Personal profile
Research overview
I am a geoscientist exploring the relationships between plate tectonics and the chemistry of planetary atmospheres. My research has provided new insights into how nitrogen and carbon are stored and cycled throughout the planet, I have drawn new links between the planet-wide carbon cycle and diamond-formation, and I have quantitatively shown how plate tectonics has altered the chemistry of Earth’s atmosphere. I am currently working to establish new ways to constrain the nature of long-term feedback systems which connect the biosphere, geosphere, and atmosphere on geological timescales.
External positions
Treasurer, Volcanic and Magmatic Studies Group
31 Jan 2020 → 31 Jan 2025
Councillor, European Association of Geochemistry
1 Jan 2018 → 1 Jan 2021
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 13 Climate Action -
SDG 14 Life Below Water
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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A revised carbon isotope composition of the convecting upper mantle
Shea, J., Maclennan, J., Edmonds, M., Hughes, E., Hartley, M., Mikhail, S., Perfit, M. & Shorttle, O., 7 Apr 2026, In: Geochemical Perspectives Letters. 39, p. 36-41 6 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Nitrogen in strongly peraluminous granites reveals a significant increase in biomass burial and O2 production prior to the Neoproterozoic oxygenation event
Holland, F. S. M., Stüeken, E. E., Dan, W., Zhang, W., Zhu, Y. & Mikhail, S., 1 Apr 2026, In: Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 679, p. 1-10 10 p., 119890.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Igneous rocks as a viable source of fixed nitrogen to the prebiotic world
Stüeken, E. E., Holland, F. S. M. & Mikhail, S., 28 May 2025, In: Geochemical Perspectives Letters. 35, p. 13-17 5 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Problems and solutions when quantifying nitrogen in silicate and oxide minerals and glasses using electron probe microanalysis
Mare, E. R., Chen, J., Buisman, I., Hayward, C., Burnham, A. D., Melai, C., Stüeken, E. E., Bromley, G. & Mikhail, S., 25 Apr 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research. Early View, 22 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Metasomatism is a source of methane on Mars
Rinaldi, M., Mikhail, S. & Sverjensky, D. A., 15 May 2024, In: Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 634, 9 p., 118672.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile
Datasets
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A thermodynamic modelling approach to predict the outcome of carbonaceous fluid metasomatism on Earth and Mars (thesis data)
Rinaldi, M. (Creator) & Mikhail, S. (Supervisor), University of St Andrews, 23 Aug 2024
DOI: 10.17630/72f28ceb-4290-4de1-8778-56ed6a2e837c, https://doi.org/10.17630/sta/593
Dataset: Thesis dataset
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Negatively charged ions in the deep Earth: quantifying the chemical speciation of F and N in silicate melts and phases (thesis data)
Formoso, F. (Creator), Ashbrook, S. E. (Supervisor), Mikhail, S. (Supervisor) & Dawson, D. M. (Supervisor), University of St Andrews, 7 Nov 2022
DOI: 10.17630/69a1bbd5-b1ab-4d85-b56e-80d5eb89d641, http://hdl.handle.net/10023/26905
Dataset: Thesis dataset
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A genetic link between eclogitic and peridotitic diamond inclusions (dataset)
Mikhail, S. (Creator), Rinaldi, M. (Creator), E.R., M. (Creator) & D.A., S. (Creator), University of St Andrews, 7 Apr 2021
DOI: 10.17630/32ebd3c0-bba6-4aa1-9b6d-c53a0a3b61e0
Dataset
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Boocock et al_Behaviour of N during differentiation - Hekla
Boocock, T. (Creator), Mikhail, S. (Creator), Boyce, A. J. (Creator), Prytulak, J. (Creator), Savage, P. (Creator) & Stüeken, E. (Creator), Figshare, 2023
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.22242517.v1
Dataset
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The importance of carbon to the formation of diamond inclusions (dataset)
Rinaldi, M. (Creator), Mikhail, S. (Creator), Sverjensky, D. A. (Creator) & Kalita, J. (Creator), University of St Andrews, 27 Jun 2023
DOI: 10.17630/9573e741-2787-4d70-b47a-60e567abccf7
Dataset
File
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Quantifying changes in biomass burial over geological time
Mikhail, S. (PI), Stueeken, E. (CoI), Savage, P. (CoI), Gardiner, N. (CoI) & White, R. (CoI)
Natural Environment Research Council
1/03/25 → 28/02/29
Project: Standard
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LA:TRACE: A New Laser Ablation–LIBS Chemical Imaging and Isotopic facility
Gardiner, N. (PI), Mikhail, S. (CoI), Rae, J. (CoI), Steele, R. (CoI), Savage, P. (CoI), Burke, A. (CoI), Bridgestock, L. (CoI), Stueeken, E. (CoI) & White, R. (CoI)
Natural Environment Research Council
11/02/25 → 20/02/26
Project: Standard
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Futurescaping Mars: Future scaping Mars
Mikhail, S. (PI)
Science & Technology Facilities Council
1/09/23 → 28/02/24
Project: Standard
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Unlocking the C and N budget of the Ear: Unlocking the C and N budget of the Earth
Mikhail, S. (PI)
Natural Environment Research Council
1/05/21 → 30/04/24
Project: Standard
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Earth's Nitrogen Flux (ENFlux): Earth's Nitrogen Flux (ENFlux)
Mikhail, S. (PI)
1/09/18 → 31/08/19
Project: Standard
Activities
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Earth in Five Reactions
Mikhail, S. (Participant)
22 Mar 2018 → 23 Mar 2018Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in or organising a workshop, seminar, course
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Goldschmidt 2019
Mikhail, S. (Participant)
11 Dec 2017 → 23 Aug 2019Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in or organising a conference
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The London Lecture Series, The Geological Society of London, UK
Mikhail, S. (Speaker)
22 Nov 2017Activity: Talk or presentation types › Public lecture/debate/seminar
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Public Lecture with the British Council
Mikhail, S. (Speaker)
12 Jan 2017Activity: Talk or presentation types › Public lecture/debate/seminar
Prizes
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Distinguished Lecturer 2019-20
Mikhail, S. (Recipient), 2019
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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