School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences

Stuart Smith

Position Senior Lecturer
Email stuart.smith@deakin.edu.au
Area School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences
Phone +61 3 92517260
Campus Burwood


Role and profile
Dr Stuart Smith is a Senior Lecturer in the area of food sciences, mainly food microbiology and food safety in the School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences. He teaches at undergraduate and postgraduate level and supervises higher degree students. He coordinates work placements for undergraduates in the food industry and has strong industry links through membership of the Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology Inc. Dr Smith is a member of the Molecular and Medical SRC and actively involved in research on the role of gut microbiota in human and animal health, development and disease.



Teaching responsibilities
Unit Chair of core and food majors stream units HSN 209 Food Security and Safety, HSN204
Food Microbiology and HACCP and HSN311 Food Science and Nutrition Practicum and
lectures into several other undergraduate and postgraduate units.
Food Science stream coordinator
Supervision 4 PhD student, 1 Masters student and 2 honours student



Research interests
Dr Smith’s research interests focus on the role of gut microbiota in health and nutrition and the role of dietary modulation by functional food components, such as prebiotics and probiotics, and food biotransformation in healthy individuals and also in chronic gut diseases Dr Smith has been actively involved in human studies demonstrating lupin dietary fibre as a commercial prebiotic, changes in gut microbiota linked to autoimmune diseases in children including allergy and atopic eczema, and changes in phenolic levels in the gut due to microbiota. He has also actively studied differences in gut microbiota in sea birds examining influences of habitual diet, development and geographical location.


Awards and prizes
ANZ Trustees Foundation- Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment $6,500 2009-2010
ANZ Trustees Foundation- Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment $6,500 2010-2011
Patent: Tellam RL, Sando L, Gray C, Kongsuwan K, Pearson R, Parker P, Smith S (2006) Active agents and methods. PCT (submitted). Application No. AU-2006905488. Name of Applicant: Innovative Dairy Products Pty Ltd. Filing date: 4/10/06 Patent Co-inventorship.



Memberships
Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology (Professional)
Institute of Food Technologists (Professional)



Service to the University, discipline or community
Dr Smith is involved in University, Faculty and School committees:
Deakin University Biosafety Committee 2001-onwards
Deputy Chair SENS Academic Progress committee
Faculty of Health member University Appeals Committee
Faculty Board 2008-2010
Dr Smith is also involved with external professional associations:-
Secretary of the Victorian branch of Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology (AIFST)
Committee member of Food Microbiology sub-committee of the AIFST
Manuscript reviewer for Journal of Food Science, FEMS Microbial Ecology, Journal of Dairy
Science and International Journal of Biology.
VCAA Set-Vetter for VCE Food and Technology



Conferences
Sheena,S., Tang, M., Oppedisano, F., Dewar, M.,Smith, S.C. Changes of the gut microbiota in
peanut allergic infants treated with the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and oral
immunotherapy. Exploring Human Host-Microbiome Interactions in Health and Disease, Wellcome Trust Scientific Conference, Cambridge, UK, 8-10 May 2012. (Invited speaker)
Dewar, M.L., Arnould, J.P.Y., Trathan, P., Smith, S. C.(2011). Microbial Ecology of Penguins in Extreme Polar Regions. CAREX Life in Extreme Environments. 18-20th October 2011.
Dewar,M.L., Arnould, J., Dann, P., Trathan, P., Groscolas, R., Smith, S.C. Exploring the gastrointestinal microbiota of king and little penguins using high throughput sequencing. (2010) 7th Annual Exercise and Nutrition Sciences Higher Degrees by Research Student Symposium, Deakin University Melbourne Australia. (Awarded best presentation)
Dewar, M.L, Arnould, J.P.Y., Trathan, P., Groscolas, R., Smith, S.C. (2010). The gastrointestinal microbiota of King Penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) and the Influence of geographical separation. 7th International Penguin Conference Abstracts. Boston, Massachusetts. 30 August – 3rd September 2010.
Dewar, M., Arnould., J.P.Y., Dann, P., Groscolas, R., Trathan, P., Smith, S. (2010). Changes in the gastrointestinal microbiota during fasting in penguins. 1st World Seabird Conference 7th-10th September 2010. Victoria British Columbia Canada.
Dewar, M., Arnould, J.P.Y.,Trathan, P.,Groscolas, R, Smith, S. (2010). The Gastrointestinal microbiota of King Penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) and the influence of geographical separation. 7th International Penguin Conference. 30th August - 3rd September 2010. Boston Massachusetts.
Be, K., Gamlath, S. and Smith, S. 2009, In vitro antimicrobial effect of spice extracts on probiotic bacteria, Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2009;18 (Suppl 3) October 2008 for Nutrition Society of Australia, National Conference November 2009.
Porzoor, A, Quail, K, Smith, S. Establishment of in vitro batch fermentation system using inulin substrate. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2008;18 (Suppl 3) October 2008 for Nutrition Society of Australia National Conference November 2008.

Deakin University acknowledges the traditional land owners of present campus sites.

1st October 2012