Careers in Your Ears

“Networking feels so fake!” ...was something said to us recently in a workshop.  If the idea of networking makes you cringe or you identify as an introvert - this one's for you. Laura and Maria discuss ways that networking can work for you, and so much more in this episode. Hear about ways to approach conversations with curiosity, trying out LinkedIn, creating your own communities and doing it...

What do cake, House (the TV series) and a vision board have in common? Find out in our latest podcast episode with the inspiring Lilian Odaro , Doctoral Student Development Officer at King's Doctoral College who used all these and more to navigate her way through balancing a PhD, part-time work, becoming a parent, discovering careers in 'alt ac' and finding a way to belong in a system that is ofte...

Dr Francesca Greenstreet joins us to explore her journey from a decade in neuroscience research to a creative, fast-paced role in research communications at King’s. She shares how her “favourite bits” of academia - people, creativity, and curiosity - shaped a new, academic-adjacent career. Through trying things out, embracing uncertainty, and learning to “strip it back,” Francesca has built a role...

Thinking about leaving academia but research is the only thing you've ever been 'passionate' about? This can make looking for next steps really challenging. In this episode, Anna and Laura (careers consultants for researchers) unpick what it means to be passionate about something, how to understand what this might mean for you and how to use this to explore next steps. If you're st...

If you’re a current or aspiring clinical academic wondering how to build a research career alongside clinical practice, this episode is for you.  Professor Julie Sanders, cardiovascular nurse and clinical academic joins us to discuss:  navigating non‑linear career paths  balancing clinical and research demands  making the most of emerging opportunities  Saying yes (and knowing when not to)  Julie...

In this episode we talk to Dr Santhi Kuppilivenkata, Head of Data Science at KPMG. It was a refreshingly honest conversation about returning to work after maternity leave: 'it's not a break' and leveraging your research skills and academic approach in industry with some excellent tips on how to talk about your value in a corporate environment (and what to avoid). She also sheds light on how to wor...

Does a PhD count as experience? If you're looking for roles outside of academia and wondering whether you have the right experience, or finding it hard to articulate your skills in 'corporate speak', then this one's for you. Laura and Lindsay discuss: How to translate your research skills and speak the language of a new sector Using your network to unlock some of the 'secrets&#...

In this episode we welcome back Dr Amal Abuzeinab, Senior Lecturer and interdisciplinary academic at De Montford University. This conversation provides strategic insights into forging an academic career looking at the accepted reality of the '3 jobs in 1' model - research, teaching and service and the roles she took to build her academic career. Amal shares her strategic approach to academ...

If you're worried about the job market headlines, or currently applying and feel like you're getting nowhere: this one's for you. Specialist Careers Consultants for Researchers, Anna Favalessa and Laura Johnson respond to a listener who is having a tough time and looking for ways to improve their chances. We cover: The state of the job market right now How AI is affecting recruitment H...

Ever wondered what project management really looks like in the biotech industry? In this episode Dr Alice Santambrogio, Project Manager at Relation, shares her journey from research technician to scientific management. We discuss how to decide if doing a PhD is right for you, the differences between working in biotech compared to academia, and how to talk to your supervisor about taking on new res...

Dr Vittorio Aita joins us to share his passion for communication: from getting 70 year olds on the nano dancefloor, to winning over resistant teens with his powerful storytelling.  Since the early days of high school to his Physics PhD at King’s, Vittorio has shared his passion for science outreach in exciting and innovative ways.  Through his openness to opportunity and experimental approach to c...

“Have faith in yourself that you’re able to learn...have the willpower and the confidence that you can do it” In this episode Dr Gayathri Sekhar, Risk & Compliance at Deloitte, speaks candidly about some of the realities of adapting to a fast-paced, corporate environment and reflects on how her experience as a researcher taught her perseverance and a willingness to learn.  We discuss how she u...

Dr Lindsay Parker and Laura Johnson (careers consultants for researchers) tackle a question around whether it is necessary to do graduate teaching assistant (GTA) work for your career development, even if you're not currently planning on being a lecturer. Got a careers question for our next episode? Complete this form: https://forms.office.com/e/JNyRpVd1eR Here are some resources and sites we...

Could you apply your research skills to your career development and work out your next step? Our latest guest has taken this approach and recently wrote about it in this article in Nature . Matt talks to Laura about how he tested a few of his career hypotheses during his 15 years as a researcher (Start up? Publishing? Freelance?) and how it has helped him work out what he enjoys, what he's good at...

If you’ve ever wondered how to make that initial approach and use networking to create your own opportunities, this episode is for you. Dr Stella Toonen, Programme Director, Culture Within Newham joins us to talk about how building connections and having conversations has guided her career development.     We discuss Stella's current role, the importance of co-creation, and how her PhD experie...

In this episode, specialist careers consultants, Laura and Anna answer a common question: How can I talk to my supervisor about my career goals when their only experience is academia and I'm worried that they won't want to discuss anything else. ⁠Send us your question here⁠ We explore: The reason why you should try and talk to your manager about your career Why it could be challenging for...

“It was instrumental in me getting a job – this little boost of support.” How often do we ask for help? So many of us are afraid to saywhen something is difficult, to try out new things or tell people about our ambitions – it can make us feel vulnerable and fear of failure can get in the way.  But what our guest, Dr Tatjana Zoller, has realised is that when we ask for help, people are often keen t...

Got a question about your career? Ask us! We're launching special Q&A episodes to give you the opportunity to ask a specialist careers consultant your career conundrums - whether it's about careers in academia or beyond, or more general Qs about networking, CVs and more. Send your Qs in a message to our LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kings-careers-network-for-researchers Look...

“The main thing I realised is that we all have something to add.”Join us on this episode of "Careers in Your Ears" as we delve into the inspiring journey of Mariam Asaad, a fourth-year doctoral researcher at King's College London's Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery, and Palliative Care. Mariam shares her unique ‘squiggly’ career path, from her beginnings as a nur...

If you feel like you need a special dictionary to understand job descriptions or a thesaurus for talking about your skills: this is the episode for you! Dr Holly Prescott gives us a masterclass in telling your story in a way that will help the sector you are trying to enter understand how valuable your skills, knowledge and experience are - to them. We also discuss how to navigate the challenge of...

“You need to have input from other people. It's not something you can do by yourself.” Dr Ilyas Alav, recent recipient of the Wellcome Trust Early Career Award and Teaching Fellow at the University of Birmingham, shares his advice for progressing as an Early Career Researcher.  We discuss the importance of being open to opportunities, developing a researcher identity and the value of collaboration...

“All it takes is time, collaborative spirit and that connective tissue.” When navigating the transition between industry and academia, Dr Renasha Khan, Lecturer of Religion and Social Science at Kings, found that reaching out to others allowed her to both explore career options and build a support network.  She shares how her love of storytelling led her from working as a TV producer to researchin...

How different is 'industry' to academia and what can we do to adapt to those changes and survive the learning curves? Dr Sam Keightley, Senior Behavioural Science Researcher at BeHive Consulting answers those questions and gives us plenty more fascinating insights into his first role since completing his PhD. Join us as we discuss change, uncertainty, communication styles, the dreaded perfectionis...

"I can do this and be successful, but does it bring me joy?" Offering valuable insights for PhDs and research staff interested in ‘academic adjacent’ roles, Dr Eleanor Gurney, Senior PGR Manager at King’s, shares her journey from academic research to a fulfilling role in professional services. Dr. Gurney reflects on her diverse career path, including her work in international development...

In this episode we are delighted to be joined by Teresa Bautista Solans who shares her transition from a research career in theoretical physics to quantitative finance. It's a fantastic testament to the transferability of the skills developed in research such as critical thinking, analytical skills, and research communication which are so valuable in her role as a Senior Analyst and Model Validato...