Careers in Your Ears

In this episode we meet Dr. Lienkie Diedericks, a King's PhD graduate. After completing her PhD Lienkie worked for the Royal Institute of British Architects on their equality and diversity initiatives. She has now returned to work at King's on research culture in our Faculy of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences. In this episode we discuss the unexpected turns researchers careers can take, being an international student and professional in the UK, what higher education institutions need to do to be more equitable and what research culture means in practice.

Adrian Signell, a Senior Associate at Boston Consulting Group, shares his journey from completing a PhD in Biology and Genomics to thriving in strategy consulting. He highlights how skills from academia, especially in healthcare, are highly transferable. Adrian discusses the fast-paced consultancy environment compared to academia and the importance of extracurriculars. He also provides insights on crafting compelling applications and emphasizes the consulting industry's commitment to diversity and inclusion, showcasing the value of unique backgrounds.

In this episode we meet Joe Shute, a humanities PhD researcher at Manchester Metropolitan University. Joe is also a journalist and is about to publish his third book. In this podcast he talks about combining his three careers and offers us his insights on how they compliment each other. He also provides us with tips on getting started in writing and how he manages the multiple demands on his time. We also get to find out more about creative non-fiction. We'd like to thank the Leverhulme Trust for their introduction to Joe and their generosity with their time and support to make this episode possible.

In this engaging discussion, Becky Iopolo, a researcher on the ARC Project at Cambridge, and Kate Murray, a careers consultant for researchers, unravel the concept of narrative CVs. They emphasize how these innovative tools can transform recruitment and career planning by showcasing diverse skills. Iopolo and Murray address their rising importance in academia, the challenges they tackle, and offer tips for writing compelling narrative CVs. They also highlight the need for accessible resources to empower researchers from all backgrounds.

'It's really an art' - join us for an enjoyable and informative conversation with Antonio Forte about the ups and downs of applying for fellowships, the importance of resilience and building a supportive network and the joy of thinking outside the box (and how this helps with applications). There is also a fascinating glimpse into the future in the form of shape shifting meta materials. For King's researchers applying to fellowships you can also find recordings from fellowship funders on the CRSD webpages and get support and advice from the King's funding teams in addition to speaking to careers consultants about CVs and applications.

In this episode, Dr. Sarah Burton, writer and researcher tells us about her career in education and about her experience of gaining funding from the Leverhulme Trust, what that meant to her and gives some tips on making an application. Many thanks to the Trust for introducing us and making this episode possible.

Join Dr. Dmitry Kishkinev, a lecturer in animal behavior and neuroscience at Keele University, as he shares his fascinating academic journey from Russia to Wales. He discusses the critical importance of strategic planning in building a successful career in academia, particularly during challenging phases. Dmitry reflects on the complexities of postdoctoral roles and the transition to consulting, while emphasizing the need for effective time management and leadership strategies to navigate the academic landscape.

Lingxing Kong, a King's PhD student in Robotics and an Inclusive Careers Education Ambassador, chats with Dr. Emmanouil Spyrakos Papastavridis, a Lecturer in Engineering whose research focuses on human-robot interaction and soft robotics. They explore the challenges of transitioning between academia and industry, sharing personal anecdotes and insights. Emmanouil discusses the skill sets developed in each realm and how adaptability is key in collaborative robotics projects. Listeners gain valuable advice on navigating career choices and maintaining work-life balance in diverse environments.

We’re celebrating International Women’s Day with a special episode and we're joined by Drs Amal Abuzainab, Lovelin Obi and Rokhshid Ghaziani who are all academic researchers, teachers and involved in many other things alongside their main careers. In a very uplifting conversation, we hear about how they came to be academics, what kinds of barriers women can face in academic life (and how to overcome them) and the challenges of managing complex careers and responsibilities.

Join us for an inspiring chat with Professor Michael Sanders as he lets us in on his approach for getting things done in academia, the need for code-switching to develop a career in multiple sectors and how to view and use your own privilege to empower others. Michael demonstrates the power of a porous career that spans academia, Chief Scientist in the Behavioural Insights Team, Chief Executive of a What Works charity and advisory work. He provides insight into the role of a professor and shares his take on protecting your wellbeing whilst building a fulfilling, multidisciplinary career in a competitive environment.