Dean Michel Named Maryland Chemist of the Year

Pharmaceutical scientist’s career blends metallobiochemistry and mentorship.

By Pam Carder
April 7, 2025

Sarah L. J. Michel, PhD, dean of the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy and professor of pharmaceutical sciences, has been named Maryland Chemist of the Year by the Maryland Chapter of the American Chemical Society (ACS). Established in 1962, this award recognizes outstanding achievement in chemistry and is the most prestigious honor given by the chapter.

Michel received the award at an event held in Pharmacy Hall on April 1.

“I am truly honored to receive the Chemist of the Year Award from the Maryland Chapter of the American Chemical Society,” says Michel. “I chose to study chemistry and then pursue an academic career in research because chemistry explains the fundamental principles of the natural world. I had terrific mentors during my training and sought a career in academics to train others. My success in research is a testament to the trainees – graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, undergraduate and high school students, and PharmD students – who worked with me on the projects that led to important discoveries.”

Michel is a distinguished researcher specializing in metallobiochemistry, with an extensive publication record across a wide range of prestigious journals. Her work primarily focuses on zinc finger proteins. Her laboratory recently made the paradigm shifting discovery that zinc finger proteins can be modified post-translationally by the gasotransmitter hydrogen sulfide, upending the long-held dogma that zinc fingers are simply structural sites. The research was published in the prestigious journals Angewandte Chemie and RSC Chemical Biology in 2024.

“Dr. Michel’s achievements are exceptional, with her pioneering research—funded by the NIH, FDA, and NSF—highlighting the critical roles of metals in biological systems. Her groundbreaking studies on the functional and dysfunctional effects of metals underscore their profound impact on human health,” said Andrew Coop, PhD, professor of pharmaceutical sciences and associate dean for students at the School of Pharmacy.

With expertise spanning biochemistry and inorganic chemistry, Michel integrates concepts from both fields to advance the chemical-biology interface. A highly-regarded reviewer and panelist, her pioneering research has highlighted the crucial roles of metals in biological systems, both in their functional and dysfunctional states. Notably, her studies have included the analysis of iron in pharmaceutical dosage forms and the investigation of the effects of metals inhaled through electronic cigarette use.

“Dr. Michel is an outstanding researcher and educator and has significantly contributed to furthering the chemical sciences within Maryland, nationally, and internationally,” said Coop. “She is also a dedicated mentor and is committed to training the next generation of scientists, even while serving as dean of the School of Pharmacy.”

Michel has mentored and conducted research with dozens of PhD, PharmD, MS, undergraduate, and high school students. Demonstrating her commitment to mentorship and innovation, she has led a student-driven initiative to test water samples from the Baltimore region for metal contamination. This project culminated in the publication of “Unseeable: A Student-Led Activity to Identify Metals in Drinking Water” in the Journal of Chemical Education in 2020.

Michel has also made significant contributions to the scientific community through her leadership and service roles. She served as chair of the 2025 Metals in Biology Gordon Research Conference (GRC), a prestigious event first held in 1962 and one of the few GRC conferences held annually. She served as vice-chair for the 2024 Metals in Biology GRC.

Beyond her work with the GRC, Michel has demonstrated a commitment to advancing the next generation of scientists. She co-organized the 14th Annual Frontiers at the Chemistry-Biology Interface Symposium in May 2023, an annual conference that brings together trainees and faculty from the Mid-Atlantic region to exchange ideas, present research, and foster collaboration.

Michel’s dedication to the scientific community extends to her involvement with professional organizations. From 2017 to 2020, she served as an elected member of the Nominating Committee for the Division of Biological Chemistry of the American Chemical Society. In 2018, she also contributed to the Committee on the Advancement of Women Chemists, participating in the COAChing Strong Women in the Art of Strategic Persuasion & Leadership program, further emphasizing her commitment to supporting women in science and leadership.

Michel joined the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy in 2004 as an assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences. She was promoted to associate professor in 2010, and appointed professor in 2016. Throughout her tenure at the School, she has held significant leadership roles, including graduate program director from 2013 to 2023, associate dean for graduate programs from 2019 to 2023, and chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences from 2022 to 2023. After a nationwide search, she was appointed as dean of the School of Pharmacy in 2023.

Michel earned her Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Cornell University before pursuing both her Master of Science and PhD at Northwestern University, where she was honored as a Northwestern University NSF/MRC Graduate Research Fellow. She completed her postdoctoral research at Johns Hopkins University, where she was awarded the prestigious NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award.

See photos from the event on Flickr.

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