Tayanna Smith, MPH
Associate Scientist I
Study Management
What Drives Me Most
Family. Cancer is prominent on the maternal side of my family, which sparked my interest in cancer research. I lost my nana to cancer the same week I accepted my position at the American Cancer Society. I look forward to helping others and hope that my contribution to this team will reduce the number of people who lose a loved one to this disease.”
At ACS since 2021
As Associate Scientist I in the Study Management team within Population Science, Tayanna Smith, MPH, helps process incoming survey data for Cancer Prevention Study 3 (CPS-3). Specifically, she provides critical statistical programming support and data management for CPS-3 triennial survey data alongside Elizabeth Kirkland, MPH. She assists with data clean-up and quality control processes.
Research focus and accomplishments
My research experience began during my undergraduate education in chemistry. My research team was dedicated to nanotechnology and doping nanoparticles. As a team, we studied the chemical properties of semiconducting materials, which includes metal sulfide alloy nanoparticles such as CdxZn1-xS. In other words, we could produce desired optical properties of nanoparticles and contribute to new discoveries in its current applications to LEDs, lasers, and bioimaging in medicine.
I synthesized a test protocol that involved a range of Cd to Zn ratios with a small amount of manganese (II) as a dopant to activate phosphorescence within the nanoparticle and determined that Anderson Localization minimizes optimal surface composition at a .575 Zn mole fraction. These results suggest alloy semiconductors could be used to minimize near-surface state effects in electronic devices. This discovery helped steer a future experiment for incoming research students such as probing this system with cyclic voltammetry, looking at fluorescent signals, or experimenting with Cu as a dopant.
Contact
Work before ACS
- Georgia Department of Public Health: Case Investigator
- Mercer University: Department of Chemistry, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Education
- BS: Chemistry, minor in Anthropology, Mercer University, 2019
- MPH: Health Policy and Management, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 2021
Personal life
I live in Metro Atlanta, and I spend my free time with my dog Choco, trying new restaurants, and enjoying the company of friends and family.
