Victoria Atkinson
Following on from two generations of chemists, perhaps my choice to pursue the same path was inevitable. My childhood was full of home experiments, from the classic bicarb volcano to growing copper sulphate crystals on the window ledge!
I studied chemistry at the University of Oxford and completed my fourth-year master’s project working on catalytic methodology with Darren Dixon (which excitingly led to my first publication). Having caught the research bug, I decided to continue on to do a PhD, this time joining Jeremy Robertson to work on a total synthesis project, employing enzymatic methodology to produce agrochemical products.
Towards the end of my PhD, I found that I was enjoying talking about science much more than actually doing it and I became heavily involved in science outreach. Here I could share my enthusiasm for science with younger students through practical workshops and school visits, something which I always found very fulfilling. Later, I focused on developing new outreach material and have since made the transition to science journalism.
- Careers
How to find and make the most of a summer placement
Five tips for optimising your taste of academic or industrial workplaces
- Careers
Summer students act as an important catalyst for research
Investing in undergraduate projects advances science and develops future researchers
- Article
Water microdroplet chemistry enables catalyst-free Diels–Alder reaction
‘Quasi-benzyne’ radical drives exotic reactivity
- News
‘It’s an efficient machine to destroy nuclear waste’: nuclear future powered by thorium beckons
Thorium nuclear reactors could consume nuclear waste and provide power without the risk of nuclear weapon proliferation
- Research
Could mechanochemistry have saved Abbott Laboratories $250 million?
Ball milling solves problem of disappearing ritonavir polymorph
- Research
Debate surrounding amorphous selenium’s structure rumbles on
New evidence suggests that amorphous selenium forms eight-membered rings, but some researchers believe the results are inconclusive
- Research
Unique polymer can switch from rigid cutlery to an adhesive to malleable plastic
Process that mimics tempering of metals can even be reversed in multi-use plastic
- Research
Clever cathode design opens doors to first rechargeable calcium battery
Rejigging redox chemistry overcomes some limitations of calcium batteries but they remain a long way from the market
- Research
Steroid separation made easy with photoswitchable coordination cage
Light-activated coordination cage purifies progesterone
- Research
MOF-based filter harvests energy from seawater evaporation
Prototype device generates sustained electric current as salt water evaporates
- Feature
An alternative approach to baking
As more people want ingredients ‘free-from’ existing staples, Victoria Atkinson looks at the science behind substitutes for gluten, eggs and gelatine
- News
Landmark intellectual property ruling could offer new opportunities for chemists working with AI
UK court’s decision that an artificial neural network can be patented could have widespread ramifications
- Careers
The chemists creating knowledge-sharing websites
Speeding up scientific progress by sharing organic chemistry techniques, lab safety resources and computational procedures
- Careers
Online resources for chemists
A selection of tools, databases and advice sites to support your research
- News
Disability landscape report highlights barriers still facing disabled chemists
Royal Society of Chemistry analysis reveals persistent underrepresentation within the chemical sciences
- News
Future House wants to build an AI biologist. They’re looking to a chemistry LLM for inspiration
ChemCrow has already recorded success researching, designing and producing an insecticide on its own
- Research
Plasma–microdroplet fusion enables catalyst-free amine alkylations
Microdroplet chemistry improves selectivity of plasma-mediated alkylation reactions
- Careers
Recognising the roles that senior PhDs and postdocs play in training new lab members
A number of schemes now provide training and recognition for the work done to support students
- News
Report reveals worrying lack of support for disabled doctoral students
A third of disabled Stem PhD students don’t get the support they need to thrive