Sam studied biochemistry ay the University of Otago, New Zealand before completing a PhD in biophysics at the Australian National University. He then spent a year at Stockholm University as a visiting fellow before moving to the University of Manchester to work as a postdoc in 2005. He has worked at the University of Manchester ever since, setting up his own research group in 2010 and becoming Professor of Biophysical Chemistry in 2021. Sam's research is interested in how biological processes – reactions and interactions – are governed by their underlying physics/physical chemistry. The main focus of this work is the role of protein dynamics and quantum mechanics during enzyme catalysis and the use of proteins and enzymes as structural and/or functional biomaterials and sensors. In his spare time he has been known to hang out with artists.