If you love science but think that the communication part is still missing, do not hesitate. Prepare yourself in face of whatever you see as your limitations and weaknesses and go for it!
There is always the anxiety of doing something new and the fact that you sail in unknown waters. But, on the other hand, this is what you always do when you are in basic research, so there is not much difference at the end of the day.
Understanding what really motivates me and gets me out of bed in the morning tended to steer me in the right direction and enabled me to realise my calling.
My research training set me up to… Organise my time and available resources efficiently and understand the value of determination and perseverance.
Being able to recognise when the changes requested are science-led and when there has simply been poor project management is very beneficial.
I’m very glad I did a PhD. Going through the experience made me a much better teacher.
I was much better at the writing part of research than actually running experiments.
A 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.
There are plenty of (paid!) chances to see what the world of Policy is like, and researchers are welcomed with open arms.
If you are a successful researcher, you can solve a problem and you can write. These are invaluable skills in any sector.
There are many more options out there than you’re easily aware of – some careers services may channel people towards certain career paths. It can be hard to see options other than academia when you’re in academia, but leaving isn’t a sign of failure, it’s a choice.
I think the really key part of a PhD is learning how to break a problem down into solvable steps.
