Tyler
Smith
Studying intestinal immunity and Toxoplasma gondii infection at the University of Rochester, in the lab of Dr. Felix Yarovinsky. Focused on IFN-γ signaling and inflammatory bowel disease.
Research Focus
Areas of Investigation
Understanding how the immune system responds to chronic parasitic infection in the gut, with direct implications for inflammatory bowel disease therapeutics.
Intestinal Immunity
Mucosal immune responses in the gut
T. gondii Infection
Parasite-driven immune activation
IFN-γ Signaling
Chronic inflammatory pathways
IBD Pathogenesis
Inflammatory bowel disease mechanisms
Mucosal Barriers
Epithelial cell dynamics
Host-Pathogen
Immune evasion & adaptation
Current Work
Research Experience
Yarovinsky Lab
University of Rochester Medical Center
Characterizing how the small intestine adapts to chronic IFN-γ mediated inflammation following Toxoplasma gondii infection. Exploring mechanistic links between parasite-driven immune responses and IBD pathology.
Previous Work
NIH NIDCR
3-O sulfated heparan sulfate in growth factor signaling during salivary gland organogenesis. Viral infectivity on salivary gland cell models.
Clarkson University
Myosin XV protein functions in Drosophila bristle pattern formation via CRISPR knockout alleles. Published in Developmental Biology.
Output
Publications
Clements R*, Smith T*, Cowart L, Zhumi J, Sherrod A, Cahill A, Hunter GL. "Myosin XV is a negative regulator of signaling filopodia during long-range lateral inhibition." Developmental Biology, 505, 110–121 (2024).
Timeline
Experience
Graduate Research Trainee
Jul 2024 – PresentUniversity of Rochester Medical Center · PI: Dr. Felix Yarovinsky
Characterizing adaptation to chronic IFN-γ mediated inflammation in the small intestine. Focus on intestinal immunity, T. gondii infection, and inflammatory bowel disease pathways.
NIH Summer Intern
May – Aug 2023NIH, Bethesda, MD · PI: Dr. Matthew Hoffman
Studied roles of sulfated compounds in salivary gland organogenesis. Presented poster on 3-O sulfated heparan sulfate regulation of growth factor signaling.
Undergraduate Researcher
Sep 2021 – May 2024Clarkson University · PI: Dr. Ginger Hunter
Determined Myosin XV protein roles in mutant Drosophila bristle pattern formation using CRISPR-mediated knockout alleles.
NIH Summer Intern
May – Aug 2022NIH, Bethesda, MD · PI: Dr. M. Hoffman & Dr. N. Altan-Bonnet
Studied viral infectivity on salivary gland cell models in craniofacial research.
Details
Curriculum Vitae
Education
Ph.D., Immunology
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry — Rochester, NY
2024 – 2029 (Expected)
B.S., Biology & Biomolecular Science — with Distinction
Clarkson University — Potsdam, NY
2020 – 2024
Honors & Awards
Presentations
Upstate Immunology Conference
Oswego, NY · 2025
NE Society for Developmental Biology
Marine Biological Lab · 2024
Research & Project Showcase
Clarkson University · 2024
NIH Summer Research Presentation
NIH Main Campus · 2023
Teaching
Graduate TA
Foundations of Modern Biology II (IND432) — URMC (2026)
Undergraduate TA
Intro Cell & Molecular Biology — Clarkson University (2022–2024)