“I’ve completed my PhD… now what?”
It’s no secret that postgraduate students are currently faced with the reality of an academic job market that is becoming progressively saturated with more graduates than even fixed-term (let alone permanent) opportunities. However, a lab-based profession is not the only career path that scientists can thrive in. As a result, postdoctoral scientists are increasingly eager to find professional growth coupled with societal impact outside of academia.
By carrying out their own projects from beginning to end, scientific researchers gain a number of transferable skills whilst studying that are well aligned with those needed to succeed on many other career paths including business. PhD students are expected to formulate systematic approaches to problem solving right from the beginning of their degrees. From there, they spend several formative years immersed in an investigative learning paradigm that requires them to formulate hypotheses, corroborate them against data, and defend their results before critical audiences. By the end of their academic trajectories, they’ve proven themselves time and again as effective project and team managers, as well as compelling communicators.
Graduate level research work also requires students to collaborate directly with specialist experts in their fields, and devise novel strategies to break down ambitious aims into manageable objectives under strict financial and time constraints.
Thus, research graduates are keenly apt to applying this kind of thinking to solving complex business and societal problems with immediate effects and tangible impact. Postdoctoral scientists in particular have the ideal background and experience to mature into innovative thought-leaders in the healthcare and biotechnology business world.
Developing strategies for biotechnology or medical device companies, or improving hospital operations requires leaders that possess a mixture of scientific knowledge and analytical problem solving skills. Postgraduate researchers enter the job market equipped with specific subject area knowledge that is relevant to such clients, making them most able to propose new concepts or methodologies that aid in establishing scientific credibility within client relationships.
As new technologies arise and advancements rapidly evolve, biotech is thriving in the UK today; budding SME’s as well as multinational firms are increasingly hiring PhDs to provide expert solutions and spearhead innovation. As a result, the NBI team is delighted to present two events aimed to encourage postgraduates from across northern UK to explore the many multidisciplinary pathways available towards find success beyond the PhD or Master’s degree.
First, NBI has invited a series of guest speakers to introduce current graduate students to the world of consulting. This informational seminar, taking place on Friday the 6th of May, is also the official launch of the Northern Biotech Consulting Case Competition, which will begin accepting team applications from the 29th of April 2016. The competition will culminate in a £1000 prize being awarded to the winning team. There are also prizes available for the best individual performances during team presentations.
Both of these events are open to all current graduate students from northern UK universities including Durham, Lancaster, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, Sheffield, York as well as all post-secondary institutions across Greater Manchester.
Bridges to Consulting
What: Professional Speaker Seminar
When: Friday, 6th May 2016 at 4:00PM (refreshments from 5:00PM)
Where: University Place, The University of Manchester (Oxford Rd, Manchester M13 9PL)
How: Please register HERE
Northern Biotech Consulting Case Competition
When: Saturday, 25th June 2016 (full day event)
Where: The University of Manchester
How: Online applications open and full details will be released via the NBI blog on Friday, the 29th of April 2016
