Chris Smith

Chris Smith, Ph.D., serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) since May 2017, guiding the organization's strategic priorities and collaborating closely with the Executive Director. Additionally, Chris has held various roles within the NPA, including Vice Chair and Treasurer, contributing to financial oversight and committee coordination. As the Postdoctoral Affairs Program Administrator at Virginia Tech, Chris is leading the establishment of an Office of Postdoctoral Affairs to support postdoctoral associates across multiple campuses. Chris is also active in writing and contributing to several platforms, focusing on career development, mentorship, and neuroscience, including roles as a contributing writer for Inside Higher Ed and Health:Further, and authoring blogs for LifeOmic and PassioInventa. Educated at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Ph.D. in Neurobiology, Chris has a strong foundation in both scientific research and professional development initiatives for graduate students and postdocs.