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How can I translate my academic research skills into a rewarding industry career, and what does that path look like?

Today on Science with Impact, we feature a panel of industry scientists from leading companies, including Zachary Kean of Dow, Erin Finley, Ph.D. of Thermo Fisher Scientific, Cameron Brown of Eastman, Danielle Witek of Under Armour, and Nicholas Van Zee of Hoya Vision Care.

The panelists share their career journeys, transitioning from academia to industry, and offer practical advice for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. They discuss everything from leveraging your technical skills and building a professional network to the importance of failure and maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

🤔 Who is this for?

Graduate students and postdocs in the sciences.
Scientists interested in pursuing research and development roles in an industrial setting.
Academics who are undecided about their career path and want to learn more about industry opportunities.
Anyone seeking effective strategies for job searching, networking, and transitioning from academia to industry.

📋 What is it about?

The panelists detail their diverse and often non-linear career paths, emphasizing that the skills learned during a Ph.D. are broadly applicable. They discuss the critical shift from pursuing academic curiosity to solving specific, tangible problems in industry, where factors such as economics, processing, and scalability are paramount.

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Key Takeaway: Your most valuable skill is not your specific research topic, but your ability to solve problems, learn from failures, and iterate. To launch a successful industry career, focus on building genuine connections through curiosity and learn to communicate your complex work in a simple way that gets people excited about its potential.

⌚️ Time Stamps:

00:00 Navigating Career Transitions: Industry from Academia
00:55 Introduction and Host's Mission
01:13 Panelist Introductions: Zach Keen
01:56 Panelist Introductions: Erin Finley
03:10 Panelist Introductions: Cameron Brown
03:46 Panelist Introductions: Danielle Whittick
04:32 Panelist Introductions: Nick
05:19 Overview of Trainee Interests and Goals
05:56 Panel Discussion: Transitioning from Academia to Industry
10:31 Panel Discussion: Bridging Academic Research and Real-World Impact
17:58 Panel Discussion: Technical Skills in Academia vs. Industry
28:34 Navigating Contract Work Challenges
29:40 Understanding Scope Creep
30:42 Collaboration in Large Companies
32:57 Balancing Long-Term Projects
37:25 Networking and Job Search Strategies
52:11 Work-Life Balance in Industry
53:48 Final Thoughts and Q&A

📣 Guests:

Zachary Kean | Research Scientist at Dow Chemical
Erin Finley, Ph.D. | Manager, Solid State Lab & Metrology Group at Thermo Fisher Scientific
Cameron Brown | Applications Research Group at Eastman Chemical
Danielle Witek | Apparel Designer at Under Armour
Nicholas Van Zee | Senior Scientist at Hoya Vision Care

🎙️ Host

I’m Vanessa Rosa, Ph.D., founder of Science with Impact, where we partner with scientists to bridge the gap between research and real-world impact through evidence-based, question-led, and person-centered science communication.