Dr. Craig Smibert

Biography

Craig Smibert is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Toronto. He received his Ph.D. from McMaster University in 1994, where his research focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms regulating cellular viral gene expression in cells infected with Herpes simplex virus. Following this, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University, working in Paul Macdonald’s lab with a model system of fruit fly embryos. His research has led to the discovery of highly conserved Smaug family RNA-binding proteins that regulate the translation and stability of target mRNAs. In his lab, Smibert's research interests include the understanding of molecular mechanisms that regulate gene expression in the cytoplasm, focusing on how RNA-binding proteins control mRNA translation and stability. His interest extends to the translational control mechanisms that synthesize proteins encoded mRNAs, as well as the regulatory circuits that play significant roles in biological processes. Smibert employs genome-wide techniques and cell biologic methods to characterize the ribonome in Drosophila embryos and the functional implications of RNA-binding proteins. He also remains active in mentoring students and has a personal interest in hiking and soccer.

Research Interests