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.
Left academia after: PhD
48 posts
Josephine Head
Senior Research Lead Sustainable Agriculture at Earthwatch EuropeA favourite part of my job is feeling like I’m doing something really impactful.
Alice Curry
Founder & CEO at Lantana PublishingThat there’s no need to worry about knowing too little or not having enough experience – there will always be more to learn and if you’re passionate, committed and hard-working.
Matthew Warren
Editor at BPS Research DigestI was much better at the writing part of research than actually running experiments.
Luc Bonneau
Head of R&D at NBPOL and PNGOPRAExperience comes with time, so pace yourself and don’t be afraid to push yourself.
Dimitri Varsamis
Senior Policy Lead at NHS EnglandTry 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.
Daniel Herde
Data Scientist at causaLensWhile academic work is very intellectually stimulating, I appreciated the more immediate impact that can be achieved by working in industry.
Anita Blakeston
Projects Manager at Surgical MedTech CooperativeMy take-home message to anyone is always to be realistic and recognise who and what you are and to follow that.
James Cooper
Research Leader at CGGA Ph.D. is about much more than demonstrating problem solving and analytical abilities. Learning to collaborate and communicate effectively with others is a key aspect of research, both in academia and the workplace.
Yaoyao Xiong
Research Scientist at Oxford Nanoimaging (ONI)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.
Ben Bleasdale
Policy Adviser at Wellcome TrustThere are plenty of (paid!) chances to see what the world of Policy is like, and researchers are welcomed with open arms.
Nikola Novčić
Consultant at Boston Consulting GroupThere are a lot of amazing opportunities outside of academia and leaving does not mean you have ‘given up or failed’.