There is life after the PhD(outside academia)

Dr. RITA JORGEPhD Survivor

Sprechen sie Science?

“Science is a way of thinking, more than it is a body of knowledge” Carl Sagan

The ‘Dragon Gate’ of Research

“A waterfall called the Dragon Gate exists in China.

Its waters plunge a hundred feet, swifter than an arrow shot by a strong warrior. It is said that a great many carp gather in the basin below, hoping to climb the falls, and that any that succeeds will turn into a dragon.

Some are swept away by the strong currents, some fall prey to eagles, hawks, kites and owls, and others are netted, scooped up, or even shot with arrows by fishermen who line either bank of the wide falls. Such is the difficulty of a carp becoming a dragon.”

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, p.249

This is your brain on drugs thesis

“Grad Students appear to be motivated by knowing rather than by being.Their mission is to obtain, retain, and utilize knowledge. The test of success in grad school is the ability to manipulate information as required by the academic process. The heart of the individual tends to be less important than the brain. The students are what they know.”

Understanding Graduate Students: Their Values, Beliefs, and Motivations , Barna et al. , www. graduateresources.com

Educating RitaChemistry degree: University of EvoraInstituto Superior Tecnico (Lisboa) : “Organometallic photochromic ligands with potential applications in Non-Linear Optics”

ITQB/IBET (Oeiras): “ Synthesis of fluorophores for an in-vivo Oxygen sensor”

PhD in Organic Chemistry: QMULMarie Curie Research Training Network, “Molecularly Imprinted nanogels as catalysts for phosphate hydrolysis: An approach based on cobalt-cyclen monomers”

Choices

www.branchingpoints.com

1st year:

3rd year:

reality:

Skills

Am I smart enough?Have I published enough?

Salary?

…but all I know is [insert thesis topic]!…but once you leave academia you can never come back!Salary?

• GRIT• Self control• Curious and questioning mind• VERY used to be under scrutiny• Self starter, self sufficient• Getting trough stuff

• Ability to handle huge chunks of information Uncover it Analyse it Synthesise it Find holes in it Speak and write about it

• Ability to assemble arguments in a structured manner

the state of “being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz. Your whole being is involved, and you're using your skills to the utmost." M. Csikszentmihalvi

Flow

Inspiration/Aspirations

Dame Professor Jocelyn Bell Burnell“No Nobel Burnell”

Dame Julia HigginsImperial College, Royal Society, Athena Project

http://www.bis.gov.uk/go-science

One “Degree of separation” to the PM !

- the home of science and engineering across government - to support the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir John Beddington. - to ensure that all levels of government, including the PM and Cabinet, receive the best scientific advice possible, and to enable the many science-using departments across government to create policies that are supported by strong evidence and robust arguments.

Dr. Intern

Science Policy

Informs decisionsIn moments of crisis...

When citizens need to be protected...

Future gazing

My day job

- Translating science into policy- Responding to Government consultations- Monitoring research developments- Writing policy briefings on anything of relevance for the work of the College

- Helping the College decide what is relevant

Stem Cell Treatments for canine Ostheoarthritis Commercial foods for

companion animals

Antimicrobial Resistance

- Defining strategy for the Grants program- Managing the grants program (selection, etc.)- Launching the Evidence-based Veterinary Medicine

project

Great bits/Not so great bits

Boundaries Job security (not always) “Publish or perish” is meaningless outside academia

You actually DO research Possibility to influence others Possibility to work on the BIG picture “Get things done” mentality Positive, constructive criticism VERY collaborative mentality

Shorter deadlines Stricter schedules, dress codes, Working on the “possible” answer rather than the “best” answer Shiny project syndrome GOBSATT (Good Old Boys Sat Around the Table Talking)

Less freedom to pursue an academic topic until the very

end

“Scientists should be on tap, but not on top” W. Churchill

Now what?

- Get involved: twitter, blogs, go to conferences, sign up to mailing lists.

- Volunteer: Voice of Young Science (Sense about Science), w4mp, civil service (graduate talent pool)

- Monitor the policy job market - RESOURCES ON THE PAMPHLET

Take home message

3 things to find your job fit (outside academia):1) Think BIG: Realise the amazing skills you have already

gained (without even noticing); 2) Self- reflect: Find out what day to day activities give

you a sense of flow3) Self-motivated networking: do something that you

love outside the lab, explore your creativity

3 things for Science Policy:1) Have an opinion about the science topics in the news.2) Debate, discuss, read; 3) Take responsibility. Approach people. Explore scholarships,

interships, opportunities. DO NOT BE FLAKY

Thank you!

rita@rcvsknowledge.org@ritofle