Gregory Smith
Ph.D. Candidate, Chemistry
A recent recipient of the prestigious British Marshall Sherfield Postdoctoral Fellowship, Gregory Smith appears to be well on his way to making a name for himself in the field of chemical archaeology.
Gregory always knew that he would pursue a career in the sciences. “I went to my undergraduate school with no doubt that I was going to be a scientist, most likely a chemist,” recalls the Owensboro, Kentucky native. However, during his freshman year, he took a cultural anthropology course to satisfy the humanities curriculum requirement and began what he calls, “an enjoyable foray into the other side of science --social science.” Before long he was doing independent summer research projects in both chemistry and cultural anthropology, in fascinating locales like Strasbourg and London. “My summer research opportunities helped me develop an appreciation for the way science and observation went hand in hand,” Gregory remarks. “They instilled confidence in me to pursue and test my own ideas. After those experiences, going on to graduate school seemed natural.”
After his graduation from the Centre College of Kentucky, Gregory learned that his love of both chemistry and anthropology could be “combined in a truly interdisciplinary field of chemical archaeology.” Through conversations with professor Richard Palmer, Gregory learned of “the breadth of Duke’s chemistry program, and the willingness of the department to allow me to pursue my diverse interests, even though no departmental advisor worked in archaeological chemistry.” Says Gregory, “Duke offered me the opportunity to get a broad background in chemistry and the chance to take courses outside of chemistry. I’ve taken courses in religion, classics, geology, and foreign languages since coming here.” One of the most exciting research opportunities Gregory has had since coming to Duke is his annual field season in Sepphoris, Israel. During his frequent trips to the region, he works as a chemical analyst on archaeological excavations. According to Gregory, field experiences such as these have been a crucial factor in the evolution of his scientific interests. Another important factor has been the chemistry program itself. “I’ve benefited from the department’s insistence on a rigorous set of requirements for the PhD”, acknowledges Gregory. These requirements included a comprehensive literature seminar delivered to the entire department. In fact, it was the literature seminar Gregory developed on Raman analysis of archaeological pigments that led to his being awarded the British Marshall Sherfield Fellowship.
Though his current research does not involve archaeology, Gregory is still working on excavations, both as an archaeologist and as a chemist. While in Great Britain, he will be working with Dr. Robin Clark, a leading expert in the field of archaeological pigments. When asked what he will remember most about his time at Duke, Gregory replies, “I will no doubt most remember the faculty and students with whom I have worked.”
(This profile originally appeared in the March 2000 issue of The GRIND.)