Inigo del Portillo Barrios
Engineer, ARC Development at SESHaving a PhD does not necessarily tie you to jobs in your field of study; on the contrary, it opens doors to many opportunities.
Left academia after: PhD
17 posts
Abigail Reynolds (née Harris)
Senior Portfolio Manager, Capability and Innovation (Skills and Careers) at UKRI-BBSRCOn reflection, I’m not sure my aim was ever to remain in academia!
Kate Fulcher
Research assistant: molecular analysis at British MuseumWorking with such an amazing collection and with world experts. Being able to combine my interests in science, Egyptology, and heritage.
Maddy Pope
Senior Medical Copywriter at TBWA\WorldHealth LondonI felt it offered a perfect way to combine my skills – science and writing. Translating complex topics into clear, compelling storytelling really appealed to me as it had been how I approached writing my thesis.
Ambreen Shah
Director of Policy, Research and Communications at Design CouncilMake the university PhD experience a whole one – study hard, but talk to people and engage, if possible, with the community you live in.
Josephine Head
Senior Research Lead Sustainable Agriculture at Earthwatch EuropeA favourite part of my job is feeling like I’m doing something really impactful.
Alice Curry
Founder & CEO at Lantana PublishingThat there’s no need to worry about knowing too little or not having enough experience – there will always be more to learn and if you’re passionate, committed and hard-working.
Matthew Warren
Editor at BPS Research DigestI was much better at the writing part of research than actually running experiments.
Luc Bonneau
Head of R&D at NBPOL and PNGOPRAExperience comes with time, so pace yourself and don’t be afraid to push yourself.
Dimitri Varsamis
Senior Policy Lead at NHS EnglandTry your best to grasp the basics, but don’t be afraid to admit gaps that are likely in a non-industry person; instead focus on transferable skills and experience.
Daniel Herde
Data Scientist at causaLensWhile academic work is very intellectually stimulating, I appreciated the more immediate impact that can be achieved by working in industry.
Anita Blakeston
Projects Manager at Surgical MedTech CooperativeMy take-home message to anyone is always to be realistic and recognise who and what you are and to follow that.