S15 Ep 1 | Balancing Research and Practice |Clinical Academic Careers with Professor Julie Sanders

If you’re a current or aspiring clinical academic wondering how to build a research career alongside clinical practice, this episode is for you. Professor Julie Sanders, cardiovascular nurse and clinical academic joins us to discuss: navigating non‑linear career paths balancing clinical and research demands making the most of emerging opportunities Saying yes (and knowing when not to) Julie shares practical insights on using research in practice, building your profile, finding champions, and how being bold in your networking can shape your career in unexpected ways. You can find the resources mentioned by Julie using the links below:   CARIN: https://www.councilofdeans.org.uk/partnerships/carin-clinical-academic-roles-implementation-network/ CONNECT: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/research/connect KCATO: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/doctoralcollege/researcher-development/kcato Post-doc paper: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jocn.15575  King’s Careers Network for Researchers LinkedIn page for more researcher career highlights and job postings. For King’s doctoral researchers and research staff you can access specific online resources and events to support your career development within and beyond academia.  

In this episode we talk to Dr Santhi Kuppilivenkata, Head of Data Science at KPMG. It was a refreshingly honest conversation about returning to work after maternity leave: 'it's not a break' and leveraging your research skills and academic approach in industry with some excellent tips on how to talk about your value in a corporate environment (and what to avoid). She also sheds light on how to work in industry while maintaining a role in academia and how that benefits her day to day work. Santhi's proactive approach to building a professional network was also transformational in her career and she is passing that on as a mentor for SheCanCode. www.kmpg.comSheCanCode

Does a PhD count as experience? If you're looking for roles outside of academia and wondering whether you have the right experience, or finding it hard to articulate your skills in 'corporate speak', then this one's for you.Laura and Lindsay discuss:How to translate your research skills and speak the language of a new sectorUsing your network to unlock some of the 'secrets' of another industryWhich level to start atHow to get extra experience if you need itStrategic stepping stonesTo hear more about Lindsay's research, make sure you're following us on LinkedIn: King's Careers Network for ResearchersIf you have a question you'd like us to answer, complete this anonymous formIf you are a researcher at King's and would like to attend one of our workshops or book a 1:1 appointment go to: https://kcl.targetconnect.net/

In this episode we welcome back Dr Amal Abuzeinab, Senior Lecturer and interdisciplinary academic at De Montford University. This conversation provides strategic insights into forging an academic career looking at the accepted reality of the '3 jobs in 1' model - research, teaching and service and the roles she took to build her academic career. Amal shares her strategic approach to academic career progression including her top three aspects of the 'hidden curriculum' of academic careers and how to position yourself effectively within interdisciplinary research. A lot of our conversation comes back to strategic alignment - with your institution, your research and finding your academic home.If you want to listen our previous episode featuring Amal, you can find it here Series 10: International Women's Day HEPI blog about the challenges of interdisciplinary research careersKing's Careers Network for Researchers LinkedIn page for more researcher career insights and job postings For King's doctoral researchers and research staff you can access specific online resources and events to support you in your academic careers.

If you're worried about the job market headlines, or currently applying and feel like you're getting nowhere: this one's for you.Specialist Careers Consultants for Researchers, Anna Favalessa and Laura Johnson respond to a listener who is having a tough time and looking for ways to improve their chances. We cover:The state of the job market right nowHow AI is affecting recruitmentHow you can target your applications more effectivelyHow to make connections with prospective employersHow to protect your wellbeing in these tricky timesIf you have a question you'd like us to answer, complete this anonymous form: ⁠Send your careers question to the Careers In Your Ears podcast – Fill out form⁠If you are a researcher at King's and would like to attend one of our workshops or book a 1:1 appointment go to: https://kcl.targetconnect.net/

Ever wondered what project management really looks like in the biotech industry? In this episode Dr Alice Santambrogio, Project Manager at Relation, shares her journey from research technician to scientific management. We discuss how to decide if doing a PhD is right for you, the differences between working in biotech compared to academia, and how to talk to your supervisor about taking on new responsibilities. Alice offers actionable advice on leveraging your network, identifying opportunities, and applying your research skills in new contexts.   If you are a researcher at King’s, find out more about how the careers team can support you to explore roles within and beyond academia here.  Connect with us on Linked in by joining our King’s Careers Network for Researchers. 

Dr Vittorio Aita joins us to share his passion for communication: from getting 70 year olds on the nano dancefloor, to winning over resistant teens with his powerful storytelling.  Since the early days of high school to his Physics PhD at King’s, Vittorio has shared his passion for science outreach in exciting and innovative ways.  Through his openness to opportunity and experimental approach to career he now enjoys using his skills and experience as an associate editor at Nature Communication (part of Springer Nature).  For anyone interested in outreach, science communications, publishing or simply keen to hear Vittorio’s take on the identity shift of leaving academia – this is a great listen. Want us to answer your careers question? Complete this anonymous form: Sendyour careers question to the Careers In Your Ears podcast – Fill out formCareers support for researchers at King’s here: https://keats.kcl.ac.uk/mod/page/view.php?id=5279350&forceview=1Vittorio mentioned Physics World’s student publishing platform, more info here: https://physicsworld.com/p/our-student-contributors/Vittorio on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vittorio-aita-160021327/https://vittorioaita.com/

“Have faith in yourself that you’re able to learn...have the willpower and the confidence that you can do it” In this episode Dr Gayathri Sekhar, Risk & Compliance at Deloitte, speaks candidly about some of the realities of adapting to a fast-paced, corporate environment and reflects on how her experience as a researcher taught her perseverance and a willingness to learn.  We discuss how she used networking and informational interviews to navigate a transition into consulting and what progression looks like after making that move. Gayathri also offers practical tips and information about the recruitment process and how to prepare for it as well as words of encouragement for any researchers curious about exploring roles beyond academia.  *All opinions are Gayathri’s own and not associated with Deloitte  If you are a researcher at King’s you can access resources for exploring careers beyond academia on our KEATS pages and for preparing for consultancy interviews here.  

Dr Lindsay Parker and Laura Johnson (careers consultants for researchers) tackle a question around whether it is necessary to do graduate teaching assistant (GTA) work for your career development, even if you're not currently planning on being a lecturer.Got a careers question for our next episode? Complete this form: https://forms.office.com/e/JNyRpVd1eRHere are some resources and sites we mention:GTA one-stop shop on KEATS: https://keats.kcl.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=42686King's Doctoral College Hub: https://emckclac.sharepoint.com/sites/KPRHKing's Academy: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/academyMore info on Advance HE fellowships: https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/fellowshipBrilliant Club: https://thebrilliantclub.org/King's careers resources for researchers: https://keats.kcl.ac.uk/mod/page/view.php?id=5279350&forceview=1

Could you apply your research skills to your career development and work out your next step? Our latest guest has taken this approach and recently wrote about it in this article in Nature. Matt talks to Laura about how he tested a few of his career hypotheses during his 15 years as a researcher (Start up? Publishing? Freelance?) and how it has helped him work out what he enjoys, what he's good at and how he likes to work. It doesn't have to take up all your time and it's a great strategy for exploring careers in academia and beyond.Matt's article, co-written with Dr Anne-Laure Le Cunff : https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-02437-6Find Matt on Linkedin here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-betts-ph-d-12527857/If you are a researcher at King's, you can access our resources here: Careers resources for researchers on KEATSGot a careers question for our next Q&A episode? Complete this anonymous form