Dr Sami Mikhail

Researcher unique identifier(s): orcid.org/0000-0001-5276-0229

Publications are listed on my Research page.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

2021-present: Reader, University of St. Andrews

2018–2021: Senior Lecturer, University of St. Andrews

2015–2018: Lecturer, University of St. Andrews

2014–2015: Postdoctoral Research Assistant, University of Bristol

2013–2014: Postdoctoral Research Assistant, University of Edinburgh

2011–2013: Carnegie Fellow, Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, USA

EDUCATION

2011: PhD. University College London. Supervisor: Prof Adrian P Jones 

2007: MSc. Royal Holloway, University of London. Supervisor: Prof Matthew F Thirlwall

2006: BSc (Hons) Geology. Kingston University.

2000: A-Levels. Kingston College. Geology (C), Environmental Science (C)

1998: GCSEs. Battersea Technology College (now Harris Academy Battersea). Double Science (C, C), Mathematics (C), English Language (C), English Literature (D), Technology (D), French (N).

AWARDS

2020: Distinguished Lecturer, Mineralogical Society of Great Britain & Ireland 

2017: Murchison Fund, Geological Society of London

2011: Carnegie Fellowship, Carnegie Institution of Washington, USA

2010: Best Postgraduate Teaching Assistant, Faculty of Physical Sciences and Maths, UCL

2008: EPSRC CASE studentship with the Diamond Trading Company, UCL

COMMUNITY ROLES

2015+: Member, European Association of Geochemistry 

2023+: Member, Mineralogical Society of the United Kingdom and Ireland 

2019–2024: Treasurer, Volcanic and Magmatic Studies Group, UK

2018–2021: Councillor, European Association of Geochemistry

2019: Goldschmidt Organisation Committee (Barcelona)

EXTERNAL ROLES

Editorial and Peer Review

2023: Panellist, NERC Pushing the Frontiers (Panel 1)

2021+: Member, UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship Peer Review College

2019: Associate Editor, Frontiers in Earth Sciences (Gold open-access)

2018+: Associate Editor, Volcanica (Diamond open-access)

2014+: Grant Reviewer for UKRI (NERC, UKRI FLF, STFC), Royal Society, NSF (USA), NSF (Swiss), Sloan Foundation, FNRA (French), CSF (Czech), ISF (Israeli)

External Examination

Departmental

2025+: External Examiner, MPhil degree in Planetary Science and Life in the Universe (across multiple physical science departments), University of Cambridge, UK

2024+: External Examiner, Undergraduate Degree in Geology & Earth Sciences, Department of Earth Science, UCL, UK

Theses

2024: External Examiner (PhD Thesis), University of Edinburgh

2023: External Examiner (PhD Thesis), University of Cambridge

2021: External Examiner (PhD Thesis), VU Amsterdam, The Netherlands 

2021: External Examiner (MSc Thesis), Royal Holloway and Bedford New College 

2020: External Examiner (MSc Thesis), University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

RESEARCH GRANTS

As Principal Investigator

2025-2029        UKRI, NERC Pushing the Frontiers of Environmental Sciences (OPP341). Title: Quantifying changes in biomass burial over geological time. PI: Dr S Mikhail. Co-I: Dr EE Stüeken, Dr PS Savage, Dr NJ Gardiner, Prof RW White (all St Andrews). Project partners: Prof C Bucholz (Caltech), Dr C Spencer (Queens, Canada), Dr R Halama (University Halle-Wittenberg). Value: £1 million

2023-2024        UKRI, STFC Knowledge Exchange Grant. Futurescaping Mars. PI: Dr S Mikhail (St Andrews). Co-I. Dr CR Cousins (St Andrews), Dr E Finer (Mod. Languages), Dr N Bower (Int. Relations). Value: £11,500

2019-2023        UKRI, STFC, Standard Grant (ST/T001763/1). Title: The Nature of Magmatic Carbon on Mars. PI: Dr Sami Mikhail (St Andrews). Co-Is: Dr EE Stüeken (St Andrews), Prof G Bromiley (Edinburgh), Dr M Patel (OU), Dr A Steele (Carnegie Institution of Washington, USA). Value: £145,406

2019-2020        Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland. Title: Earth’s Nitrogen Flux (ENFlux). PI: Dr S Mikhail (St Andrews). Co-Is: Dr I Buisman (Cambridge), Prof G Yaxley and Dr A Burnham (Australian National University). Value: £9,788

2018-2022        St Leonards College, University of St Andrews. Title: Alternative Anions: The negative side of geochemistry, Co-PI: Dr S Mikhail (St Andrews) & Prof MES Ashbrook, School of Chemistry, St Andrews. Value: £109,000

2018                Sloan Foundation, USA (via the Deep Carbon Observatory). 2018. Title: The Source, Speciation, and Sequestration of Deep Carbon. PI: Dr S Mikhail (St Andrews). Co-Is: Dr V Stagno (Sapienza, Rome), Dr J Koornneef (VU Amsterdam) Value: £7,600

2018-2019        Royal Society Research Grant. Title: New constraints on the volcanic history of Earth’s sibling planet, Venus. PI: Dr S Mikhail (St Andrews). Co-I: Prof D Mark (SUERC). Value: £15,000

2017-2021        UKRI, NERC, Standard Grant (NE/PO12167/1). Title: The Nature of the Deep Nitrogen Cycle. PI: Dr S Mikhail (St Andrews). Co-Is: Prof S Redfern (Singapore), Prof G Bromiley and Dr CJ De Hoog (Edinburgh), Prof D Gatta (Milan). Value: £525,959

2016-2017        Sloan Foundation, USA (via the Deep Carbon Observatory). PI: Dr S Mikhail (St Andrews). Principal Host for the 3rd Deep Carbon Observatory international meeting in 2017. 170 delegates Value: £152,000

As Co-Investigator 

2025                UKRI, NERC Strategic Capital Call. Title: LA:TRACE: A new Laser Ablation–LIBS Chemical Imaging and Isotopic facility. PI: Dr NJ Gardiner. Co-Is: Dr L Bridgestock, Prof A Burke, Dr S Mikhail, Dr JWB Rae, Dr PS Savage, Dr RCJ Steele, Dr EE Stüeken, Prof RW White (all St Andrews). Value: £423,240

2025-2030        UKRI, NERC Doctoral Landscape Award. Title: Iapetus, Delivering excellence in interdisciplinary PhD training for future leaders in environmental science. Core Team: Project Lead: Prof P Stephens (Durham Univ). Project co-leads: Dr S Mikhail (St Andrews), Dr S Roberts (British Antarctic Survey), Dr DJ MacAllister (British Geological Survey), Prof T Fernandes (Heriot-Watt), Prof M Pfeifer (Newcastle), Dr J Thompson (UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology), Dr A Bass (Glasgow), Dr H Price (Stirling). Total value:£15 million (UKRI contribution £8 million)

2021-2024        UKRI, NERC, Standard Grant (NE/V011383/1). Title: Unlocking the C and N budget of the Earth. PI: Prof OL Shorttle (Cambridge). Co-I: Dr S Mikhail (St Andrews), Prof J Maclennan (Cambridge), Dr M Hartley (Manchester). Value: £600,048

2020-2021        National Environment Isotope Facility Grant (2313.0920). Title: Linking Nitrogen to Oxygen Isotopes as a Tracer for Assimilation of Crustal Materials in Granites. PI: Dr EE Stüeken (St Andrews). Co-I: Dr S Mikhail (St Andrews). Value: £10,000