Nicola Cook

Dr Nicola Cook is a Researcher and Managing Editor/Publicity Officer at the School of Biology, University of St Andrews. She is affiliated with the Centre for Biological Diversity and actively contributes to research in genomics, sex allocation mechanisms, and parasitoid wasp biology. Her work spans evolutionary biology, molecular biology, and educational outreach through initiatives like the 4273pi bioinformatics project.

Her research focuses on understanding genomic and epigenetic influences on sex allocation in parasitoid wasps, particularly Nasonia vitripennis. She also explores the effects of environmental factors, such as neonicotinoids, on insect behavior. Collaborations with institutions globally highlight her role in interdisciplinary projects, including studies on cold adaptation in flies and barley epigenetics.

Dr Cook has published extensively in journals like PLoS Computational Biology and BMC Genomics, with a strong emphasis on experimental and computational approaches. She has been involved in grants such as the NERC-funded 'Identifying the genetic targets of sexual selection.' Her outreach activities include organizing bioinformatics workshops for schools, promoting STEM education.