Matthew Smith
Matthew E. Smith is a Professor at the University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology and the curator of the Fungarium at the Florida Museum of Natural History. Smith teaches fungal biology, conducts research on fungal systematics, ecology, and evolution and is responsible for identifying fungi for a variety of Florida stakeholders (including the Florida Poison Control, the UF Plant Diagnostic Center, and the UF/IFAS Extension service). Smith is author of more than 200 scientific publications and is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). He has investigated fungi from several different major taxonomic lineages, but much of his research has focused on the ecology and evolution of ectomycorrhizal fungi and particularly on the evolution, ecology, and systematics of truffles. His research group has also contributed to important research on Pezizomycete systematics, the fungi associated with ambrosia beetles, systematics and ecology of ‘zygomycete fungi’ (particularly Zoopagomycotina and Kickxellomycotina) and broad systematics and biogeography of the fungi of South America. Along with collaborators Smith has described several new genera of fungi and more than 50 new species, including several truffles and truffle-like fungi.
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The purpose of the Society is to promote and advance the science of mycology and to foster and encourage research and education in mycology in all its aspects. Members of the MSA meet annually to exchange information and build understanding of fungi
