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.
Make the university PhD experience a whole one – study hard, but talk to people and engage, if possible, with the community you live in.
I have found a place where the most reliable and advanced techniques I was working on can potentially became a real technology.
I was much better at the writing part of research than actually running experiments.
I have always taken the approach that it’s important to diversify, not just in terms of techniques but also in what you do with your time.
I felt isolated when I was exploring a transition, but now I realize that there are tons of ex-academics leading fulfilling work lives in a variety of sectors.
Experience comes with time, so pace yourself and don’t be afraid to push yourself.
Try 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.
While academic work is very intellectually stimulating, I appreciated the more immediate impact that can be achieved by working in industry.
I miss neuroscience. I knew I would miss it even when I made my decision to move on. That said, I have found myself using the same mental research and problem-solving faculties in my current job, even though it has no link to neuroscience.
I most enjoy the feeling of being a competent, trusted, and an empowered member of my team; capable and effectual in helping us to achieve the goals that we set.
It’s very rewarding working directly with patients and exploring their experiences on different treatments. I also love the collaborative atmosphere and working across multiple areas, as you gain a lot of experience over a relatively short period of time.
It is great to be part of something where the progress is really tangible and your contributions really do seem to make a difference. I most enjoy the sense of reward when we overcome a difficult problem or successfully bring together technologies we’ve developed.