Professionalising your PhD: exploring career pathways How the skills you develop translate into career paths

Are you wondering how the skills you develop during your PhD translate into different career paths? Whether you're considering academia, industry or an entirely new sector, understanding how your research and transferable skills can shape your future is crucial.

Join the Entrepreneurship Centre for this interactive session designed to help you explore career opportunities beyond your doctoral studies. With insights from the Entrepreneurship Centre, Careers Centre, and International Education and Lifelong Learning Institute (IELLI), this event will equip you with the knowledge and resources to make informed career decisions.

PhD students should attend to:

• discover pathways to commercialise research and bring innovations to market
• gain insights into career opportunities in academia, industry and other sectors
• learn about lifelong learning and professional development resources available to support your journey
• engage with expert speakers and PhD graduates who have successfully navigated diverse career paths

PhD students at any stage looking to explore career opportunities, develop professional skills, and connect with key University support services should come along to this event.

Event agenda

• Welcome and introductions: meet experts from the Entrepreneurship Centre, Careers Centre and IELLI.
• Introduction to the VITAE Framework: learn about the Researcher Development Framework (RDF) and how it supports career progression.
• Panel Discussion: ‘What Skills from your PhD do you use in your current work?' Insights from PhD graduates in entrepreneurship, industry and academia.
• Q&A session: ask panellists about their career transitions and skill applications.
• Closing remarks and next steps: key takeaways and future engagement opportunities.

Speakers for the event:

• Dr Robert Price, Research Fellow at the University of St Andrews, who specialises in fuel cell and electrolysis technologies. His career has spanned academia, industry and sustainability-focused projects, including work on decarbonising whisky distilleries.
• Dr Rebecca Wilson, Head of Student Development at St Andrews, has a PhD in International Relations and expertise in university transitions, neurodiversity and skills for the future. She is also a coach, workshop leader and advocate for inclusivity in education.
• Oliver Lee, Founder of Digichem, a start-up making molecular modelling accessible, is Chemistry PhD student in the late stages of building software tools that simplify complex computational techniques for researchers.