Lloyd M. Smith (born October 3, 1954) is a professor of chemistry and the founder of Third Wave Technologies.

Smith spent his formative years in Berkeley, California, where his parents worked as professors of physics and mathematics.

[1][2][3] In 1982, Smith did post-doctorate work with Leroy Hood at the California Institute of Technology, where he created the world's first fluorescence-based automated DNA sequencing instrument.

[2][4][5] During the early 80s he also worked as a consultant for Applied Biosystems, who were able to commercialise the sequencing process he developed and bring it to market.

This sequencing process was to have a direct effect on the development of the Human Genome Project.