelor of Zoology and Bachelor of Agriculture.

Her research interest is in using computer simulation techniques to assist in the generation of hypotheses and models, and also in using computational methods for the analysis of experimental and simulated data.

This interview is part of a series of Orientation Interviews, designed to make first-year students feel more at ease and reassured about what they can expect at UNE. Starting out at University can be highly overwhelming and we want to make sure that we do everything we can to ensure that students feel as comfortable as possible.

Dr Erica Smith reassured us and all students that should any student have any concerns, questions, or worries about studying this unit; they can contact her via phone on 2 6773 5130, or by email, at erica.smith@une.edu.au. Her complete history and staff profile can be found here