He eventually became Keeper of the Natural History Division. Nichols took part in the Lord Bandon dredging expedition of 1886 with Haddon, sponsored by the Royal Irish Academy, and in the biological surveys of Lambay, Clare Island and Malahide.
He ultimately took charge of the Natural History Division. Nichols participated in the Lord Bandon dredging expedition of 1886 with Haddon, which was backed by the Royal Irish Academy, and worked on the biological surveys of Lambay, Clare Island, and Malahide.