Dr. Malcolm L. Snead is the Director for the Training in Cellular Molecular Biology program at the Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, School of Dentistry, University of Southern California. He holds a Faculty position as tenured professor in the School of Dentistry, but is also appointed within the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Institute for Genetic Medicine, and the Biological Sciences Division at the University.

Dr. Malcolm L. Snead is currently the Associate Dean of Research and he has also team taught several graduate courses with faculty mentors from the School of Dentistry, School of Medicine, and the Department of Biology. Because of this, he has developed a close and personal relationship with other Departmental leaders, including the Chairperson of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Director of the Institute for Genetic Medicine, Dr. Larry Kedes; Acting Chairman of Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology, Dr. David Ann; Director of the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Dr. Peter Jones; and Associate Director for Basic Research at the NCCC, Dr. Amy Lee.

Dr. Snead, after being trained as a dentist, continued studies in pathology at the University of Chicago. He completed a residency in Oral Pathology in 1979 and a dissertation in the Department of Pathology in 1981.

He has maintained a record of researched funding throughout his career, including a research career development award from the National Institute for Dental Research. He has served as a chartered member of Oral Medicine and Biology Study Section within the former Division of Research Grants of the NIH. He has also reviewed grant applications for the National Science foundation, the Israeli Medical Research Foundation (MRC), the Canadian MRC, and the MRC of the United Kingdom. He is on the editorial board of the Journal of Craniofacial Genetics and Developmental Biology, the International Journal of Oral Biology, the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, and Critical Reviews in Oral Biology and Medicine. He also provides reviews of manuscripts submitted to Developmental Biology, Science, Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, Genomics, Archives of Oral Biology and Journal of Dental Research. He has been invited to participate in a conference on enamel organized by the Ciba Foundation and the Royal Society of Medicine. He was elected to be the Co-Chair in 1998 and the Chair in 2000 for the Gordon "Frontiers of Science" conference on "Biomineralization".

His present research interests include the application of molecular biology techniques to relevant issues in development and pathology. His background as a dentist, oral pathologist and research scientist provides the experience and training necessary to provide leadership for this training program. 

Dr. Snead has trained two doctoral students, six post-doctoral and four masters students (two of which had previously earned the DDS degree). He presently is the mentor for three students pursuing the doctoral degree (all of whom has passed into candidacy for the degree) and two graduate students whose career goal is the master’s degree.