In this episode, Chaperone host Pedro Resende speaks with Elena Hoffer, co-founder of Alma.me, about her transition from a PhD in immunology at the Karolinska Institute to entrepreneurship focused on supporting researchers’ careers.

Elena explains that many PhDs struggle not because they lack skills, but because they fail to reframe their expertise in a way that resonates with non-academic employers. She illustrates this with a striking example where simply reframing a CV transformed hundreds of rejections into frequent interview invitations. A central theme of the episode is proactivity, identified as the key mindset for successful career transitions, alongside communication, particularly the ability to influence and persuade.

Elena closes by recommending How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie and inviting listeners to connect with her on LinkedIn, reinforcing the message that a PhD is a powerful asset - when it is translated and positioned effectively for the wider job market.

A must-listen for PhDs, postdocs, and institutions committed to better scientific career development.

Scientist-turned-coach Dr. Hannah Roberts joins host Catarina Seabra from Chaperone, to explore what it really means to build an intentional career in science.

From breaking the “Superhuman” cycle to navigating today’s tight academic job market, Hannah shares practical strategies for aligning your career with your values and making confident, proactive decisions in a changing scientific landscape.

In this first episode of Season 2, we have as guests David Giltner from Turning Science (https://www.turningscience.com/) and Ashley Moses from PhD Paths that joined on a practical and honest conversation about navigating career transitions after a PhD, building transferable skills, and making informed decisions beyond academia.

In this episode, we dive deep with Evan J. Walsh, a career development expert working at Harvard Medical School to explore the evolving landscape of science careers and the critical role of career development in scientific success.

In our latest episode from Managing Scientific Talent Podcast, we chat with Roshni Rao from Johns Hopkins University about revolutionizing career development within scientific institutions.

In this episode, Pedro and David had an insightful conversation with Camila Hernández Frederick, Head of Career Services at the International Max Planck Research School for Molecules of Life at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, in Germany.

Camila shared her journey from biochemistry research to becoming an expert in career development, and why early, proactive career support can transform how PhDs and postdocs approach their futures.

In this episode, Pedro and David chatted with Isabelle Kohler, Professor, Scientist, and Founder of NextMinds.

Isabelle highlights a blind spot in PhD training: the lack of awareness about career options beyond academia. Many students remain unaware of opportunities in industry, marketing, writing, and more, often waiting until graduation to explore their options. The result? Panic and uncertainty.

Laurence Theunis, a PhD biologist turned career development expert and co-founder of Adoc Talent Management, shared her journey from research to project management and engaged in a insightful conversation about the evolving landscape of career development for PhDs.

Welcome to Managing Scientific Talent by Chaperone, a podcast focused on enhancing scientific careers through expert insights and strategies. Join us as we interview career development specialists and industry leaders to explore the latest trends, challenges, and strategies central to scientific career development today. In each episode, find insights and actionable advice that will empower you to better support scientists in your institution in achieving fulfilling and impactful careers. Tune in and transform the way you foster career growth in the scientific community!

Hosts:

Pedro Resende, Chaperone Co-Director and Co-Founder

David Mendes, PapaPhD Podcast Founder