Held at Magdalen College with around 70 delegates, the event once again highlighted the extraordinary range of career paths available to researchers, both within academia and far beyond it.
The day was opened by Professor Anne Goriely, whose insightful talk set the tone for the programme. Professor Goriely also spent the morning at the Careers Day, speaking with participants and answering questions. Her readiness to speak with attendees one-to-one was well received and played a clear role in creating a welcoming, supportive atmosphere at the event.
The first plenary session, chaired by Aaron Johnston, showcased a diverse panel of speakers whose stories underscored that career progression in research is rarely a straight line.
Manjiri Gokhale Joshi, RDM’s Mentoring Coordinator, encouraged researchers to think about whether they were achieving their highest potential and how mentoring relationships can unlock new possibilities. Casey Johnson, Clinical Project Manager at NAMSA and current DPhil student in RDM, illustrated how the many skills that students and staff develop within RDM have similar parallels to those required to work in an industry setting, while Gillian Douglas, Head of Compliance in the Department of Biomedical Services, described her transition from research into regulatory and strategic leadership. Dr Christos Kotanidis, NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer, shared how a stint in scientific publishing broadened his perspective and shaped his academic trajectory.
Following the morning plenary, participants attended a series of smaller breakout workshops designed to provide hands-on guidance. One workshop, delivered by the Oxford University Careers Service advisors Dr Chris Jeffs and Claire Chesworth, tackled so-called “forbidden topics” such as salary negotiation, benefits, and work-life balance - subjects that are rarely discussed openly but are crucial to building sustainable careers. Another session focused on the interview process, giving attendees practical tools to communicate their strengths effectively and to handle challenging questions with confidence. A parallel round-table Q&A offered an opportunity for more informal conversation with the day’s plenary speakers, allowing participants to explore individual career journeys in greater depth and to seek advice tailored to their own situations.
Attendees highlighted how valuable it was to hear honest, first-hand accounts from people across the research career spectrum. One participant commented: ‘The best part of the experience is being able to see first-hand other people’s experiences, how they achieved it and the options available in the field of research, not just post-doc or PI. But if you want to follow that path, they also give you information on how to do it.’
‘The interactive breakout sessions were very informative and useful.’
The afternoon plenary session, chaired by Casey Johnson, continued the theme of exploring diverse career paths. Dr Sumana Sharma, Wellcome Career Development Fellow at RDM, discussed the realities of pursuing fellowship funding and navigating the academic career ladder. Dr Shaked Ashkenazi, now a content marketing writer at antibodies.com, reflected on how her scientific background shaped her storytelling approach and opened doors in science communication. Dr Faseeha Ayaz, Associate Editor at Nature Communications, offered insight into editorial careers and the skills that bridge research and publishing, while Dr Wian Satyapertiwi, a molecular biology scientist at Scripta Therapeutics, described the transition from DPhil studies into the world of biotechnology startups.
Noelia Martinez Sanchez, RDM Researcher Association committee member and co-organiser of the event, said: ‘We organised the RDM Careers Day to help colleagues see that there is no single ‘right’ path, and that there is support along the way. The honesty and generosity of everyone who took part is what made the day such as success.’
Ileana Badi, who is also a member of the Researcher Association committee and co-organiser of RDM Careers Day, added: ‘It was a pleasure to organise the day and very rewarding to see people empowered after the talks.’
The next RDM Careers Day will be held in Autumn 2026.