Careers In Your Ears

We explore why Mohamed decided to do his PhD (which is around differences in neurodevelopment in children with different diseases).  Listen to this episode, to find out more about finding (or even creating) the right PhD for you, applying to a PhD, how it's different from a Masters, and how helpful Google can be.  He also talks about his side project of tutoring and his thoughts about his future.  'As long as you find enjoyment in what you're doing, that's your motivation.' If you're a King's student thinking of applying for a PhD, use the careers team to work through these questions for yourself. If you would like a transcript of this episode please contact careers@kcl.ac.uk. King's PhDs and Research Staff can book an appointment via kcl.targetconnect.net by looking for 'PhD + Research Staff' under appointment type.   If you're a UG or Masters student considering applying for a PhD, please see our KEATS resources on this topic https://keats.kcl.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=41567&section=1

Dr. Fawzi Abou-Chihane is a former science researcher who now runs his own careers consulting business. He has a background in sustainable technologies and sensor development. In this episode he talks about his decision to pursue opportunities outside academic life and his new career. If you would like a transcript of this episode, please contact us at careers@kcl.ac.uk. 

Vicki is a part-time PhD student with extensive work experience in international banking and science policy, doing a PhD in Policy and Bioethics, incorporating publications. Join us as we explore career transition and the benefits and importance of establishing a flexible career, tips for managing a part-time PhD and a fascinating insight into the world of science policy.

Why do women disappear from the history of philosophy?  What can be done about it? In this episode we interview Rebecca Buxton and Lisa Whiting the editors of the recently published book "The Philosopher Queens" which is the only book currently in print exclusively about women philosophers and written and edited by women. We look at the implications for an academic philosophy career of inequality in universities and ask if things are similar in policy work. Finally, our interviewees have some tips for busy researchers and students trying to juggle too many projects at once. Rebecca Buxton is PhD student at Oxford University and Lisa Whiting works full time in policy and studies part time at Birkbeck, University of London.  More information about 'The Philosopher Queens' can be found here.

Dr Bahijja Raimi-Abraham is a pharmacist, Lecturer in Pharmaceutics at King’s College London, Founder and Academic Lead of King’s College London Fight the Fakes. She also leads her own research group “The Raimi-Abraham Group”. Dr Raimi-Abraham's research to date has been in pharmaceutical materials and innovative manufacture. More recently she has focused her research efforts within the therapeutic and drug development aspects of malaria. In this episode we discuss power in academic life (and how to manage it), changing careers and leadership in research.

Dr Ifesinachi Okafor-Yarwood, is a lecturer in sustainable development at the University of St. Andrews and gained her PhD from the African Leadership Centre at King's College London in 2019. Her research focuses on maritime threats, governance and security in the Gulf of Guinea. Ifesinachi has consulted for different international and regional organisations on issues relating to ocean governance, peace, and security in the African continent. She is the lead author of the Stable Seas: Gulf of Guinea report, and a contributing author to the Blue Paper 16, titled: Organized Crime in the Fisheries Sector, commissioned by the High-Level Panel on Sustainable Blue Economy, a global initiative led by 14 Heads of Governments.  In this episode of the podcast, we learn how Ifesinachi discovered this research area and why she wanted to become an academic. She shares what helped her to get to where she is now, and how her presence on LinkedIn and Twitter has been crucial to her public engagement work and to diversif

In this episode we are joined by Jennifer Jackson, Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary and a Kings alumna. Join us for a positive and uplifting conversation covering Jennifer's experience of resilience (and what it's not!), leadership, career progression, confidence and changing the system from within. Kings PGRs and research staff can access careers support from KEATS. Search for 'Careers & Employability' and look for the 'Researchers' menu option. Find us on Twitter @kcldo1thing Look out for teaching and related opportunities such as Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) roles and supporting students with their study skills through the King’s Academy ‘Academic Skills for Learning’ programme.

In this edition of Careers in Your Ears, Kate Murray talks with Alexandria Mitchell, PhD student in the Comprehensive Cancer Centre at King's College London, about her reasons for deciding to do a PhD, the application process, how she funded herself, and how being a PhD satisfies her desire for research autonomy.  Alexandria also considers some of the differences in studying in the UK, from the US, and talks about what's needed for a more diverse research environment.

We talk to Andrew Wright, Head of Employer Engagement, in the Careers & Employability team at King's College London.  We're hearing a lot about recession and unemployment in the news everyday.  This can be disheartening for anyone who is job hunting.  We ask Andrew for his perspective on current labour markets which interest researchers from academia through to the creative industries.  Andrew encourages us to look beyond the headlines and understand what's going on in different sectors in a more nuanced way. Here are the resources which Andrew refers to in the podcast: Virtual work experience: https://keats.kcl.ac.uk/mod/page/view.php?id=3322146 Self employment and freelancing (with link to IPSE membership for King's PhDs): https://keats.kcl.ac.uk/mod/page/view.php?id=3221799 Charlie Ball's blog on labour markets: https://highpeakdata.wordpress.com/author/highpeakcharlie/.  You can also find his updates and other helpful articles here: https://luminate.prospects.ac.uk/ EMS

Shelly-Ann Gajadhar is a PhD student at the Business School at King's College London. She owns her own career coaching business and is a former criminal prosecutor.  In this episode, she talks about career change and managing multiple tasks and priorities, with a particular emphasis on looking after her own wellbeing. We also discuss the Black Lives Matter movement and what it might mean for achieving equality in academia and beyond.

In this episode we're joined by Donald Lush, Careers Consultant for Researchers, King's College London (KCL) to talk about how we can use social media to support our career thinking.  Donald's positive and relaxed approach to using social media shows us how easy it is to develop our networks at a time when we may be feeling isolated from our colleagues. From collaborations to conversations, he talks about having fun and enjoying your new connections as well as providing some excellent tips on how to ensure it is productive. If you are interested in knowing more you may find LinkedIn Learning (https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/learningteaching/ctel/technologies/linkedin-learning) useful on how to develop your profile on LinkedIn as well as our resources on KEATS here: Networking for Career Inspiration (https://keats.kcl.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=41567&section=12).  You can also Book an appointment with a Careers Consultant for Researchers at KCL (scroll down to the bottom of this page) to discuss your o

In this episode we're joined by Dr. Kate Daubney, Head of Careers & Employability, King's College London (KCL).  Kate tells us about her own research and her journey from PhD to heading up the careers team at KCL. She also shares her ideas about how researchers can go beyond the immediate knowledge content of their research to discover the skills and attributes they're developing along the way, and why now is an important time as any to start exploring all the brilliant things researchers have to offer.  In this episode Kate refers to a couple of resources which you may find helpful: 'What do I have to offer' module on KCL's Careers & Employability KEATS pages. 'Mindset', a book on positive approaches to learning by Carol Dweck, PhD [she also has a good TedTalk on this subject] Book an appointment with a Careers Consultant for Researchers at KCL (scroll down to the bottom of this page) Also you can find the "Women Working in Tech (part 2)" episode which we refer to, wherever you're lis

In this short episode, Careers Consultants for Researchers at King's College London (KCL) discuss what action can be taken in these uncertain times and share with listeners how to access support through new online careers lounges for PhDs and Research Staff at KCL and this new series of the podcast. Online appointments and webinars are being offered as normal. Find out more about our support for researchers here: https://keats.kcl.ac.uk/mod/page/view.php?id=2932966 Follow us on Twitter @kcldo1thing

Today’s joint episode with Researc/hers Code, is the second part of a conversation we had at the end of 2019, with Ella Fitzsimmons, Charlotte Fereday and Chloe Tartan, who each have PhDs in different backgrounds (religious studies, language and linguistics and photonics respectively!)  and are now working in tech roles. In this episode, they talk to Victoria Carr from Researc/hers Code about their thoughts on diversity in the tech sector, barriers they faced, factors which attracted them to the sector and finally, top tips for researchers wanting to go into tech roles. Please get in touch with us @kcldo1thing if you have ideas/thoughts about people we could interview for the podcast, or topics you would like us to cover.

Today’s joint episode with Researc/hers Code, is the first part of a conversation we had with Ella Fitzsimmons, Charlotte Fereday and Chloe Tartan, who each have PhDs in different backgrounds (religious studies, language and linguistics and photonics respectively!)  and are now working in tech roles. They talk to Victoria Carr from Researc/hers Code about their journey from academia to their current job, what they’ve taken from that academic experience into the tech space and what’s surprised them about this new sector. Join us in the new year for the 2nd part of this conversation which focuses on diversity, barriers faced and top tips for researchers wanting to go into tech roles.

Emma Davenport teaches Critical and Contextual Studies for the Design department at The Sir John Cass School of Art, Architecture and Design, part of London Metropolitan University. She researches what people wear at work with a particular interest in academic dress. In this episode we explore how academics dress at work, crossing academic disciplines and establishing a career in a highly competitive labour market.

Nick Lynn, Senior Director at Willis Towers Watson talks with Vicki Tipton about his journey from Geography lecturer to Employee Engagement Consultant. Listen in to hear Nick's thoughts on the future of work and the increasing need and relevance of research skills in the world of business. Learn what it means to work as a consultant in employee engagement.  We’re always interested to hear from our listeners: get in touch if you have any ideas of who you’d like us to interview or specific questions you’d like us to ask people.  Tweet @kcldo1thing or email careers@kcl.ac.uk.

Kai is a senior lecturer at the Manchester School of Art, at Manchester Metropolitan University and was previously a research fellow at King's College London. She also has a very successful career as an artist. In this episode she tells us about how her skills and experiences as an academic and an artist have led her to her current role. We also explore equality, inclusion and neurodiversity in academic life and the importance of being yourself in job interviews. Apologies for the sound quality. This episode was recorded online and there is some background noise and distortion.

What does it mean to work in health policy?  What does a policy researcher do day to day?  And, if your research has been in one topic, how do you transition into another area?  Listen to this short podcast where Kate Murray talks with Dr Deborah Fenney from The King’s Fund and find out more about being a research ‘geek’.  We’re always interested to hear from our listeners: get in touch if you have any ideas of who you’d like us to interview or specific questions you’d like us to ask people.  Tweet @kcldo1thing or email careers@kcl.ac.uk.

This bonus episode was taken from our live recording at the Vitae International Researcher Development Conference earlier this month, where we led a Special Interest Session along with KCL’s post-grad student led 'Postdocalypse' podcast! This episode concerns how to get researchers’ voices heard and other reasons why we set up our podcasts. We have a few tips and advice for setting up podcasts, and some audience questions too. Enjoy! Postdocalypse podcast link: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/postdocalypse-kings-college-london-health-sciences/id1369174654?mt=2 Vitae - supports the professional development of researchers: www.vitae.ac.uk/