Neil is Professor of Sedimentary Geology in the Department of Earth Sciences, specialising in field-based sedimentary geology. He did his PhD at the University of Birmingham (2003), investigating the palaeoenvironments of Old Red Sandstone deposits in southern Norway. He subsequently worked on post-doctoral projects at the University of Birmingham and Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia and was a lecturer in sedimentary geology at Ghent University, Belgium. He joined the University of Cambridge in 2013 and is Director of Studies for Earth Sciences at Churchill. He lectures in all years of the Earth Sciences course and received a Pilkington Prize for teaching in 2022. A prominent theme of his current research investigates the interactions between biotic and abiotic processes in sedimentary environments, including how the evolution of terrestrial vegetation impacted the landscapes and sedimentary record of Palaeozoic river systems. His research was recognised with the award of the Johannes Walther Medal from the International Association of Sedimentologists in 2022.