Office of Scholar Development Staff

Bradley Smith works with students pursuing STEM scholarships and external research, such as the Goldwater Scholarship, the DoD SMART Scholarship, the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, and undergraduate opportunities (study abroad, research, and more) for students working toward those scholarships. 

Before returning to his alma mater, Western Kentucky University, Bradley worked as an entomologist. His diverse background in education, employment, and experience  demonstrates what STEM students at WKU can both strive for and accomplish.

Bradley earned a Master of Science in Entomology at University of Florida (UF), ultimately working for UF in the field of classical biological control. He helped lead projects related to native bromeliad conservation and educating Florida residents and gardening groups about pests to these plants. Bradley then worked for DuPont in insecticide chemical discovery and novel modes of action on agricultural pest species. 

As the laboratory manager for the Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) laboratory at Purdue University, he contributed to research on stored product pests, cultivating relationships with research teams, business partners, and supply-chain actors to promote collaborative investigations and PICS projects. While working for Purdue, Bradley travelled to six countries across three continents to lead conferences and international research teams. Following his work at Purdue, Bradley was employed with BASF corporation as an entomologist, researching agricultural pests and GMO methods to control their populations and development.

Bradley is a native of Louisville, Kentucky. While earning his Bachelor of Science in Biology at WKU, Bradley developed a passion for insect diversity and conservation under the advisement of Dr. Keith Philips, guiding his research interest in belostomatid (giant water bug) diversity and biology. Study abroad coursework and research in South Africa and Kenya under Dr. Michael Stokes sparked his interest in and love for international travel. Bradley is a passionate supporter of NPR, which is the only thing he will listen to in the car. He also enjoys reading, being out in nature, and collecting new stamps on his passport.