Remember learning to swim and realizing you could float without trying? While floating alone did not make you fit for the Olympics, it did mean you were ready to start learning the moves without sinking. As a PhD student or recent graduate exploring a career away from research, you might feel similarly unprepared, but without realizing it, you have been building the skills you need right from the start.
Phase 1: Exploration
In every PhD comes a time where you must decide between following the academic route, switching to research in industry, or leaving the bench behind altogether. Facing this decision, you might find yourself facing more questions than answers or even start to doubt your choice of degree. If this is the case, let me reassure you, you are not alone.
Many PhD students realize along the way that their interests have evolved outside the boundaries of the lab. If, like me, you are passionate about science communication, you might have noticed that talking or writing about your research brings you more joy than performing the experiments that shape it up. You probably thrive in breaking down complex scientific concepts into easily understandable messages or creating clear visuals that unravel your research story. If you can relate, then a career in scientific communications might just be the right path for you.
Phase 2: Self-doubt
When you finally decide to hang up your lab coat, you might get hit by a wave of uncertainty and self-doubt. After having spent close to a decade training to become a scientist, moving away from research often makes you feel unprepared for what is coming ahead. Questions like “With only a research background, can I apply for a position in communications?” or “Sure, I received positive feedback on my last presentation, and have just finished writing this huge paper… but is this really relevant?” may start flooding in, leaving you to wonder how you will ever convince the hiring manager that you have the right skills for the job if all you ever did was research.
Phase 3: Realizing Your Power
Let me stop you right there. “Just doing research” requires many abilities beyond pipetting. Working on a research project is comparable to building furniture without a manual. You will probably try and fail a couple of times, but piece by piece, you eventually get there. As a scientist, you are trained to solve problems, and your years in research help you collect many of the tools you will need to assemble your new career framework:
Storytelling
Storytelling is essential in science communication because it helps translate complex concepts into compelling narratives to engage diverse audiences. As a researcher, you already practice storytelling whenever you present your project, because you learn how to simplify it in a way that clearly explains what you do and why it is important.
Pro-tip: Seek opportunities to present your project, for instance at seminars or poster sessions, or by writing a grant proposal.
Writing
Knowing your way with words is essential for clearly conveying scientific ideas, whether in marketing, outreach, or medical writing. Fortunately, writing is a core part of your PhD, culminating in your thesis. It refines your ability to structure ideas logically and communicate effectively, invaluable skills in any role in communications.
Pro-tip: Contributing to reviews or articles and applying for grants can help sharpen your pen.
Data Analysis
Science communication often involves interpreting and presenting data to measure impact or support arguments. As a researcher, you do this almost every day by analyzing experiments, creating figures, and explaining your findings to your peers.
Pro-tip: Approach each experiment as a chance to learn new ways of effectively communicating your data to your fellow researchers.
Organization and time management
In a way, managing multiple experiments in parallel during your PhD mirrors the fast-paced, deadline-driven nature of communications roles. Your ability to efficiently balance timelines and diverse tasks in your research routine equips you to handle merciless editorial calendars and diverse projects in future roles.
Pro-tip: Using tools like to-do lists or weekly schedules to keep track of your experiments can help structure your research and demonstrate your planning skills during interviews.
Communication and Teamwork
Coordinating the work between diverse teams and stakeholders is key in any communications project. While working on your PhD can sometimes feel more isolated, you likely experienced collaboration with fellow scientists on specific projects.
Pro-tip: Build your teamwork skills by seeking collaborative opportunities within and beyond your lab – they also have great potential for accelerating your research.
Phase 4: Taking the Leap
Many of your skills are valuable in both research and non-research roles. When planning your next career move, take a step back and reflect: What do you enjoy doing? What skills are required for the position you want to apply for, and have you done something similar during your PhD? You might not be able to apply your skills exactly as you did in research, but your years of training have sharpened your ability to learn and taught you to be resourceful. While no PhD fully prepares you for what is ahead, it has equipped you with the ability to tackle challenges. Trust yourself and what you have learned and take that leap into the unknown!
For more advice on professional skills and development, job search and interviews, grant writing, and more, visit our Student Resource Center.
Nour Mozaffari
