Eamonn Bell

Eamonn Bell is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Durham University, specializing in the digital humanities and the history of technology in music production. His research examines the intersection of computational methods with musicology, including early uses of digital computers in musical analysis and the cultural impact of formats like the CD. Previously, he was a postdoctoral Research Fellow at Trinity College Dublin (TCD), funded by the Irish Research Council (2019–2021). Bell holds a PhD in Music Theory from Columbia University (2019), where he explored computational approaches to musical scores under Joseph Dubiel, and a B.A. (Mod.) in Music and Mathematics from TCD (2013).

His work spans topics such as the socio-technical history of CD audio formats, algorithmic creativity in early AI research, and the preservation of obsolete digital media. He teaches across computer science curricula, emphasizing interdisciplinary methods in digital humanities. Bell’s research has been supported by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and smaller institutional grants, and he contributes to projects like DRI initiatives for UK-based arts researchers.

Key awards include the Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship. His teaching experience includes courses on digital music critique and music theory fundamentals at Columbia, alongside workshops in data visualization and music technology. Bell’s lab and team collaborations focus on emerging technologies in musicology, such as AI’s role in cultural analysis and the challenges of preserving born-digital artifacts.