Jessica Smith received a Bachelor in Sciences degree in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2001. Her PhD research was conducted in the laboratory of Dr. Michelle Ozbun at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, studying human papillomaviruses. In 2008, she began her post-doctoral studies in the laboratory of Dr. Jay Nelson at the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute (VGTI), Oregon Health and Science University, studying the molecular biology of flaviviruses, including dengue, West Nile, and Zika virus. She is currently a Research Assistant Professor at the VGTI.