Melinda D. Smith

Melinda D. Smith is an American ecologist who is a professor at Colorado State University. Her research looks to understand the patterns and dynamics of plant species (in particular grassland ecosystems) and how they impact ecosystem function. She was elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2023.

Early life and education Smith completed her doctorate at Kansas State University. Her doctoral research studied the causes of species invasion and loss, and the "dominant" species that maintain ecosystem function.

Research and career Smith studies grassland ecosystems, such as mixed and tall grass prairies in the Central Great Plains, and looks to understand the patterns of species diversity and abundance. She studies the causes of extinctions and invasions of species and the drivers for species coexistence. She was awarded the Murray F. Buell Award in 2001.

Smith led the International Drought Experiment. She studied the impact of short-term droughts on grassland across six continents, showing how they disrupt carbon cycles and destroy ecosystems. In 2021, Smith was elected to the Faculty Council at Colorado State University. She was made Faculty Council Chair in 2023. In 2023 she was elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Selected publications