Dr. Nicola Bell

Biography

Nicola holds an EPSRC Open Fellowship and the Lord Kelvin Adam Smith Fellowship. Her research group focuses on the application of digital tools in inert atmosphere synthesis and catalysis, collaborating with the nuclear industry to design methods for the remote investigation of actinide behavior. She is an expert in actinide science and has previously undertaken an EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellowship in the lab of Prof. Polly Arnold in Edinburgh. Her experience includes postdoctoral research at the University of St Andrews, specializing in catalysis under the guidance of Prof. Allan Watson. Additionally, Nicola has worked as a Senior Researcher in the Cronin Group, where she investigated the use of automation in inorganic synthesis and acted as a group coordinator, managing PhD students and postdocs while contributing to collaborative outputs. Passionate about education and student development, she is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and advocates for evidence-based policymaking, having participated in the Westminster 'Voices of the Future' program. In 2016, Nicola founded the ECECR conference to provide a supportive platform for postdocs to present their work and explore career paths. Her research interests include organometallics, coordination chemistry, and techniques in inert environments, particularly involving f-block metals. She has reported the isolation of thorium bisimido model compounds, which are essential for nuclear waste studies. Furthermore, Nicola is developing new automation tools to enhance the study of inorganic chemistry, thereby increasing throughput and safety.

Research Interests

Experience

Awards