Michael F. Smith, Ph.D.
Professor of Reproductive Physiology
University of Missouri-Columbia
Dr. Michael F. Smith joined the Division of Animal Sciences at MU in 1980 with the long-range goal of his research to increase reproductive efficiency in cattle. He and his graduate students are working toward a better understanding of the mechanisms regulating ovarian follicular maturation, ovulation, corpus luteum function, and the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy in cattle.
“Rarely does one have the benefit of not only having a renowned research scientist who is highly competitive in obtaining extramural funding for biological research, but a faculty member that also excels in teaching students in a difficult curriculum,” wrote one nominator.
Smith’s innovation in the classroom includes the use of a new, high-tech histology viewing system that allows students to explore and interact over reproductive histology sections on a computer screen, compared to a microscope where only one student at a time can view a given slide. This allows students to work together to understand basic histology and Smith is able to incorporate case studies to engage in collective learning.
Smith developed websites to complement his courses and created learning modules for the NCBA Cattle Learning Center that are utilized nationwide. In his capstone class, he requires students to develop a detailed plan for improving reproductive efficiency in a beef heard over a five-year period. Students can then test the outcomes of their plan on a new, innovative web-based program Smith created that models the consequences of their decisions.
Beyond using technology in his teaching, Smith encourages students to self-learn through opportunities such as giving extra credit when students read a book from a recommended reading list and then demonstrate their understanding of the book during a 15-minute one-on-one conversation with him. Not only a successful teacher, Smith is also a mentor to many having advised 16 master’s students, seven doctoral students and five post-doctoral students.
Reviewed 2019-10-01