Emma Horrigan
Membership Manager at Royal Society of BiologyMy research training set me up to rapidly synthesise information from a range of sources and to think about problem solving in a different way.
My research training set me up to rapidly synthesise information from a range of sources and to think about problem solving in a different way.
While basic research will always be fascinating to me, it is the translational aspect of science that I want to dedicate my career to.
Communication is key! As a data scientist, your stakeholders could be from a technical or non-technical background. Being able to explain the work you are doing in a clear and easy to understand way is really important.
Don’t be afraid to reach out to people that have made the move and to ask them questions. There is a whole world outside of academia and the options are endless, you just have to look!
Whilst I greatly enjoyed both research and teaching, I felt that in the longer-term I would enjoy the team-work and the fast-paced environment provided by consultancy.
If you are interested in a career in science publishing and communication, seek out opportunities to improve and demonstrate your science communication, critical thinking and writing skills.
Industry and academia have different drivers so a mix of both during a career is good. Industry always has the reality check of whether somebody will pay for your work which forces you to be efficient and scope your work so that some results are regularly delivered.
My role is incredibly diverse with no two days ever being the same. I am constantly facing new challenges, trying out novel approaches and learning new skills, which keeps me motivated and engaged.
As much as I enjoyed my PhD, towards the end of it I started hearing a little voice in my head that made me doubt if my long-term career was going to be in academia.
I have a lot of autonomy, which makes good use of the independence that I developed as a doctoral researcher.
Think early about your next step and try to prepare yourself for that, and equally important, create a coherent story about why you want to do this!
If you want to make this leap, don’t think short-term. Be prepared for a rough ride that is full of excitement and will take you to new places that you, and even the world, has never seen.