Rachel Mills

Professor Rachel Mills is a Visiting Professor at the University of Southampton and serves as the Dean of the Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences. She is a member of the University Executive Board and holds roles such as Senate Member of University Council, Chair of the University Estates Programme Board, and Chair of the University Environment and Sustainability Steering Group. Her career spans leadership in academic administration and deep-sea oceanography research.

Education:

• BSc Oceanography with Chemistry (1st Class Honours), University of Southampton (1985–1988)
• PhD in Marine Geochemistry, University of Cambridge (1989–1992)
• Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, University of Cambridge (1992–1993)

Research Interests: Rachel focuses on ocean chemistry, metal cycling at the seafloor, formation and alteration of deep-sea mineral deposits, and microbial interactions with hydrothermal systems. She collaborates with biologists and microbiologists to study diagenetic processes and chemical fluxes in active/inactive hydrothermal environments. Her work also addresses carbon sequestration in the Southern Ocean and trace metal dispersion in the South Atlantic. Recent projects include developing lipid-based proxies for environmental parameters and evaluating Pacific ocean ventilation over the late Pleistocene.

External Roles & Awards:

• Non-Executive Director at Cefas (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science)
• Member of UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships Panel College
• Schmidt Ocean Institute Panel Member
• Deputy Chair of Cefas Quinquennial Review
• Recipient of CBE and Honorary Fellowship at the Natural History Museum

Advisory & Grant Roles: Rachel has led the University of Southampton’s Ocean and Earth Science department and served in academic leadership roles including Associate Dean in multiple faculties. She has advised on the Sustainable Seas Inquiry and oversees interdisciplinary research projects like the £22m Climate Linked Atlantic Sector Science (CLASS). Her contributions extend to educational initiatives such as the global online course 'Exploring our Ocean' and leadership in the Southampton Science and Engineering Festival.

Labs & Teams: She leads the Geochemistry research group and collaborates on projects including Geotraces, Biogeography of deepwater chemosynthetic ecosystems (ChEss), and Micronutrient inputs from sediments to seawater. Her work integrates field expeditions using submersibles/ROVs with laboratory analyses.