Chhavi Mathur
Consultant at Independent/FreelanceI wanted to be a bridge between science and society. I wanted a better balance between scholarly and artistic work in my life.
I wanted to be a bridge between science and society. I wanted a better balance between scholarly and artistic work in my life.
Do it! PhDs acquire many incredibly valuable skills which are still very rare in society. (…) Do not be deterred! Your skills are rare and valuable, and your insights will be appreciated. The grass is indeed greener on the other side…
My research training set me up to… be resilient!
Every post/job I have completed has been a learning curve. Without the experiences gained from the different positions, I would not be where I am today
I enjoy interacting with clients and starting new projects, where you have to dive into a space and quickly familiarise yourself with it.
What is relevant to work outside of academia is not just what one has learned during one’s PhD, but also one’s qualities as a person.
Being able to recognise when the changes requested are science-led and when there has simply been poor project management is very beneficial.
Every week is different and I have always enjoyed the variety of medical writing.
Don’t be put off if you are not sure what you want to do and take opportunities if they present themselves.
I have found a place where the most reliable and advanced techniques I was working on can potentially became a real technology.
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 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.