diff --git a/VERSIONLOG.md b/VERSIONLOG.md
index 1293b2b..5b21ff8 100644
--- a/VERSIONLOG.md
+++ b/VERSIONLOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 # LIMS2DB Version Log
 
+## 20251219.1
+
+Fix bug in mail_resp script when researcher name is unassigned
+
 ## 20250815.1
 
 Replace couchdb calls with cloudant; remove statusdb package dependency
diff --git a/scripts/mail_resp.py b/scripts/mail_resp.py
index 407efc0..8f93c1a 100644
--- a/scripts/mail_resp.py
+++ b/scripts/mail_resp.py
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ def hasNGIRole(roles):
     def get_email(fullname):
         # shotgun
         # In multipart names, the first token is taken as first name and the rest taken as surname
+        if fullname == "unassigned":
+            return None
         names = fullname.split(" ", 1)
         try:
             researchers = lims.get_researchers(firstname=names[0], lastname=names[1])