He received his MSc in microbiology and immunology from Dalhousie University (1994) and PhD in forestry from UBC in forest products biotechnology (1997) working novel enzyme applications for wood and fibre development. Dr. Mansfield was a postdoctoral fellow at the Forest Science Research Institute of New Zealand from 1998-99 and concurrently held a visiting scholar position at the University of Waikato in the Department of Biological Sciences where he taught biochemistry. He is the current Canada Research Chair in Wood and Fibre Quality Research and is a Fellow of the International Academy of Wood Science.