Dr Leah Smith, Research Fellow in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, has received a L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Fellowship for her research into phage therapy.
A passion for future-focused phage therapy research has resulted in Otago’s Dr Leah Smith receiving a 2024 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Fellowship.
The For Women in Science program recognises the achievements of exceptional female scientists at the early stages of their careers and awards them with a $25,000 fellowship to help further their research.
Dr Smith, a Research Fellow in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, is one of five women from New Zealand and Australia to be awarded the prize this year.
Her research focuses on phage therapy, an evolving field that aims to address the impact increasing strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria have on global populations.
“Antibiotic-resistant bacteria pose a serious threat to human health, with the rise of so-called superbugs rapidly outpacing the development of new antibiotics,” she says.
“To address the problem of antibiotic resistance, we need to shift gears and think about alternative treatment strategies.”
The World Health Organization estimates that by 2050, 10 million deaths a year could be the result of antimicrobial resistance. Phages, a type of virus that only infect bacteria, are ‘experts’ at targeting and killing harmful bacteria before they replicate.
At the centre of Dr Smith’s research is gaining a better understanding of phage therapy, where phages are used to treat infections. Phage therapy could offer a more effective solution for treating bacteria such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; a prevalent hospital superbug that has become resistant to many forms of antibiotics.
“The use of phages as a therapy against antibiotic-resistant bacteria could be a way of the future,” she says.
She will use her fellowship to visit a scientific collaborator at her lab in Portugal to learn new skills and techniques necessary to take her research further. Insights from the trip will be shared with other scientists in her Otago lab.
Today, just 33.3 per cent of scientific researchers globally are women, with less than 25 per cent making up the most senior leadership positions. The L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Fellowship focuses on recognising and promoting the important role that women play in science.
“Being recognised by L’Oréal has definitely given me a confidence boost. Worldwide, the number of women in senior academic positions is disproportionally low, and a lot of junior researchers lack mentorship from women colleagues.
“If I hadn’t received strong mentorship from a woman researcher early in my career, I probably wouldn’t be a scientist today. As a L’Oréal Fellow, I am privileged to pay it forward by serving as a mentor for other women and girls in science,” she says.
Dr Smith started her studies in her home country of the United States, becoming the first in her family to go through the college system. She faced many challenges on her journey to becoming the scientist she is today, including having to take a five-year break from study and working two jobs, one on the night shift, to pay for her tuition.
But for Dr Smith, the sacrifices were worth it, because of her continuously growing passion for science.
“What I love about science is the potential of discovering new things that maybe no one on the planet has studied before. While some of what we do in research can result in dead-ends, when you make that breakthrough, the results are so rewarding.”
L'Oréal Australia & New Zealand Chief Corporate Affairs and Engagement Officer at Marnie Carroll says Dr Smith is a remarkable scientist whose work embodies the mission of the fellowship.
“Her research highlights why supporting women in science is so vital, as we cannot afford to miss out on the contributions of these great minds and the positive changes they bring to the world. We are incredibly proud to support Dr Smith's journey through the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science fellowship.”
Outside of her demanding research schedule, Dr Smith still makes the time to support other women in science as a PhD co-supervisor to three female PhD students at Otago.
“I am where I am today because someone gave me an opportunity, and I want to give that same opportunity to others, which I can do as a mentor to women in science.”
Dr Smith will be presented with the fellowship at a ceremony in Melbourne this week.