Murray J. Smith received the B.Sc. (Hons.) degree in physics and the Ph.D. degree from the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1975 and 1981, respectively.
His early work applied radar techniques to the study of the dynamics of the upper atmosphere. He worked at the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Wellington, New Zealand, until 1992 on the development and application of a high-resolution microwave radar for remote sensing of the ocean surface. He joined the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Wellington, at its formation in 1992 where his research interests have been in air-sea interaction, coastal waves and currents, and micrometeorology. A current focus is on near surface oceanic turbulence and the role of breaking waves in air-sea exchange.