UCL CAREERS RESEARCHERS
RESEARCHER
CAREER
DESTINATIONS
IN THE LIFE & HEALTH
SCIENCES
UCL Careers Researchers
UCL CAREERS RESEARCHERS
What we will cover
Doctoral graduate career paths – Brain Sciences, Life
Sciences, Medical Sciences & Population Health Sciences
Career destinations 6 months post-graduation
Career destinations 3 – 4 years post-graduation
Where to go for more in-depth occupational research
Further Support
UCL CAREERS RESEARCHERS
The transition
points in typical
academic
scientific
careers
following a PhD
https://royalsociety.org/ - ‘The Scientific Century’ (2010)
UCL CAREERS RESEARCHERS
Sector Destinations: Top Three
(6 months after Doctoral Grad.)
Medical Sciences (83 of 92 in work)
Health
48%
Education
29%
Research & Development
10%
Other
16%
Population Health Sciences
(53 of 63 in work)
Education
58%
Health
25%
Public Administration /
Research & Development
6%
Other
5%
Brain Sciences (125 of 146 in work)
Health
40 %
Education
34 %
Public Administration
13%
Other
13%
Life Sciences (79 of 103 in work)
Education
51%
Research & Development
19%
Health
6%
Other
24%
NB: sector relates to categorisation of employer. ‘Education’ includes University employers
NB 2: Percentage data is for those in work, excluding further study & other situations
UCL CAREERS RESEARCHERS
Non academic occupations: Life Science
Research & Technical
Clinical Scientist (e.g microbiologist,
biochemist)
Pharmacist
Lab. Technician
Research & Development Manager
Research & Development Chemist
Researcher (national security / police)
Business
Business & Related Professionals
Management Consultant / Business
Analyst
Financial account manager
Human Resources officer
Taxation Expert
Finance Manager / Director
Education
Higher Education Teaching Professional
Secondary, FE, Teaching Professional
Communications
Marketing associate professional
Conference & Exhibition Manager
Journalist / periodical editor
UCL CAREERS RESEARCHERS
Doctoral Destinations 3 – 4 Years on
ACADEMIC
•
•
•
28%
Online & Telephone Surveys in 2010 & 2013
114 SLMS Alumni career stories Collected
82 % were 3 – 4 years post PhD award
Public Sector (6)
Lecturer (&
Teaching Fellow)
44%
Senior
Researcher /
Fellow
Industry /
Commercial (14)
Postdoctoral
Researcher (P.
Associate / P.
Assistant)
HE
Non – research
(6)
31%
32%
Academic Research in
HE
HE - Associated
Research
Psychologists
Not-for-profit (13)
NON ACADEMIC
40%
Non Academic Roles
11%
18%
UCL CAREERS RESEARCHERS
Industry / Commercial Sector
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
•
Senior Scientific Officer – A Biotech. (Post
doc)
•
Senior Scientist / Project leader – A Biotech
(Research Scientist, same company)
•
Research Scientist – GlaxoSmithKline (Post
doc.)
•
Clinical Research Associate – Chiltern
International
•
Scientific Software Team Leader – A
National Science Facility
COMMUNICATIONS
•
Journal Editor – An academic publication
(position in academic publishing)
•
Associate Editor – Nature Communications
•
Senior Medical Communications Manager –
A Pharma Company (similar
communications roles)
MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCY & OTHER BUSINESS
• Senior Management Consultant – Pharma. Specific
management consultancy (2 positions, similar
consultancies)
• Programme Manager – A Health Consultancy Group
• Management Consultant – Accenture
• Research Analyst – A Healthcare Consultancy
• Business Consultant – Deloitte
• IT Specialist – Barclays Capital (similar role in an
investment bank)
UCL CAREERS RESEARCHERS
Industry / Commercial Sector: Key Findings
Around half stated their PhD was essential for role
Most commonly used skills developed by the PhD were; subject
knowledge, technical skills, scientific writing, data analysis &
communication
Challenges
• Need for further development of management / leadership skills
• Half of respondents said adapting to a changed working
environment (e.g. faster pace) caused problems
• Lack of industry / business experience also stated as an issue
UCL CAREERS RESEARCHERS
NOT FOR PROFIT SECTOR
RESEARCH – NON HEI
•
Evaluation Researcher – CRUK
•
Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Anthony Nolan Research Institute
•
Post Doctoral Research Scientist – CRUK
RESEARCH STRATEGY & MANAGEMENT
•
Project Manager - CRUK (prev. Research Manager, CRUK)
•
Programme Manager – MRC
•
Science Portfolio Adviser – The Wellcome Trust
•
Research Support Officer – ICR
OTHER
•
Manager – The Samaritans (prev. Project Manager, MRC)
•
Operations, Project Support, Staff Development – An International Development Agency & A UK
Charity (prev. speech & language trainer)
•
Clinical Psychologist – an international NGO
•
Science Content Developer – Science Museum (prev. Science Comms. Officer, A Breast
Cancer Charity)
•
International Policy Executive – A Renewable Energy Consultancy
•
Editor – A Medical Royal College Publication
UCL CAREERS RESEARCHERS
NOT FOR PROFIT SECTOR: KEY FINDINGS
9 stated their PhD was essential, 4 said desirable
Top skills used: subject knowledge, technical, written
communication, oral presentation, time management
Challenges
• New working environment – faster pace, sharp learning curve
• Two respondents – skills gap, picked up in new role via training or
‘side activities’ gained during PhD.
UCL CAREERS RESEARCHERS
OTHER SECTORS
PUBLIC SECTOR / GOVERNMENT
•
•
•
•
•
•
Senior Assistant Statistician (Fast Stream) – HMRC
(prev. Lecturer)
Freelance Science Policy Adviser – Dept for
Business, Innovation & Skills
Research Technician – NHS Hospital
Pharmaceutical Assessor - MHRA
Senior Research officer – National Assembly for
Wales (prev. Postdoc. Researcher)
Higher Scientific Officer – DEFRA (prev. Internship
with Green Alliance; Specialist with House of Lords
Select Committee)
HEIs, NON – ACADEMIC
ROLES
Laboratory Manager
Senior Clinical Trails manager
Editor (in house publication)
Building Technician
Laboratory Technician
Further Study (Medical Student)
UCL CAREERS RESEARCHERS
HOW VACANCIES FOUND
METHOD
% Of All
Respondents
Formal Job Adverts
32%
Personal Contacts
21%
Combination of Methods
19%
Social Media
5%
Recruitment Agency
5%
Speculative Application
5%
Recruitment Fairs / Networking Events
4%
Graduate Recruitment Programme
2%
UCL CAREERS RESEARCHERS
TOP TIPS: Comments from Respondents
Filling your CV with as much experience as possible is important (UK Charity)
Build up transferable skills such as writing & communication (Pharma)
Attend careers talks on alternative career paths…get as much alternative experience …build up
understanding of different fields (CRUK)
Plan ahead early, especially if you don’t want to stay in research & find relevant work experience
(Museum content developer)
I urge you to just talk to as many people as possible, as you need to form your own networks (Journal
Editor)
A lack of direct business exposure presented a challenge when entering employment (Pharmaceutical
Management Consultancy)
GAINING EXPERIENCE
•
I joined as a volunteer … I now manage the centre (Charity)
•
I completed an internship after my PhD (UK Govt)
•
I attended employer – led skills training – beneficial impact as could ask current employees about roles
(Management Consultant)
•
I developed transferable skills through teaching & work placements rather than in the research side of my
degree (NGO)
•
At UCL I used careers / graduate school events to build my business development skills (Management
Consultant)
UCL CAREERS RESEARCHERS
Occupation & Sector Research
Advertised Opportunities
Individual Support
UCL CAREERS RESEARCHERS
www.ucl.ac.uk/careers/researchers
UCL Talent Bank
Case Studies
Bespoke Employer
Prog.
4 Specialist
Consultants
Workshops &
Online Seminars
UCL CAREERS RESEARCHERS
www.ucl.ac.uk/careers/researchers
Policy Officers, Soc of Biology; Acad. Of
Medical Sciences
Higher Scientific Officer, UK Government
Researcher, Kings Fund (Think Tank)
Researcher Career Destinations
Science Communication, Science Funding
managers, CRUK
Research Scientist, RSPB
Senior Ecologist, The Ecology Institute
Research & Development, L’Oreal
Senior Scientist, Pfizer
Pharmaceutical Marketing, Circa
Healthcare
Science Project Manager, IMC Healthcare
Communications
Product Specialist, Scientifica
Medical Writer, Oxford Pharmagenesis
Patent Attorney, Reddie & Grose LLP
Strategy Consultant, McKinsey
Also includes:
Podcasts of Sector Events
Links to Key Online Careers Info.
UCL CAREERS RESEARCHERS
Workshop / Seminar Topics
Effective Academic Applications
Academic Interview Skills
Academic Career Planning
Non academic CVs & Application Form
Questions
Non academic cover letters & personal
statements
Non academic interview skills
Using social media in your job hunt
Making the Leap: How Researchers Find
Non – Academic Jobs
•
•
•
•
Group Exercises & Assessment Centres
Case Study Skills
Pitching the PhD: How to sell your
doctorate outside academia
Interview Technique
•
•
Introduction to Negotiation
Networking Skills
UCL CAREERS RESEARCHERS
Employer / Alumni Events, 2016
RESEARCHER SPECIFIC
UK & Global Health Forum: 11th Feb, 5:30 – 7:30.
BOOKING OPEN
A Future in Government & Policy Forum: 22nd March,
5:30 – 7:30 pm
Life Science Sector, Table Top Event: 27th April: 5:30 –
7:00 pm
Visit: www.ucl.ac.uk/careers/researchers - ‘Meet
Employers & Alumni’
OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS: CAREERS WEEKS
• Charities & NGOs – 1st Feb
• Environment – 8th Feb
• Life & Health Sciences – 7th March
Visit: www.ucl.ac.uk/careers/events/getinto
UCL CAREERS RESEARCHERS
UCL Talent Bank is a shortlisting service
which connects UCL students,
researchers and graduates to a broad
range of employers, including UCL
Alumni.
We will actively source opportunities for
UCL candidates and present applications
to employers. The opportunities will
generally be graduate roles and summer
internships.
To ensure that you are automatically
considered for these roles, complete your
candidate profile
and upload your CV.
Applying for roles requires you to create a
tailored cover letter for each opportunity.
For more information and to create your profile, visit:
www.ucl.ac.uk/careers/talentbank
UCL CAREERS RESEARCHERS
Marketing & Booking
Advertised on researcher website, Doctoral School
newsletter & website, Careers Postgraduate blog
Consultant Appointments – booked via
careers/researchers site
Events & Workshops via the Doctoral School’s Skills
Development website; https://courses.grad.ucl.ac.uk/
Attendance contributes training points
UCL CAREERS RESEARCHERS
LOCATION
4th Floor Student
Central,
Malet Street,
WC1E 7HY
careers@ucl.ac.uk
020 3549 5900