Cory Smith is a research scientist, genome engineer, educator, and yogi. Dr. Smith received a B.S. degree in microbiology with highest honors from the University of Florida and a Ph.D. in human genetics from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He is focused on technologies to read and write DNA for functional interrogation of genetic variation using human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from patients with genetic disease. He is currently a postdoctoral research fellow in the lab of George Church at Harvard Medical School where he is currently developing the techniques, software and tools necessary for large-scale genome editing.
Another vital aspect of his life is the practice of mindfulness meditation through a daily practice of yoga; which unifies the breath, body and mind to restore the entire system to its primal freshness. He has the long-term goal of combining this research with the personal awareness and health benefits of yoga and an active lifestyle to optimize vibrancy as opposed to a focus on the sick and infirm. His work has been featured on 60 minutes, WBUR (Boston's NPR), MIT Technology Review, and Genetic Literacy Project. His work explores an alternative views on the body and how mindfulness practices can be employed for health and well-being.