Career Options After Your

Chemistry PhD

Charlie Cunningham (Senior Careers Consultant)

How Do You Feel?

Definite idea

Several career ideas

Vague Idea

No Idea

Objectives

Outline typical career options open to you after your

PhD.

Reflect on your own skills, strengths and what you enjoy

doing.

Plan simple steps you can take to move your own career

decision making forward.

Appreciate the importance of tailored applications.

Dr. Steve Margetts, Director, Keema Ltd

Where do PhDs Go…

Academia

Fewer than 1 in 6 go

into academic jobs

(HESA data 2011/12)

Industry/Other

Destinations after6 Months

Employed Further Study

Unemployed Work and Study

Other

In latest 3 surveys, Academic:

Research Assistant

(Engineering, Cardiff)

Post-Doctoral

Researcher, Warwick

Post-Doc Research

Fellow, U of Mons-

Hainault

Post Doctoral Resarch

Officer, U of Bath

Post-Doctoral

Researcher, Italian

National Research

Council

Post-Doctoral Research

Fellow, Nat. Autonomous

U of Mexico

Post-Doctoral

Researcher, University of

Texas

In latest 3 surveys, Non-Academic:

Technologist at Infineum (Petrol

additives)

Research Physicist at Shimadzu

(Analytical Instruments)

Research Scientist at Akzo Nobel

Chemistry Teacher – Joseph

Chamberlaine College

HPC Software Developer –

Numerical Algorithm Group

Account Executive – Bmore

Creative Advertising Agency

Consulting Analyst – Frost and

Sullivan (Research consultancy)

Director of Neschem (Contracted

synthesis of organic

intermediates)

Quality Control Manager, Reckitt

Benckiser

Research Engineer, Halma

Senior Research Scientist,

Signature Discover Ltd

Academic Jobsteaching in lectures and

seminars;

marking and assessing work;

writing up research and

publishing the findings;

applying for research grants;

analysing data and preparing

reports;

presenting work at

conferences and seminars;

administrative work.

“Because of assessments such as

the REF, institutions are working

in a more competitive

environment and are under

pressure to recruit the best

possible staff. In turn, this

increases the pressure on the

academic staff that are given jobs,

and many are set performance

targets which they are expected

to hit.” – From Prospects

It can take 5 years to secure a

permanent role. Success depends on:

Dedication to the subject

Resilience in face of tough job market

Confidence to deal with criticism

Stamina to face heavy demands in early

stages of career….

It can take 5 years to secure a

permanent role. Success depends on:

Building your research profile

Developing your research trajectory

Gaining Teaching Experience

Typical Salaries

research assistant: £20,000 to £25,000;

postdoctoral researcher: £30,000 to

£38,000;

higher education lecturer: £33,000 to

£46,000.

Increasing Your Chances

• Become knowledgeable about department

and research area you are interested in.

• Seek out people who can help you.

• Good publications record

• Experience of teaching

• Administration and supervision experience

• Knowledge of funding opportunities

Industrial Sponsorship

E.g. Lubrizol, BP (Rachel O’Reilly),

Infineum (Peter Scott)

Other SMEs/start ups

You can apply for Semi-Independent

Fellowships e.g. EPSRC, BBSRC, MRC,

Royal Commission of 1851

Useful Sites

Vitae – Researcher Career Development

Manchester Academic Careers

Jobs.ac.uk – Academic Jobs

Department Websites – Warwick

EPSRC – Industrial partnerships

Non-Academic Jobs

PHD Programme – Markets, Maths Finance..

https://myadvantage.warwick.ac.uk/ViewJob.chpx?id=389942

Research Chemist

http://www.lubrizol.com/Careers/Job-Search.html

Other Resources

See Websites for Career Ideas.

UK Science Parks

Company websites

Linkedin, Facebook for larger orgs

Careers and Skills

Your supervisors, colleagues.

Reflecting on Your Skills/Strengths

Researcher Development Framework

University of Reading Skills Transformer

Roosevelt Says:

“In any moment of decision, the best thing

you can do is the right thing, the next best

thing is the wrong thing, and the worst

thing you can do is nothing.”

So How Do You Decide?

American Chemical Society article for

chemistry PhDs – know your strengths,

follow your passion……

Further Resources

LDC page for Research Active Staff

American Chemical Society – Transferring

Your PhD

Google Hangouts – Job after your PhD

Manchester Academic Careers

Jobs on Toast

Top Tips for ApplicationsPrework

Research companies and

research groups

Underline key features of

the job advert

Reflect on your own

skills/qualities

Prioritise information.

Applications

Read instructions

carefully – speak with

people if unsure

Tailor to the role

Get it checked – Book at

appointments