Dr. Christopher Spencer is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geological Science and Geological Engineering at Queen’s University, Canada. His research focuses on the formation, destruction, and evolution of the continental crust through field-based studies and geochemical analysis. He holds adjunct roles at Curtin University and Syracuse University, and serves as an editor for journals including the Canadian Journal of Earth and Sciences, Himalayan Geology, and Geophysical Research Letters. Dr. Spencer earned a Ph.D. in Earth Science from the University of St Andrews, and B.Sc./M.Sc. degrees in Geological Sciences from Brigham Young University. His work combines igneous petrology, geochemistry, and geochronology to study tectonic processes and atmospheric oxidation history. Key research locations include Oman, China, India, Japan, and Canada. Awards include the GSA Donath Medal (2020) and John Curtin Fellowship (2015). His research interests span tectonochemistry, sediment subduction dynamics, and the interplay between biosphere and lithosphere. Current projects investigate modern tectonic processes, crustal evolution, and the Paleoproterozoic 'tectono-magmatic lull.' He actively supervises postdoctoral researchers and recruits students for fieldwork in the North American Cordillera, Marianas, and Oman ophiolite.
