ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi fˈoːɹ, ˈeɪbəl dʒˈɔɪnd ðə dᵻpˈɑːɹtmənt ʌv kˈɛmɪstɹi ʌvðə jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ʌv kˈeɪmbɹɪdʒ, səksˈɛsɪvli hˈoʊldɪŋ ðə pəzˈɪʃənz ʌv dˈɛmənstɹˌeɪɾɚ, lˈɛktʃɚɹɚɹ ænd ɹˈiːdɚɹ ɪn kˈɛmɪkəl baɪˈɑːlədʒi, ænd bᵻkˈʌmɪŋ pɹəfˈɛsɚɹ ɪn bˌaɪəlˈɑːdʒɪkəl kˈɛmɪstɹi ɪn tˈuː θˈaʊzənd tˈuː.
In 1984, Abell joined the department of chemistry of the University of Cambridge, successively holding the positions of demonstrator, lecturer and reader in chemical biology, and becoming professor in biological chemistry in 2002.