Matthijs Smit

Matthijs Smit is an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences at the University of British Columbia (Vancouver, Canada). His academic roles include teaching courses such as EOSC-328 (Field Geology), EOSC-332 (Tectonic Evolution of North America), and EOSC-544 (Geodynamics). He holds a PhD in Mineralogy from Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität (2010) and an MSc in Earth Sciences from Universiteit Utrecht (2006).

His research focuses on lithosphere dynamics, including continental collision, geochronology (Lu-Hf, U-Pb, Sm-Nd), and the formation of early continental crust and mantle. His work integrates field studies, petrology, and geochemical analyses. He has advised numerous graduate students, including current PhD candidates Kira Musiyachenko and Jeroen Goumans, and MSc student Amberlee King. Notable collaborations include projects funded by CFI, BC-KDF, and NSERC.

Key research areas include the Western Gneiss Complex (Norway), the Acasta Gneiss Complex (Canada), and the Pamir region. His recent studies explore Archean crust-mantle interactions, fluid-fluxed melting processes, and subduction dynamics. He maintains affiliations with institutions like the Swedish Museum of Natural History and the University of Copenhagen.

Research outputs span over 50 peer-reviewed articles, with recent highlights on garnet chronology, continental collision mechanisms, and mantle metasomatism. His lab utilizes advanced facilities for mass spectrometry (MC-ICPMS, LA-ICPMS) and petrological analysis. Future work emphasizes tracing fluid pathways in subduction zones and refining geochronological techniques for ultra-high-pressure metamorphic rocks.