We are delighted that Dr Kirsty Sands is one of ten supervisors from across Oxford's Mathematical, Physical, and Life Sciences Division that have been recognised with awards for their exceptional commitment to mentoring and supporting colleagues in the 2025/2026 academic year. Each recipient has demonstrated outstanding dedication to inspiring others and fostering an environment in which researchers can thrive and progress in their careers.
Kirsty is a Postdoctoral Researcher, whose principal research interest is microbial bioinformatics and analysing large genomic datasets.
Kirsty stands out as an exceptional supervisor through her sustained commitment to developing researchers, fostering inclusivity, and providing unwavering personal and professional support.
Nominators consistently emphasise her dedication to skills development. She is described as “an ever-present source of inspiration and motivation,” who supports students “from the basics… to the intricacies of analysing microbiomes.” Beyond routine guidance, she actively creates opportunities—encouraging conference participation, sourcing funding, and even dedicating “entire days… to work on [a] first-author manuscript” and explain processes such as peer review. Her hands-on approach, including “get[ting] into the lab to teach… new techniques,” ensures tailored, practical training that enables independence.
Kirsty also cultivates a deeply inclusive and collaborative culture. Leading a diverse, international team, she “ensures everyone can say their point of view” and builds strong global partnerships, particularly with colleagues in lower-middle-income settings. Her “welcoming attitude” sets the tone from the outset, creating an environment where researchers feel valued and able to thrive, while initiatives such as hosting visiting collaborators further strengthen equity and shared benefit.
What truly distinguishes Kirsty is her care beyond academic expectations. She provides compassionate, intuitive support, “always… talk[ing] with [researchers] and offer[ing] all the guidance… [they] hadn’t even realised [they] needed.” Nominators highlight her ability to ensure that after every interaction, “[they] feel positive, strengthened and valued.” For many, she has created not just a research group, but a “research ‘family’,” where no one feels alone.
Together, these qualities exemplify an outstanding, transformative supervisor.
To read more about all the award winners, visit: https://www.mpls.ox.ac.uk/latest/news/ten-supervisors-recognised-with-awards-for-outstanding-research-supervision
