Prof. Dr. Max W. Schmidt

My "raison d'être" in science is the application of innovative high-pressure high-temperature experiments to geological problems. My earlier career was centered on metamorphic reactions and simple system phase equilibria, their thermodynamic analysis and some crystallography, mostly targeted at subduction zones. Nowadays, I am more interested in magmatic systems and the related mass transfer. Partial melting in presence of volatiles shapes our planet, requiring us to understand primary and parental melts in terms of major elements, traces and isotopes. I firmly believe that no magmatic process can ever be clarified without understanding major element behavior and hence continue to take great pleasure in developing phase diagrams and solubility models. Recent and ongoing topics are on kimberlites and alkaline melts in the deep mantle; carbonatites; liquid immiscibility and related trace element partitioning; volatiles during core formation; redox processes in the mantle; crystal settling, compaction and melt extraction; and experimental isotope fractionation.

The aim to understand the geological Earth, has led to larger field-based projects on the deep arc roots and batholith of Kohistan (Pakistan), an alkaline arc and a boninitic ophiolite in E' Mongolia, on heavily undersaturated magmatism in the Cape Verdes, and on post-orogenic magmatism in Brazil/Namibia. Furthermore, we always work a bit in the (European) Alps, e.g. the Gruf unit and Ivrea zone.

33 PhD and 25 MSc students have completed their degrees under my supervision (9 and 5 ongoing, respectively). The PhD these were largely on experimental subjects while most of the MSc theses are based on field work topics.

Regarding high-pressure labs, I have build or re-build about 10 piston cylinders and 6 multi-anvils (including a spherical oil bath multi-anvil for use with diamond cubes) as well as a cold seal/TZM-labs. I am most proud to have developed the world-wide unique rocking multi-anvil, a centrifuging piston cylinder and a 2500 ^oC furnace with controlled atmosphere.

Life time member of AGU, EAG, AmMinSoc.

Short CV: 1964 born in Innsbruck (Austria); as a kid expatriated to the north-German flatlands (!); started university in Kiel (Germany), geological MSc 1988 and PhD 1992 in (finally) experimental petrology, both at ETH. 1993 SNF Post-Doc in Clermont-Ferrand (France), 1994 research assistant at the Bayerische Geoinstitut Bayreuth (Germany); 1996 permanent researcher CNRS in Clermont-Ferrand (1999 habilitation); 2001 assistant professor tenure track ETH, since 2006 full professor. Research stays at Arizona State University with J.Holloway (1991/1992), Tokyo Institute of Technology with S.Maruyama (1997), sabbatical at RSES, Australian National University with D.Green (2000/2001). in 2000 Médaille de Bronze du CNRS; Dana Medal 2013, American Mineralogical Society.