Dr. Sheryl Tan's journey into venture capital is a testament to the power of adaptability and leveraging transferable skills. After completing her postdoc, she navigated the challenges of transitioning from neuroscience to venture capital, emphasising the importance of building networks and honing soft skills. Her story inspires scientists to embrace change and trust their instincts when exploring new career paths.

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Keywords: transferable skills, communication, story telling, investment, PhD careers

Keywords: neuroscience, long COVID, job market, personal branding, networking, mentorship, LinkedIn, career growth, AI in research, industry insights

Summary:

In this episode of LabMates Beyond the Bench, Maddie interviews Rebeka Fekete, a neuroscientist and translational strategy expert. They discuss Rebeka's journey from academia to industry, her experiences with long COVID research, and the challenges of navigating the job market. Rebeka shares insights on personal branding, the importance of networking, and how to leverage LinkedIn for career growth. The conversation highlights the need for mentorship and the value of creating opportunities in a competitive job landscape.

Keywords: science, research, venture capital, startups, academic career, commercialization, storytelling, PhD, medical school, entrepreneurship

In this episode of LabMates Beyond the Bench, Dr. Kathleen Lucere shares her journey from aspiring medical student to PhD in biochemistry and her eventual transition into the world of venture capital and startups. She discusses the importance of storytelling in science, the skills needed to navigate the startup landscape, and the myths surrounding leaving academia for industry. Kathleen emphasises the need for researchers to engage in commercialisation to drive global change and reflects on her identity as a scientist.

Keywords: Academia, Industry, Mindset, Sustainability, Scaling, PhD, Innovation, Marketability, Transition

The conversation explores the significant differences between academic and industry mindsets, particularly in the context of innovation, scalability, and marketability. Anu shares her experiences transitioning from academia to industry, highlighting the challenges of adapting to a more practical and profit-driven approach.

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In this episode of LabMates, we interview Dr. Thomas Grant, who shares his journey from academia to a role in commercialisation at Uni Services. He discusses the skills and mindset shifts required for success in the business world, the importance of networking during a PhD, and debunks common myths about commercialisation. Dr. Grant emphasises the value of research impact beyond academic publications and encourages PhD students to embrace opportunities outside their immediate academic focus.

Key Takeaways

"It's okay to leave at 5:30 PM."

"Make some time for networking during your PhD."

"Commercialisation is not a dirty word."

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Today we are chatting with Emily about her career journey from doing a PhD in Chemistry at the Ferrier Institute and on to her role as Commercialisation Manager at Wellington Univentures, and the steps and lessons along the way.

Follow Emily on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-mason-665803113/

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Wellington Univentures: ⁠https://www.wellingtonuniventures.nz/⁠