PhD Materials Science, The University of Manchester
| Senior Scientist | |
|---|---|
| Lucideon | |
Year entered into a non-academic position: 2024
Job highlight:
Scoping, planning, running as a part of technical team, leading and reporting scientific projects funded by industry. My side tasks include equipment responsibilities, client meetings and attending marketing events when they are needed
My research training set me up to…:
be able to carry out scientific projects by myself (i.e., without asking a supervisor).
Left academia after:
PhD (Only 3 days after submitting my thesis. I submitted my thesis on Friday and I found myself working on Monday in a different city. I have completed my viva and final corrections of my thesis while I was already working in industry.)
What’s your background?
I obtained both my undergraduate and master’s degrees in Physics in Turkey. Afterwards, I began a PhD in Materials Science, also in Turkey, but withdrew after 2.5 years. This decision was primarily driven by the social and economic conditions in the country. I faced numerous challenges—from research planning to securing funding—and ultimately decided to pursue a career abroad. I was then accepted into a PhD program at the University of Manchester in the UK. My PhD journey there was quite demanding and lasted five years, largely due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and campus relocations. In total, I spent 7.5 years as a PhD student, but I remained committed and never gave up.
Why did you move away from academia?
Including two years of master’s studies—with intensive lab work—I spent nearly 10 years in academia as a student, working under five valuable supervisors. One of the most striking things I’ve observed is that, while science is objective, academia is often subjective.
For instance, I once published a paper edited by one professor. After my PhD viva, the examiner asked me to revise the same sentence based on another professor’s preferences. The meaning didn’t change, but the phrasing had to. This subjectivity extends to publications: modest results can make it into high-impact journals if the writing suits reviewers’ tastes. Meanwhile, rigorous work may be rejected for not matching a journal’s style.
Academic prestige often hinges on the number and impact of publications, especially in top journals. While I enjoy research, the constant need to persuade others through papers was the least appealing part. To pursue an academic career, regular publication is essential, which adds pressure—especially during postdocs. Many postdocs spend days in the lab and evenings writing, often sacrificing work-life balance to convince reviewers of their research’s quality.
Another challenge was the instability of project-based contracts. As a foreigner in the UK, achieving a sense of permanence was hard. I eventually chose a permanent industry role over a fixed-term postdoc—typically 6 months to 2 years. Constantly searching for new projects and renewing visas was mentally exhausting.
On top of that, my PhD research in defence-related materials faced strict nationality restrictions. Despite five years of building expertise, I couldn’t continue in the field due to my nationality. It was a harsh and frustrating realization—after so much effort, I couldn’t carry that experience forward. Still, I believed shifting research focus would be easier in industry.
Is there anything you miss about academia?
I sometimes miss the flexibility of academic research—the freedom to explore new ideas and try things out in your own time. In industry, however, the research direction is usually fixed before the project even begins, and there’s very little tolerance in the budget for investigating unexpected findings. Projects are constrained by available equipment and working hours, and side research that would increase costs simply isn’t allowed. This structured environment can limit creativity compared to the more open-ended nature of academia.
How did you get this job? Did you face any challenges when considering a move away from academia or applying for the role?
I was lucky to find my current job, and transitioning from academia to industry turned out to be easier than I expected. As a fresh PhD, I’m now leading scientific projects independently, without the support of a supervisor. The main challenge has been technical project management.
In academia, if you spend extra time and get additional results, it’s usually appreciated. In industry, however, there’s little tolerance for extra work beyond the planned scope—overspending time directly affects the company’s profitability since that time could have been used on another project. Keeping your planned and actual hours aligned is essential, which can be difficult in science where unexpected issues frequently arise. On the upside, industry experience has taught me to build risk factors and contingencies into projects upfront, which helps reduce stress and keeps things on track.
What motivated you to/why did you choose the sector you transitioned into?
The possibility of seeing my ideas turned into real products was a very attractive aspect of moving from academia to industry. The opportunity to work on scale-up projects and potentially solve real-life problems also motivated me to make the switch.
Did you think you had the skills required for your current position before you started? How did your PhD prepare you for your current job?
I knew I had the skills necessary to succeed in my current role, and I was right—I was the right fit for the position. So far, I haven’t received any negative feedback from either the technical or non-technical managers I report to.
How did your PhD prepare you for your current job? For example, what were the transferable skills that you developed during your PhD that are most relevant to your current job?
During my PhD, I developed a range of skills including planning and performing research, working independently, critical thinking, generating innovative ideas, and teaching. All these skills have been transferable to my current role. Except for teaching, which isn’t a core part of my job, the others have helped me plan, scope, and complete projects on time in industry. Teaching skills, however, have been invaluable when supervising apprentices. When I’m busy with meetings and unable to carry out lab work myself, apprentices take care of those tasks. Successfully coordinating them relies heavily on strong communication and teaching abilities.
Did you have any preconceptions about your sector that proved to be wrong?
I used to think that non-technical project managers weren’t that important for carrying out scientific projects. However, I quickly realized I was wrong. Their role becomes especially crucial when managing multiple projects simultaneously. They keep track of deadlines and payment milestones, monitor the delivery of research materials, and serve as a vital link between scientists and the industry when non-technical communication is needed.
Can you describe a typical week in your job?
I spend about half of my week in the lab, designing experiments and teaching apprentices how to carry them out. I closely supervise their work and help interpret the data they collect. The other half of my week is mostly office-based, including meetings with clients, planning and scoping new projects, and writing reports for the projects I’m currently managing.
Although I come from a technical background, I’ve gradually taken on more project management responsibilities, which has allowed me to develop a broader perspective and play a key role in driving projects forward.
I really enjoy the balance between hands-on lab work and office tasks—it keeps my work varied and engaging.
What is the workplace culture like? Please include comments on work-life balance, flexibility, remote working?
We work in an open office shared by researchers, technicians, and non-technical managers, which allows us to discuss everything face to face. This setup helps us take quick action when challenges arise during projects. In scientific work, many things can go wrong—broken equipment, urgent orders for materials, unexpected results—and having the chance to communicate directly makes it easier to solve problems together. People here are friendly and always willing to help. I think one key difference from academia is that in academia you often work more independently, while in industry you’re part of a company where collaboration is essential.
I’ve been able to maintain a good work-life balance by starting my day at 8 am and leaving the office around 4 pm. In my first seven months in industry, I haven’t needed to work from home at all. The flexibility of work depends heavily on project deadlines. When projects are ahead of schedule, there’s time to sit back and carefully plan the next steps. But during crunch times, you need to be active in the lab to meet deadlines, which can be stressful and tiring.
Do people with a PhD frequently get hired in the company/sector?
Since my company focuses on research-based projects, researcher positions become available depending on the number of upcoming projects. Currently, the Department of Advanced Materials is looking to hire a researcher with industrial experience at a consultant level. In the UK industry, many job postings include a “PhD is desirable” section, making these positions open and appealing to PhD graduates.
What are your favourite parts of your job?
The most enjoyable part of the job is when the experimental timeline and results align perfectly with your planning and expectations. Another highlight is supervising apprentices and seeing them successfully achieve the results you helped plan.
What are your reflections on your career path?
Having deep, expert discussions about your field is rewarding, but sometimes that alone isn’t enough to create a real product for industry use. Beyond PhD-level knowledge, working in industry helps develop ideas with practical considerations like cost, efficiency, and the application field.
In science, we often strive for perfection, but in industry, products need to be good enough to meet requirements—not necessarily perfect.
Do you have any advice for current graduate students and postdocs considering a career outside of academia?
Don’t be afraid to apply for and start a position in industry.
While working in industry might initially feel different from academia, you’ll adapt quickly because you’ve already developed essential skills like independent work, critical thinking, innovation, and strong communication.
The job will gradually prepare you for what industry expects—you’ll receive inductions, training, and certifications tailored to your role.
What do you know now that you wish you’d known when exploring a transition?
I wish I had learned earlier how to think more simply. In academia, I was always pushed to dig deeper and explore every detail, which sometimes led to stress and a lack of confidence—even when I was right. In industry, it’s less demanding in that sense, as long as your solution meets the practical criteria needed for real-life applications.
Can you recommend any relevant resources, organisations or events that might help somebody new to the sector find out more about it?
Innovate UK (https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk/how-we-help/) offers support with funding and facilitates collaborations between researchers and industry. The Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining (IOM3) (https://www.iom3.org/) organizes numerous events and provides early career funding and networking opportunities.
