Researcher stories

How do you go about building all the skills you need at the start of your research career? Cherry found a mentor to guide her through this journey.

Moving between industry and academia has made Emilie a better thinker, researcher and practitioner. But to do a PhD, she has had to learn how to shift her skills and embrace new ways of working.

To get into social science research, where his real interest lay, Upul had to do three Master's, find a supportive mentor and gain experience in different disciplines.

Albert always knew the type of research he wanted to do. But to find the right research environment he had to move from industry to academia, and to a new country.

Ben has always had a strong sense of what he wants to do. But as a clinician, he had to find ways to balance research with medical training and clinical practice.

Few careers are straightforward. Lucy took two years' break from academia, changed disciplines to return – and became a new parent just as she started her postdoc.

As a world-renowned scientist, Liz had to navigate plenty of obstacles throughout her career – from getting support for early-stage research ideas to influencing international policy.

Patricia wants younger researchers to have better support than she had around challenges like setbacks with research and balancing career and parenthood.

For Stephen, setting up a lab meant dealing with some predictable challenges, like building a team, but also some unpredictable ones.