What is your background?
I am currently working as Grants Manager, Ashoka University, India. My responsibilities are Pre-Award support on Grants, provide administrative assistance to ensure the compliance and due diligence, outreach to funding agencies, organising workshops/seminars.
My research interests are research management, infectious diseases and public health. I am an experimental biologist with training in infectious disease, immunology and public health. I completed my Ph.D. and postdoctoral studies from Centre For DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD), Hyderabad, India. At CDFD, I studied the relationship between mycobacterial virulence proteins and human immune response. In august 2020, I worked as Research Scientist at Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon where I was managing COVID-19 testing laboratory, liaising with hospital staff, government officials and general public. Simultaneously, I was executing research projects on COVID-19, antimicrobial resistance and tuberculosis. I have written research articles, general notes on tuberculosis, COVID-19, antimicrobial resistance, intellectual property rights.
Why did you move away from the academia?
I enjoy research and working at the bench but I always knew that I never wanted to be confined in the lab. So I started searching for allied careers where I can use my scientific experience. So, for me, I did not move away from academia, rather I intentionally left academia.
Is there anything you miss about academia?
Not really.
How did you get this job? Did you face any challenges when considering a move away from academia or applying for the role?
How did you get this job? I was aggressively looking for a job change. So, I would spend hours on websites like LinkedIn, Indiabioscience, searching on google using different keywords. I found the job vacancy at Ashoka University and after carefully reading the job description, I decided to apply.
Did you face any challenges when considering a move away from academia or applying for the role?
Yes, of course! When I decided to move away from academia, I realized I did not have a proper CV. Another challenge was how to prepare myself for the interview. I did not have a proper connection who could guide through this process. It was difficult to prepare for interviews on your own. What question would be asked? Will it be from expertise? How to project myself as a suitable candidate for the job etc.
What motivated you to/why did you choose the sector you transitioned into?
Research management is an upcoming, growing career sector for PhD graduates who are interested in research careers but not limited to academia. Research management gives you the opportunity to explore career grants management, science policy, scientific publishing etc. I believe it will be a good learning curve and will help me to develop new skill-sets.
Did you think you had the skills required for your current position before you started? Were you right?
Answer to both questions is Yes.
How did your PhD prepare you for your current job? For example, what were the transferrable skills that you developed during your PhD that are most relevant to your current role?
My PhD journey helped a lot. I developed skills in scientific writing and publishing, grants writing, data management, team work, critical analysis, networking. Since I have a background in infectious diseases, I learnt about public policy, implementation, ethics in research.
Have you built a network before your transition to industry? How it helped you in the process?
I did not have a network before. But I got help from my research collaborators and faculties from CDFD.
Do you have mentors who helped you in making the right career decisions?
Yes, I have one mentor who supported me in making my career decisions.
Did you have any preconceptions about your sector that proved to be wrong?
Not exactly. I came to research management without any pre-occupied notions.
Can you describe a typical week in your job?
On a typical day, I mostly work on upcoming grant/fellowships deadlines, meeting with faculties and perform due diligence during the grant submission process.
What is the workplace culture? Please include comments on work-life balance, flexibility, remote working?
Workplace culture is healthy and safe (most important for me). It provides good work-life balance and flexibility to remote working. There are a lot of opportunities to learn something new every day.
Do people with a PhD frequently get hired in the company/sector?
Yes.
What are your favourite parts of your job?
Flexibility and independence to work.
What are your reflections on your career path?
If I look back at my career path, I would see gradual changes in my career progression. Nothing was like a sudden change. I am optimistic, fingers crossed.
Do you have any advice for current graduate students and postdocs considering a career outside of academia?
First of all, Don’t be in guilt while making a career transition outside of academia, Never. You have PhD, you have valuable, transferable skills and you are free to choose a career as per your interest.
Work on your soft skills and showcase it in your CV. Learn how to write cover letters, mails to recruiters. Update your profiles on job boards. And the most important thing is to keep developing new skill sets.
What do you know now that you wish you’d known when exploring a transition?
I wish I had more insights about the careers available outside academia.
Can you recommend any relevant resources, organizations or events that might help somebody new to the sector find out more about it?
There is no single resource that will help you. You can begin your search with LinkedIn, Indiabioscience, SCI-ROI, and regular visits to government funding agencies like ICMR, DST. These government agencies also recruit PhDs for various positions.
