James Smyth honored with university postdoctoral mentor award

Every fall, Virginia Tech’s Office of Postdoctoral Affairs recognizes one faculty member for a demonstrated commitment to the success of mentees and the university’s community of postdoctoral associates. This year, Associate Professor James Smyth received the Faculty Mentor award. 

“Our postdoctoral trainees are an essential component of the academic research enterprise, where they not only continue to train in research, but also hone leadership and management skills as senior members of diverse teams,” Smyth said after receiving the award. “We pride ourselves on not just acknowledging the need for better postdoc support and training, but actually putting in the work to make it happen.”

Chelsea Phillips, the postdoctoral associate who nominated Smyth for the award, has worked in his Roanoke lab at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC since 2023. “I’m extremely grateful to have Jamie as my mentor,” Phillips said. “He is intentional in his mentoring in a way that I have had yet to experience during my time in academia.” 

Smyth accepted the award in Blacksburg at the Postdoc Showcase and Celebration, held annually during National Postdoc Appreciation Week. During the showcase portion of the event, three researchers presented work conducted at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute: 

• Mary Elizabeth Baugh, Metabolic response to sugar influences brain reward and behavioral food preference. Baugh is now a research scientist in the DiFeliceantonio Lab where she worked as a postdoctoral associate.
• Ryan Montalvo, Promotion of Healthspan by Exercise: Examining the Role of Mitochondria. Montalvo, a current postdoctoral associate in the Yan Lab, was recognized among the top three presenters at Tuesday’s showcase.
• Caleb Stine, Translating Research into Relevance: Fluid Transport and Brain Tumor Progression. Stine, the first Virgnia Tech doctoral graduate from the Munson Lab, later completed his postdoctoral program with the lab and is now a senior research associate at the institute.

“As a mentor, I pay keen attention to ensuring trainees in my lab are not just checking research boxes and maintaining productivity, but are given every opportunity possible to develop skills necessary for the next step in their careers,” said Smyth.

The Fralin Biomedical Research Institute currently hosts 24 postdoctoral associates. Joining research teams across eight centers, they commit themselves to advancing health through the science done at the institute.