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.
CareersChoosing the perfect path to an industrial R&D career
Options abound whether or not you have a PhD
ResearchStable nitrogen chiral centres are possible – under the right conditions
Chiral nitrogen compounds might one day be used as reagents, catalysts or even as drugs
ResearchSuppressing side reactions brings efficiency boosts for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis
Two new strategies tackle Fischer–Tropsch’s problematic side reactions
ResearchThioesters could explain how proteins first formed on early Earth
Cells use proteins to make other proteins – new research could explain how the first proteins arose without other enzymes directing the process
FeatureFrom flying ointments to healing herbs: the forgotten chemistry behind historical witchcraft practices
The unusual concoctions of village witches have historically been dismissed as nonsense hocus pocus – but is this the whole story? Victoria Atkinson investigates the chemistry behind the myth and whether there was more to witchcraft than ritual and superstition
ResearchBranched polymers protect cell mimics that can interact with biological cells
Dendritic polymers encase coacervate microdroplets, enabling them to closely mimic natural cells
NewsHow the extraordinary science of everyday items is bringing chemistry to the public
Three analytical chemists explain how turning powerful techniques towards ordinary objects inspires public engagement with science
ResearchMorphine analogues kill pain with fewer negative side effects
Redesign of the potent painkiller’s core prevents breathing suppression and reduces addiction-related behaviours in mice
ResearchBoron building block assembles tetra-substituted alkenes like Lego
Powerful method offers control of stereochemistry to produce drugs and natural products
FeatureCarbon in an ice world
Antarctica may seem pristine and almost devoid of life, but there’s plenty of chemistry going on. Victoria Atkinson explains what it can tell us about the climate and pollution across the globe
ResearchAbundant alkanes become gaseous alkylating agent with flow chemistry
Photocatalytic process can carry out late-stage optimisation of drug candidates
ResearchNanocomplex becomes a master of shape-shifting to target tumour cells
Switching from nanofibres in the blood to virus-like particles in a tumour environment brings drugs to where they are needed
ResearchSkeletal editing provides quick access to pharmaceutical ‘matching pairs’
Late-stage functional group switching in dibenzofurans will aid drug discovery chemistry
ResearchEnzyme-inspired ligand distinguishes between simple alkyl groups
Designer ligand creates active site-like pocket for asymmetric radical reaction
ResearchReimagining synthetic strategy with skeletal editing ticks box on chemists’ wish list
Selective heteroatom alkylation offers route to modify important drug building blocks
CareersBridging the gap after submitting a PhD thesis
Finding ways to fund students as they search for jobs and complete lab work for publications
ResearchSimple trick lets pure blue quantum dots maintain their performance without cadmium
Inserting sulfur into heavy metal-free nanocrystal lattice produced pure blue quantum dot LEDs
ResearchSkeletal editing targets double bonds
Two new techniques selectively install nitrogen atoms into complex molecules
ResearchUnusual radical reaction powered by strained substrates
Single-electron strain-release produces pharmaceutical building blocks