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.
I’d recommend reflecting on your long-term career goals. If you’re considering further education, ask yourself if you need that deeper technical expertise or if you’d rather get started in the industry now.
I enjoy applying my scientific background and business acumen to real-world scenarios, bridging the gap between research and practical implementation.
Don’t limit yourself to searching in one sector, your skills are useful in lots of surprising places.
I had some of the skills, at least scientifically; but was at the start a bit shy about the business side of things. Luckily, I had a great and experienced co-founder.
My favorite parts of my job include developing behavioral solutions and running trials
I wanted to be a bridge between science and society. I wanted a better balance between scholarly and artistic work in my life.
You can contribute to science even if you are not on the bench!
Do informational interviews, they can be very helpful. Use your network to look for opportunities and learn about options.
Be open to diverse career paths. Your research skills are valuable beyond 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.
