Rachel Smith
Head, Astronomy and Astrophysics Laboratory, NC Museum of Natural Sciences
Bio
Dr. Rachel Smith is an observational astronomer investigating forming stars and protoplanetary systems. She is currently using NASA’s Infrared Telescope Facility in Hawaii to observe carbon and oxygen chemistry in massive forming stars across the Galaxy. Rachel is Head of the Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Lab, and Curator of Meteorites at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (NCMNS). She is jointly appointed as an Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Physics & Astronomy at Appalachian State University and is an Adjunct Professor in the Dept. of Physics & Astronomy at UNC Chapel Hill. Rachel has developed and teaches two undergraduate courses, Astrobiology and Star Formation, at App State, and regularly employs her students on research projects. She is interested in developing new ways of conveying the excitement of astronomy to the public and participates in several public outreach endeavors at the NCMNS and greater community throughout the year. Rachel is currently working with the American Museum of Natural History in New York to develop interactive programs and displays using new cutting-edge fly-through-the-universe software.
Rachel earned her MS and PhD in from UCLA, and previously got a BS and DVM from Cornell University. She did a brief postdoc in Planetary Science at Caltech before moving to North Carolina for her current position. When not working, Rachel spends quality time with her miniature donkeys, horses, and chickens, turkey, and cats, and loves to travel!