Christie Smit is a PhD candidate in Veterinary Science in the Department of Animal Production Studies at the University of Pretoria and is affiliated with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

She has a background in Biochemistry and Microbiology. Her doctoral research focuses on the development of novel vaccine platforms targeting Avian Encephalomyelitis Virus (AEV) and Necrotic Enteritis (NE), two diseases of significant importance to the poultry and ostrich industries in South Africa.

Her work utilises plant-based expression systems to produce virus-like particles (VLPs) for vaccine applications, aiming to improve the accessibility and local relevance of vaccination strategies in the agricultural sector. Prior to her doctoral studies, she conducted research within the FEMCR2U (Female Cancers Research Unit at Rhodes University) group, where she investigated the therapeutic potential of novel benzimidazole derivatives in triple-negative breast cancer, contributing to preclinical drug discovery efforts.

Christie has served as the Student Representative on the SASBMB council since 2022 and as Website & Social Media Representative since 2024.