Laura Mitchell
Principal Bioinformatician at Alchemab Therapeutics LtdI feel very fortunate to have done a year in industry placement as an undergraduate – it nudged me towards research projects with an applied focus from the very start.
Researchers find all sorts of rewarding careers – smart people work everywhere!
Such diversity in potential roles can prove challenging when exploring your options. This collection of career profiles enables you to see what others in your position chose to do, why and how they made the move, and what they most enjoy about their job. You will get a feel for their daily activities, workplace culture and work-life balance.Top tip: Look out for authors’ insights into which skills developed during or after their PhD proved helpful in getting their job, and performing well there. You’ll be encouraged to see how people are building on their research expertise to thrive in newer roles.And don’t miss the “employer bio” at the end of each career profile for careers opportunities in each organisation.
Recent profiles
Francesca Pietra
Director, Industry Partnerships and Commercialization (Partnerships Lead), Faculty of Engineering at Imperial College LondonI have always tried to understand what really motivates me and “gets me out of bed” in order to steer my decisions in that direction. It is also about taking opportunities that come by and sometimes taking a leap of faith
Sarah Atkinson
Assistant Director at Department of FinanceYou’re never going to have an epiphany about what to do next. You just have to pick something and try it.
Arijit Patra
Senior Principal Scientist at UCB PharmaBe like a cat. Cats don’t have imposter syndrome; each cat believes it’s the most special cat in the world. If you’re doing a PhD, be a cat.
Chiara Giuliano
Associate Director at AstraZenecachanging career path is not a failure, it is using your skills and knowledge to align yourself with your current needs and expectations.
James Larkin
CEO and Founder at OxomicsI’m getting to see the technology that I invented move from academia towards the clinic. The further I get down this process the more I can see the end result and it’s an exciting thing to observe.
Laurène Vetterli
Senior medical writer at Meridian HealthCommsTrust the process, be patient, trust yourself, there are always possibilities even when we stop seeing them
Jacqueline Robbins
Foundation Doctor at Oxford Health NHS Foundation TrustUse contacts to get advice and explore options. I wish I’d spoken to more people when I first applied for a medical degree as the advice I got was invaluable
Greg Dickens
Innovation Consultant at Innovia TechnologyStay curious. Don’t just read your pages of Nature, read the whole thing. Appreciate the links between your field and other fields. I think this is a really important point if you’re ever looking to move beyond your research area.
Aleksandar Ivanov
Junior Data Scientist at Faculty AII wouldn’t necessarily change anything. I did what made sense for me at each career stage.
Claire Harrill
Access and Success Projects Manager at The Brilliant ClubThat there will come a day when the rejection ends!
Gry Wester
Associate Management Consultant at VMLY&R HEALTHAs an academic and lifelong learner, I think you have the research and development skills to quickly learn about a new subject matter.