About me


My name is Matthew Smith and I am currently an Associate Professor in Social Research Methods at Heriot-Watt University.

My research interests focus on the application of social network analysis to a range of problems in international business and management. These include:

  • Analysis of two-mode and one-mode networks of interlocking directorates

  • Women executives on boards of UK FTSE 350 companies

  • Global production networks and Global Value Chains (GVCs)

  • Network Analysis of International Trade Networks

  • Inter organisational collaboration networks and knowledge exchange

I am also a committee member of the Social Network Analysis in Scotland group (SNAS).

Experence

Associate Professor in Social Research Methods August 2023 - Present, Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh Business School Head of UG/PGT Research Methods Teaching

Lecturer in Strategy
October 2020 - August 2023, Edinburgh Napier University

Lecturer in International Business
September 2018 – Present, University of Greenwich
Also an active member of the Centre for Business Network Analysis (CBNA) during this time.

Postdoctoral Researcher
September 2017 – August 2018, University of Oxford
Project title: Understanding the dynamics of cultural transmission - an initial study of social networks in two Indian societies with contrasting socio-economic structures.

Research Fellow
September 2016 – August 2017, University of Greenwich
Project title: The Hidden Story - understanding knowledge exchange partnerships with the creative economy

Education

Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) in Higher Education, University of Greenwich
September 2018 – May 2019

PhD International Business & Economics, University of Greenwich
January 2013 – September 2016
Title: “Corporate Networks of International Investment & Trade”
More details on my PhD thesis can be found here.
Examiners: Prof Martin Everett and Dr Kai Liu.

BSc (Hons) Financial Mathematics, Manchester Metropolitan University
September 2009 – July 2012
Grade: First Class. Final Year Project: Analysis of Two Mode Relational Data. This focused on a topic within social network analysis, the analysis of a two-mode network of interlocking directorates.


(Last modified on November 10, 2023)