Dr
Nicola
Hemmings
School of Biosciences
Senior Research Fellow
n.hemmings@sheffield.ac.uk
Alfred Denny Building
Full contact details
Dr Nicola Hemmings
School of Biosciences
Alfred Denny Building
School of Biosciences
Alfred Denny Building
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TN
- Profile
-
- Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Research Fellow, University of Sheffield (2018-present)
- Co-Director of the University of Sheffield Centre for Equity & Inclusion (2022-present)
- Programme Lead, MSc Science Communication, University of Sheffield (2017‒2018)
- Patrick & Irwin-Packington Research Fellow, University of Sheffield (2016)
- Postdoctoral Research Associate, Birkhead Lab, University of Sheffield (2011‒2016)
- University Teaching Associate, University of Sheffield (2010‒2011)
- PhD Behavioural Ecology, University of Sheffield (2007‒2010)
- MBiolSci Zoology, University of Sheffield (2003‒2007)
- Research interests
-
Nicola's research group studies how and why animals vary in their ability to reproduce, with particular focus on the causes of infertility and embryo death. They work in collaboration with a range of global conservation organisations to aid recovery efforts for threatened species.
- Publications
-
Show: Featured publications All publications
Featured publications
Journal articles
- True fertilisation failure in captivity is rare. Global Ecology and Conservation, 61. View this article in WRRO
- Understanding early reproductive failure in turtles and tortoises. Animal Conservation, 28(3), 353-364. View this article in WRRO
- Demographic drivers of reproductive failure in a threatened bird: insights from a decade of data. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 121(36). View this article in WRRO
- Effects of female-specific selection for reproductive investment on male fertility traits. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 37(9), 1113-1124. View this article in WRRO
- The surprising complexity and diversity of sperm storage structures across Galliformes. Ecology and Evolution, 14(6). View this article in WRRO
- A sex-linked supergene with large effects on sperm traits has little impact on reproductive traits in female zebra finches.. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 291(2019). View this article in WRRO
- Including the invisible fraction in whole population studies: a guide to the genetic sampling of unhatched bird eggs. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 15(1), 80-90. View this article in WRRO
- Early‐life telomere length predicts life‐history strategy and reproductive senescence in a threatened wild songbird. Molecular Ecology.
- Systematic review of avian hatching failure and implications for conservation. Biological Reviews.
- Low hatching success in the critically endangered kākāpō is driven by early embryo mortality not infertility. Animal Conservation, 25(3), 352-360. View this article in WRRO
- Physiological factors influencing female fertility in birds. Royal Society Open Science, 8(7). View this article in WRRO
- Why do eggs fail? Causes of hatching failure in threatened populations and consequences for conservation. Animal Conservation, 24(4), 540-551.
- Extraordinary sperm to egg ratios in seabirds. The Auk, 137(4).
- Ecology and allometry predict the evolution of avian developmental durations. Nature Communications, 11. View this article in WRRO
- Unhatched eggs represent the invisible fraction in two wild bird populations. Biology Letters, 16(1).
- Sperm gatekeeping : 3D imaging reveals a constricted entrance to zebra finch sperm storage tubules. Biophysical Journal, 117(11), 2180-2187.
- Programmed DNA elimination of germline development genes in songbirds. Nature Communications, 10(1). View this article in WRRO
- A trade-off between thickness and length in the zebra finch sperm mid-piece. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 285(1883). View this article in WRRO
- An unexpected twist: Sperm cells coil to the right in land snails and to the left in song birds. Contributions to Zoology, 86(4), 297-302. View this article in WRRO
- Differential sperm storage by female zebra finches Taeniopygia guttata. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 284(1860). View this article in WRRO
- A sex-linked supergene controls sperm morphology and swimming speed in a songbird. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 1, 1168-1176. View this article in WRRO
- Sperm morphology, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentration and swimming velocity: unexpected relationships in a passerine bird.. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 283(1837). View this article in WRRO
- Consistency of passerine embryo development and the use of embryonic staging in studies of hatching failure. Ibis, 158(1), 43-50.
- Polyspermy in birds: sperm numbers and embryo survival.. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences , 282(1818). View this article in WRRO
- Long sperm fertilize more eggs in a bird. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 282(1799). View this article in WRRO
- Timing associated with oviductal sperm storage and release after artificial insemination in domestic hens. Theriogenology, 83(7), 1174-1178. View this article in WRRO
- Causes of hatching failure in endangered birds.. Biol Lett, 8(6), 964-967.
- Inbreeding causes early death in a passerine bird.. Nat Commun, 3, 863.
- Internal incubation and early hatching in brood parasitic birds.. Proc Biol Sci, 278(1708), 1019-1024.
- Unhatched eggs: methods for discriminating between infertility and early embryo mortality. IBIS, 150(3), 508-517.
- Parthenogenesis in a passerine bird, the Zebra Finch Taeniopygia guttata. IBIS, 150(1), 197-199.
- Intra-ejaculate sperm selection in female zebra finches. Biology Letters, 12. View this article in WRRO
Preprints
All publications
Journal articles
- True fertilisation failure in captivity is rare. Global Ecology and Conservation, 61. View this article in WRRO
- Understanding early reproductive failure in turtles and tortoises. Animal Conservation, 28(3), 353-364. View this article in WRRO
- Demographic drivers of reproductive failure in a threatened bird: insights from a decade of data. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 121(36). View this article in WRRO
- Effects of female-specific selection for reproductive investment on male fertility traits. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 37(9), 1113-1124. View this article in WRRO
- The surprising complexity and diversity of sperm storage structures across Galliformes. Ecology and Evolution, 14(6). View this article in WRRO
- A sex-linked supergene with large effects on sperm traits has little impact on reproductive traits in female zebra finches.. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 291(2019). View this article in WRRO
- Including the invisible fraction in whole population studies: a guide to the genetic sampling of unhatched bird eggs. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 15(1), 80-90. View this article in WRRO
- Early‐life telomere length predicts life‐history strategy and reproductive senescence in a threatened wild songbird. Molecular Ecology.
- Systematic review of avian hatching failure and implications for conservation. Biological Reviews.
- Low hatching success in the critically endangered kākāpō is driven by early embryo mortality not infertility. Animal Conservation, 25(3), 352-360. View this article in WRRO
- Physiological factors influencing female fertility in birds. Royal Society Open Science, 8(7). View this article in WRRO
- Why do eggs fail? Causes of hatching failure in threatened populations and consequences for conservation. Animal Conservation, 24(4), 540-551.
- Extraordinary sperm to egg ratios in seabirds. The Auk, 137(4).
- Ecology and allometry predict the evolution of avian developmental durations. Nature Communications, 11. View this article in WRRO
- Unhatched eggs represent the invisible fraction in two wild bird populations. Biology Letters, 16(1).
- Sperm gatekeeping : 3D imaging reveals a constricted entrance to zebra finch sperm storage tubules. Biophysical Journal, 117(11), 2180-2187.
- Programmed DNA elimination of germline development genes in songbirds. Nature Communications, 10(1). View this article in WRRO
- A trade-off between thickness and length in the zebra finch sperm mid-piece. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 285(1883). View this article in WRRO
- An unexpected twist: Sperm cells coil to the right in land snails and to the left in song birds. Contributions to Zoology, 86(4), 297-302. View this article in WRRO
- Differential sperm storage by female zebra finches Taeniopygia guttata. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 284(1860). View this article in WRRO
- A sex-linked supergene controls sperm morphology and swimming speed in a songbird. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 1, 1168-1176. View this article in WRRO
- Sperm morphology, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentration and swimming velocity: unexpected relationships in a passerine bird.. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 283(1837). View this article in WRRO
- Consistency of passerine embryo development and the use of embryonic staging in studies of hatching failure. Ibis, 158(1), 43-50.
- Polyspermy in birds: sperm numbers and embryo survival.. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences , 282(1818). View this article in WRRO
- Long sperm fertilize more eggs in a bird. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 282(1799). View this article in WRRO
- Timing associated with oviductal sperm storage and release after artificial insemination in domestic hens. Theriogenology, 83(7), 1174-1178. View this article in WRRO
- Causes of hatching failure in endangered birds.. Biol Lett, 8(6), 964-967.
- Inbreeding causes early death in a passerine bird.. Nat Commun, 3, 863.
- Internal incubation and early hatching in brood parasitic birds.. Proc Biol Sci, 278(1708), 1019-1024.
- Unhatched eggs: methods for discriminating between infertility and early embryo mortality. IBIS, 150(3), 508-517.
- Parthenogenesis in a passerine bird, the Zebra Finch Taeniopygia guttata. IBIS, 150(1), 197-199.
- Intra-ejaculate sperm selection in female zebra finches. Biology Letters, 12. View this article in WRRO
Preprints
- True fertilisation failure in captivity is rare. Global Ecology and Conservation, 61. View this article in WRRO
- Teaching activities
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- BIS312 L3 Capstone Project – Getting Science on Film (Project Theme Lead and Supervisor)
- BIS415/426 Level 4 Project and Literature Review Supervisor
- BIS422 Topical Science (Module Coordinator and Lead Instructor)
- Professional activities and memberships
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- Associate Editor, Animal Behaviour (2025-present)
- Consulting Editor, Animal Behaviour (2024–2025)
- Communications Editor, Evolution Letters (2016-2022)
- Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (awarded 2016)
- Student Voice Academic Awards Best Educational Event (for the University of Sheffield Schools’ Christmas Lecture 'Animal Academy') (2015)
- Society of Biology UK Science Communicator of the Year (2014)
- SET for Britain Awards, Houses of Parliament – Bronze Award (2013)
- Animal and Plant Sciences Teacher of the Year, University of Sheffield (2011)