No, and one doesn't need to be.
What I am is an excellent experimentalist with deep knowledge of measurements, both nuclear and chemical. I am more than sufficiently qualified to examine the experimental processes run, the data yielded, and the quality of the work done.
The very best evidence comes from plain old chemical measurements....specifically measurement of heat by calorimetry, and the before and after concentrations of helium by mass spectrometry, both of which are straightforward chemical measurements. The proof is there, and covered suffiently well in Beaudette's book so that even a layman can understand.
Define “experimentalist”. You obviously do not understand nuclear science or what you are reading. If had expert level knowledge you could see what is missing from all those “layman’s” descriptions. Unfortunately, laymen never see what is missing and believe what they are being given is everything they need to know.
If cold fusions worked as easily as it is has been portrayed then cold fusions devices would be everywhere. You “layman’s” knowledge has failed the common sense test.