Stephen Smith, born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, received his PhD in Inorganic Chemistry from Northwestern University where he studied biological methane oxidation.

Upon graduating, Steve worked as a Scientist with The Dow Chemical Company in the Dow Water & Process Solutions business.  His professional work included developing applications for ion exchange and membrane technologies in the mining and industrial wastewater industries.

Steve has authored several journal articles and book chapters including a co-first author publication in Nature.  His research activities have taken him all over the world, where he has presented at conferences in Austria, Japan, Canada, and the USA. As a newer faculty member in the School of Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, Steve brings with him a broad array of real-world knowledge to supplement his in-class teachings.