I received my PhD from The University of Melbourne in 1987. I was a founding lab head in the Structural Biology division at The Water & Eliza Hall Institute, the inaugural LIMS Fellow at the La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, deputy head of School, Head of the Department of Chemistry & Physics, and most recently Dean and Head of the School of Molecular Sciences at La Trobe University. My achievements have been recognised by the appointment as Emeritus Professor at La Trobe University in 2021. I am a Fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI), and a life member of the World Association of Theoretical Chemists. I served as President of the Victoria branch of the RACI, and as President of the Association of Molecular Modellers of Australasia. In 2014, I was awarded the RACI Citations Award for service to the profession.I am skilled in the determination of protein structure, in the analysis of protein structure, and in the design of protein mimetics and small-molecule inhibitors of protein function. I have authored over 180 publications in peer-reviewed journals, book chapters and reviews.I work with academic and industry partners on a range of projects. My discovery of compounds for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease was commercialised by BACE Therapeutics. I was a member of an international team from The Walter & Eliza Hall Institute, Genentech and Abbott developing anti-cancer therapeutics. I am committed to translating my computer-based discoveries into new medicines and diagnostics though interactions with colleagues and with partners in the pharmaceutical industry.I’m a science nerd, a computer geek, and an all-round dork. I enjoy building Star Wars themed lego models.I can be contacted via email at brian.smith@latrobe.edu.au