AMERICA | A remarkable young woman named Dr. Maria Smith has set an incredible record as the first Black woman to earn a PhD in Biomedical Sciences at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the United States.
Maria’s story of becoming a record breaker is one of resilience, determination, and hardwork.
Maria's Story and How She Did It
Maria’s journey started in 2014 when she left her home in the Caribbean to chase her dream of becoming a scientist.
She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology and Molecular Science from the Rochester Institute of Technology, followed by a Master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences at St. Jude, focusing on infectious diseases.
Ten years later, her hard work paid off. She walked across the stage as the first Black woman to complete the PhD program in Biomedical Sciences at St. Jude—an achievement she says “exceeded her dreams.”
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Throughout her academic journey, Maria often found herself being “the first,” “the few,” or even “the only,” and this pushed her to advocate for better representation of underrepresented students in science.
She also took initiative during her PhD by organizing St. Jude’s first industry-focused professional development workshop titled “Bridging the Gap: Transitioning from Academia to Biotech.”
The workshop helped students learn how to turn academic CVs into strong industry resumes, build a professional brand, network intentionally, and use available resources for career growth.
Driven by her passion for helping others, especially those from underserved backgrounds, Maria has been actively involved in efforts to reduce educational inequalities and healthcare disparities across the Caribbean.
She called it a “dream come true” to work with scientists and educators to support her home region.
Maria is now stepping into a new chapter as she begins a role in Patient Engagement at Pfizer, where she hopes to contribute to work that improves the lives of patients worldwide.
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