Byron Smith develops and uses bioinformatic tools and statistical models to integrate diverse data towards understanding complex microbial communities. His research lies at the intersection of microbial informatics and human health, building and utilizing state of the art computational tools to understand these communities that inhabit the gut and other body habitats. In addition to his experience with experimental biology, microbial ecology, and evolutionary biology, he has developed and applied computational methods – bioinformatic, statistical, and machine learning – in research for more than a decade. Smith received his Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of Michigan and his B.S. from the College of William & Mary.