Profile
Nick Adams
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About Me:
I live in Edinburgh with my wife and three kids. Following 24 years working in the water industry as a water quality scientist, I’ve decided to change things up and retrain as a plant scientist…To that end, I am currently researching the ecology and evolution of Armeria maritima (‘Thrift’) in coastal and montane populations – but in my free time I love getting out into the beautiful Scottish countryside!
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My pronouns are:
He / Him
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How I use Science in my work:
My research project involves science that ranges from classic fieldwork and experimental techniques (e.g. plant sample collection and growth experiments) through to cutting-edge Next Generation Sequencing techniques that allow me to ‘read’ the DNA sequence of my samples. If you’ve learned anything about plant identification, DNA or evolution then you will already know a bit about what I do!
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My Work:
My PhD research project involves a wonderful balance of field work, lab work, desk-based study and even some horticulture…in the coming months and years I’ll be out exploring Scotland’s coasts and mountains, identifying and collecting plant samples and seeds, cultivating some of these in a growth experiment and sequencing their DNA to better understand the way these plants have evolved.
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Read more
As my project is in the early stages, I am still doing a lot of planning.
A key challenge will be finding a plant called ‘Thrift’, and some other species too, that grow at high altitudes – on mountain tops! Whilst there are some records available that can help me to identify likely places, it is really going to rely on getting out there and doing a lot of climbing…
Once I have samples of seeds and plant material from enough plants, I’ll take these back to Edinburgh. I plan to grow many (thousands) of plants at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh and use these to carry out experiments. For example, do the populations growing in mountainous areas have the same ability to tolerate salt water as their relatives that grow in rocky coastal areas?
The core of my project will be the DNA sequencing: basically, trying to decode the DNA for this plant species to see if this can tell us anything about how they are adapted to these very harsh environments, and other questions.
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My Typical Day:
I wake up, grab a coffee and have a busy morning getting my young kids to school/nursery. Then, depending on what I am doing, I might be working from home, heading to the University, the Botanic Gardens or out on fieldwork. Usually I wrap up for the day at 16:00 or so.
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When working from home, this is usually for desk-based stuff (looots of reading).
The Botanic Gardens are where I’ll be doing my growth experiments, which is the ideal place to set up an experiment involving thousands of potted seedings that will need watering, measuring, and so on.
Often I head into the University – as well as having access to the laboratory facilities, it’s also really important to make sure I am keeping up with friends and colleagues there who can assist me or help to solve problems.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
Hmm, I would need to think a bit more about the detail but would use the money to enable a STEM-related promotional activity at my childrens’ local primary school (Sciennes Primary).
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Education:
My route through education has always been a bit unconventional:
I went to lots of different schools as my Dad was in the RAF and we moved every 2-3 years. This included an international school in Brussels, Belgium for 3 years and then a state comprehensive school in Bordon, Hampshire where I did my GCSEs. After that, I went to a 6th Form college in Alton, Hampshire to do my A-levels.
I then went to the University of Reading for one year before leaving university because, at that time, I did not think higher education was right for me, and instead started working in the water industry.
Over the following years, however, I completed an HNC part-time at Reading College, and then a BSc with the Open University. More recently I’ve just completed an MSc at Royal Holloway University of London / Kew Gardens and am now doing a PhD at the University of Edinburgh.
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Qualifications:
1996: 9 x GCSEs (5 A*s, 3 As and a B)
1998: A-levels in Psychology (A), Biology (B), English Literature (C).
2004: HNC in Biological Science (Merit)
2014: BSc (Hons) in Environmental Science – First Class.
2025: MSc in Global Health: Food Security, Sustainability and Biodiversity – Distinction
Present: PhD in Plant Ecology and Evolution – ongoing.
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Work History:
I spent 24 years in the water industry from the age of 19 to 43, which is a lot to condense here…very briefly, I started as a Labotory Analyst in Microbiology testing water samples for certain types of bacteria and algae.
After five years I moved into a more frontline role as a Process Scientist, basically helping to ensure the smooth running of the water treatment works supplying Reading and Guildford to meet strict quality standards.
The following years saw me move into more office-based work that revolved around public health and regulations, sampling, customer service, and other aspects of drinking water quality. I managed teams ranging from 3 to around 45 people and often worked ‘on call’, responding to urgent issues in the middle of the night (I hated that bit!).
In my last two years I switched into the wastewater part of the business because what could be more appealing on a Monday morning than getting up to deal with sewage spills??
However, after 24 years I decided I wanted to get back into ‘proper science’, and here I am, back at university, justa bit older than most of my fellow students!
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Current Job:
As a PhD student, I am not really employed in a proper job, but do get paid a bit of money (called a ‘stipend’) to cover my living costs whilst I am studying, and this lasts for four years. It’s not much money but it means I get to do something I absolutely love.
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Employer:
Although I am studying at the University of Edinburgh, my funding comes from something called ‘UK Research Institute’, which funds lots of PhD positions across all types of subjects, within STEM and beyond. I think this is really important, as it gives emerging scientists the opportunity to follow their ambitions.
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My Interview
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What did you want to be after you left school?
I really didn't know!
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Now and then....but for the most part I stayed out of trouble.
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
I really like good food so maybe a chef.
Who is your favourite singer or band?
That's a tough one! Hmm, probably Belle and Sebastien (perhaps showing my age!).
What's your favourite food?
I enjoy most types of food but particularly love Southeast Asian food.
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
A bit more free time, a bit more spare money and a full head of hair!
Tell us a joke.
Why did the toilet paper roll down the hill? To get to the bottom.
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