Xi Chen
Head of Computer Vision at Latent LogicTry to focus, or at least keep yourself up to date with the problems that industry is trying to solve.
A collection of profiles of people who have made the transition from academia to industry.
Explore a collection of profiles from researchers pursuing careers beyond academia.
This website is edited by a group of DPhil students and researchers connected to Oxford University.
See how you can contribute to the Research Careers: Options Beyond Academia project.
Such diversity in potential roles can prove challenging when exploring your options. This collection of career profiles enables you to see what others in your position chose to do, why and how they made the move, and what they most enjoy about their job. You will get a feel for their daily activities, workplace culture and work-life balance.Top tip: Look out for authors’ insights into which skills developed during or after their PhD proved helpful in getting their job, and performing well there. You’ll be encouraged to see how people are building on their research expertise to thrive in newer roles.And don’t miss the “employer bio” at the end of each career profile for careers opportunities in each organisation.
Try to focus, or at least keep yourself up to date with the problems that industry is trying to solve.
A few days of holiday can be used to get a first-hand picture which can, as in my case, provide the confidence I needed to turn a hunch about a career change into a reality.
If you are a successful researcher, you can solve a problem and you can write. These are invaluable skills in any sector.
My research training set me up to never lose my scientific curiosity.
There are many more options out there than you’re easily aware of – some careers services may channel people towards certain career paths. It can be hard to see options other than academia when you’re in academia, but leaving isn’t a sign of failure, it’s a choice.
Consulting seemed like a natural place to apply the analytical skills that I’d gained during my PhD, whilst providing the opportunity for enormous professional development.
I think the really key part of a PhD is learning how to break a problem down into solvable steps.
My research training set me up to get on with work independently and think for myself.
I had a great time during my PhD and really enjoyed the field I worked in. However, I started to realise that I wasn’t going to achieve the impact that I had, rather naively, expected with my project and I needed something that had more interaction with people. The lab was just not the place for me.
Academic research is fundamentally about unearthing new information or reassessing known information in a fresh light. These skills are directly transferable to the finance industry […]
My research training has set me up to participate actively in an industry where creative and reasoned thinking are valued and required.
Researchers are highly valued by industry, so don’t be afraid to explore the opportunities that are available outside of academia.
The views and opinions expressed in these profiles are those of the individual writer and not of the editorial team, the Careers Service, or other members of the University of Oxford.
If you’re a DPhil student or member of research staff at the University of Oxford, you can join the editorial team! Please contact us to find out more.