Benjamin P.C. Smith, Ph.D., is the Executive Director and President of the Monell Chemical Senses Center, an independent nonprofit research institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its mission is to improve health and well-being by advancing the scientific understanding of taste, smell, and related senses.

Dr. Smith has worked at the intersection of sensory science and consumer health for most of his career, holding positions in academia, government and industry, including the fragrance and flavor industry. Acknowledged as a leader in the science of “team science”, he has built high performing research and product safety teams across the globe. He has a particular passion for bringing together different fields of science to find solutions for addressing health and environmental challenges, and has key experience in translating foundational research for societal impact in such diverse areas as toxicology, food science, and chemical ecology.

During his time working in the fragrance and flavor industry, Smith worked closely with RIFM and IFRA on the safety and risk assessment of fragrance substances and has worked with regulatory agencies in Europe, the US and Asia to support the safe use of consumer product ingredients. He is a strong proponent of non-animal alternative methods for safety testing and research and continues to study new ways to assess the effect of chemicals on the body, and especially our sensory systems