PDC Podcast
"The theory of the postdoc evolution" is the podcast from the PDC. It aims at providing postdocs with information that helps them plan their careers.
It mainly features discussions and interviews with former postdocs about their career journey and the roles they have taken up after their postdocs or PhDs. Most of these discussions are recorded at live events attended by postdocs, such as the PDC's Career Exploration Interviews. Some episodes cover other topics relevant to the postdoc experience (fellowships, REF, open access etc.).
While it is originaly designed for postdocs, "The theory of the postdoc evolution" could benefit many auditors!
How to listen to the podcast?
You can listen to "The theory of the postdoc evolution":
- From your favourite podcast provider App: The theory of the postdoc evolution is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts. These platforms allow you to follow/subscribe to the podcast to get notified when new episodes are available
- Online from this page by clicking on the corresponding button for the episode you are interested in. This will launch the Mediasite player in a new tab
Episodes
#31 Manuela Moser: from a creative writing PhD to festival management
Guest: Dr Manuela Moser, Festival Director for the Cúirt International Festival of Literature.
Host: Dr Alison Garden, Future Leaders Fellow and Senior Lecturer at Queen's University Belfast (intro by Dr Alice Dubois, PDC Manager)
Recording date: 28/06/23 (editing by Luke McCann)
Description: This episode features an interview of Dr Manuela Moser, Festival Director for the Cúirt International Festival of Literature. Manuela discusses the wide range of tasks her role implies, and reflects on how she got where she is in her career.
#30 Eliza McKee: working at the National Archives
Guest: Dr Eliza McKee, Principal Researcher Northern Ireland Records at The National Archives UK.
Host: Dr Alison Garden, Future Leaders Fellow and Senior Lecturer at Queen's University Belfast (intro by Dr Alice Dubois, PDC Manager)
Recording date: 28/06/23 (editing by Luke McCann)
Description: This episode features an interview of Dr Eliza McKee, Principal Researcher Northern Ireland Records at The National Archives UK. Eliza discusses her transition from PhD to her current role, what she does, and how her experience at the National Archives fits in her wider career and research.
#29 Mark Coughlan, Roy Bitrus and Rebecca Lutton: Careers for engineers
Guests: Dr Mark Coughlan, R&D Physicist at Andor Technology, Dr Roy Bitrus, Director of Sales at TenzorGEO Ltd and Co Chair AFBE UK Scotland, and Dr Rebecca Lutton, CEO at Lintol Ltd.
Host: Dr Philip Martin, Postdoctoral Researcher in the School of Mathematics and Physics at Queen's University Belfast (intro by Dr Alice Dubois, PDC Manager)
Recording date: 22/06/23 (editing by Luke McCann)
Description: This episode is the recording of a panel discussion on career options for postdocs and PhDs outside academia, including entrepreneurship, focusing on individuals with a range of engineering backgrounds. it features Dr Mark Coughlan, R&D Physicist at Andor Technology, Dr Roy Bitrus, Director of Sales at TenzorGEO Ltd and Co Chair AFBE UK Scotland, and Dr Rebecca Lutton, CEO at Lintol Ltd.
#28 Deborah Cox, Billy Hunter and Suha Dadou: research careers in the life sciences
Guests: Dr Deborah Cox, Managing Director at Lagan Valley Scientific, Dr Billy Hunter, Senior Marine Chemist at Agri-Food and Bioscience Institute (AFBI) Northern Ireland, and Dr Suha Dadou, Senior Scientist in the Analytical R&D at Pfizer UK
Host: Dr Lisa Douglas, Postdoctoral Researcher in the School of Pharmacy at Queen's University Belfast (intro by Dr Alice Dubois, PDC Manager)
Recording date: 14/06/23 (editing by Luke McCann)
Description: This episode is the recording of a panel discussion on career options for life sciences postdocs and PhDs outside of academia, focusing on research roles in the public sector, start-up companies and big pharma. it features Dr Deborah Cox, Managing Director at Lagan Valley Scientific, Dr Billy Hunter, Senior Marine Chemist at Agri-Food and Bioscience Institute (AFBI) Northern Ireland, and Dr Suha Dadou, Senior Scientist in the Analytical R&D at Pfizer UK.
#27 Claire McCartan, Bethany Waterhouse-Bradley and Jade Berman: Careers in social sciences and policy
Guests: Dr Claire McCartan, Senior Researcher at the Northern Health & Social Care Trust, Dr Bethany Waterhouse-Bradley, Programme Manager (PEACEPLUS) at Special EU Programmes Body, and Dr Jade Berman, Coastal advisor at National Trust
Host: Dr Ben McAteer, Postdoctoral Researcher in the School of Natural and Built Environment at Queen's University Belfast (intro by Dr Alice Dubois, PDC Manager)
Recording date: 08/06/23 (editing by Luke McCann)
Description: This episode is the recording of a panel discussion on career options for postdocs and PhDs in the public sector or non-governmental organisations, focusing on policy-related roles in the health-, social- and environmental-sciences. It features Dr Claire McCartan, Senior Researcher at the Northern Health & Social Care Trust, Dr Bethany Waterhouse-Bradley, Programme Manager (PEACEPLUS) at Special EU Programmes Body, and Dr Jade Berman, Coastal advisor at National Trust.
*we apologise for some echo with one of the speakers towards the end*
#26 Keziah Davison: Career opportunities beyond academia & how to navigate the transition
Guest: Dr Keziah Davison, Life Sciences Executive Search Consultant at Cranmore Executive Search
Host: Dr Alice Dubois, Postdoctoral Development Centre Manager at Queen's University Belfast
Recording date: 01/06/23 (editing by Luke McCann)
Description: In this episode, Dr Keziah Davison (Life Sciences Executive Search Consultant at Cranmore Executive Search) provides her insight as a clinical psychologist and biotech headhunter on navigating the identity shift that comes with making significant career changes. She also outlines the types of opportunities available to PhD/Postdoctoral Researchers outside academia from industry to consulting, as well as shares advice on how to succeed when applying.
#25 Kyle Matchett: teaching, leadership and moving institution while becoming a lecturer
Guest: Dr Kyle Matchett, Lecturer in Molecular Immunology, Ulster University
Host: Dr Claire Tonry, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine postdoc (intro by Dr Alice Dubois, PDC Manager)
Recording date: 24/06/22 (editing by Alice Dubois)
Description: In this episode, Dr Kyle Matchett (Lecturer, Ulster University) talks about his experience of becoming a lecturer, including how he got teaching experience, his approach to leadership, and his take on moving institution when becoming a Principal Investigator.
#24 Sheila McCartan: data analytics for clinical trials
Guest: Dr Sheila McCartan, Data Strategy Team Lead, Exploristics
Host: Dr Claire Tonry, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine postdoc (intro by Dr Alice Dubois, PDC Manager)
Recording date: 24/06/22 (editing by Alice Dubois)
Description: In this episode, Dr Sheila McCartan (Data Strategy Team Lead, Exploristics) shares her experience transitioning from a lab-based postdoc to an industry role in clinical trials analytics and consultancy, including how she upskilled in coding and R.
#23 Elaine O'Reilly: becoming an academic in Ireland
Guest: Dr Elaine O'Reilly, Associate Professor of Chemical Biology, University College Dublin
Host: Prof Gerd Wagner, Professor in the School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast (intro by Dr Alice Dubois, PDC Manager)
Recording date: 27/05/22 (editing by Alice Dubois)
Description: In this episode, Dr Elaine O'Reilly (Associate Professor of Chemical Biology at University College Dublin) reflects on how she became an academic in the UK and Ireland, including the impact of mobility and family life on her career and work-life balance.
#22 Delphine Wagner: from chemistry to regulatory affairs
Guest: Dr Delphine Wagner, Director Regulatory Affairs at Kinesys Consulting Ltd
Host: Prof Gerd Wagner, Professor in the School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast (intro by Dr Alice Dubois, PDC Manager)
Recording date: 27/05/22 (editing by Alice Dubois)
Description: In this episode, Dr Delphine Wagner (Director Regulatory Affairs at Kinesys Consulting Ltd) talks about her experience working in pharmaceutical regulatory affairs and how individuals with a PhD can transition to similar careers.
#21 Caroline Barelle and Kat Maguire: exploring entrepreneurship as a postdoc
Guests: Dr Caroline Barelle (CEO and Founder of Elasmogen) and Kat Maguire (Lean Startup Progamme Manager at Queen's University Belfast)
Host: Dr Alice Dubois, PDC Manager
Recording date: 05/05/22 (editing by Alice Dubois)
Description: In this episode, Dr Caroline Barelle (CEO and Founder of Elasmogen) talks about her career journey from postdoc to biotech entrepreneur, and Kat Maguire (Lean Startup Programme Manager, Queen's University Belfast) highlights some of the innovation programmes she manages, and how they enable postdocs and PhDs to take a step towards commercialising their research and becoming entrepreneurs themselves.
#20 Edel Hyland and Jocelyn Tillner: are academia and industry that different?
Guests: Dr Edel Hyland (Senior Lecturer at Queen's University Belfast) and Dr Jocelyn Tillner (Head of Research and Development in BarthHaas)
Host: Dr Simon Cameron, Lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast (intro by Dr Alice Dubois, PDC Manager)
Recording date: 25/03/22 (editing by Alice Dubois)
Description: This episode compares the experience of Edel Hyland (Senior Lecturer at Queen's University Belfast), an academic and previously postdoc in the USA, to the one of Jocelyn Tillner (Head of Research and Development in BarthHaas), group leader in a hops company, highlighting some of the similarities and differences between academia and industry.
#19 Cheryl McFarlane: applying, progressing and working in Almac Diagnostic Services
Guests: Dr Cheryl McFarlane, Assay development and validation manager for Almac Diagnostics Services
Host: Dr Claire Tonry, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine postdoc (intro by Dr Alice Dubois, PDC Manager)
Recording date: 05/11/21 (editing by Alice Dubois)
Description: In this episode, Cheryl McFarlane, Assay development and validation manager for Almac Diagnostics Services, shares her experience of moving to industry after her postdoc, focusing on hiring practices and opportunities for progression in the company.
#18 Vijay Tiwari: strategic planning for an impactful academic career
Guests: Dr Vijay Tiwari, Reader in the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, QUB
Host: Dr Claire Tonry, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine postdoc (intro by Dr Alice Dubois, Head of the PDC)
Recording date: 25/06/21 (editing by Alice Dubois)
Description: In this episode, Vijay Tiwari relates his experience of building an academic career, with specific emphasis on how great mentors, planning successive steps strategically and moving all over world enabled his succes.
#17 Janet Diffin: searching for roles and translating your skills to other sectors
Guests: Dr Janet Diffin, Retail Analyst (Consumer Protection) for the Northern Ireland Utility Regulator
Hosts: Dr David Scott and Dr Malcolm Brown, School of Nursing and Midwifery postdocs (intro by Dr Alice Dubois, Head of the PDC)
Recording date: 28/05/21 (editing by Alice Dubois)
Description: In this episode, Janet Diffin, Retail Analyst (Consumer Protection) for the Northern Ireland Utility Regulator, highlights her approach to looking for positions in the third sector as well as tips to translate your skills and experiences to roles that appear away from research.
#16 Panchali Kanvatirth: a transition to big pharma
Guests: Dr Panchali Kanvatirth, Research Scientist HTS at AstraZeneca
Hosts: Dr Linda Oyama, School of Biological Sciences postdoc (intro by Dr Alice Dubois, Head of the PDC)
Recording date: 28/05/21 (editing by Alice Dubois)
Description: This episode features Dr Panchali Kanvatirth, Research Scientist HTS at AstraZeneca. She talks about what it feels like to work in big pharma and how she transitioned from postdoc to her new role.
#15 Paul McCague: an insight into the education academic path
Guests: Dr Paul McCague, Senior Lecturer (Education) in the School of Pharmacy (QUB)
Hosts: Dr Niall Byrne, School of Pharmacy postdoc (intro by Dr Alice Dubois, Head of the PDC)
Recording date: 30/04/21 (editing by Alice Dubois)
Description: In this episode, Dr Paul McCague introduces the ins and outs of the education-focused academic path and how his passion for teaching and getting out of his comfort zone led him to embrace it as his career.
#14 Mary Malamatari: a career in drug regulation
Guests: Dr Mary Malamatari, Pharmaceutical Assessor at the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
Hosts: Dr Suha Dadou, School of Pharmacy postdoc (intro by Dr Alice Dubois, Head of the PDC)
Recording date: 30/04/21 (editing by Alice Dubois)
Description: In this episode, Dr Mary Malamatari describes her role as a Pharmaceutical Assessor in the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency as well as how her path led her to drug regulation.
#13 Helen Coleman: progressing as an academic while maintaining a healthy work-life balance
Guests: Prof Helen Coleman, Professor in CPH (QUB)
Hosts: Dr Désirée Schliemann, CPH postdoc (intro by Dr Alice Dubois, Head of the PDC)
Recording date: 26/03/21 (editing by Alice Dubois)
Description: In this episode, Prof Helen Coleman from the Centre for Public Health at Queen's reflects on her career as an academic, including the factors that helped her progress quickly and tips on how she maintained a healthy work-life balance while still developing her profile.
#12 Donna Small: establishing her research niche and academic path with a fellowship
Guests: Dr Donna Small, lecturer in the PGJCCR (QUB)
Hosts: Dr Craig Davison, PGJCCR postdoc (intro by Dr Alice Dubois, Head of the PDC)
Recording date: 26/02/21 (editing by Alice Dubois)
Description: This episode features Dr Donna Small, lecturer in the Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research. Donna notably discusses how she used a personal fellowship to turn her interests and experience into her own independent research niche fit to complement local research.
#11 Sarah Dolan: an MSL path towards commercial management
Guests: Dr Sarah Dolan, Commercial Manager in Medical Nutrition for Galen Ltd
Hosts: Dr Lauren Cairns, PGJCCR postdoc (intro by Dr Alice Dubois, Head of the PDC)
Recording date: 26/02/21 (editing by Alice Dubois)
Description: In this episode, Dr Sarah Dolan explains how a Medical Science Liaison role enabled her to transition from a postdoc in cancer research to her position as Commercial Manager in Medical Nutrition in Galen Ltd. In addition to details on her actual role, Sarah shares her experience working in industry, de-busting a few myths along the way.
#10 Derek Brazil's academic career and the benefits of travelling for research
Guests: Dr Derek Brazil, senior lecturer in WWIEM (QUB)
Hosts: Dr Claire Tonry, WWIEM postdoc (intro by Dr Alice Dubois, Head of the PDC)
Recording date: 11/12/20 (editing by Alice Dubois)
Description: In this episode, Dr Derek Brazil (senior lecturer at Queen's University Belfast) highlights the different steps in his career, including his experience of travelling the world for research, and shares some tips to succeed in academia.
#9 Brian Flatley: from biomarker discovery to start-up life
Guests: Dr Brian Flatley, Business Strategy and Engagement Director at S3 Connected Health
Hosts: Dr Claire Tonry, WWIEM postdoc (intro by Dr Alice Dubois, Head of the PDC)
Recording date: 11/12/20 (editing by Alice Dubois)
Description: In this episode, Dr Brian Flatley (Business Strategy and Engagement Director at S3 Connected Health) reflects on how a degree in forensics and a keen interest in commercialisation led him to a PhD in cancer biomarker discovery and a career in healthcare technology start-ups.
#8 What recruitment agencies are looking for
Guests: Claire Collinson (Core Science & Engineering Business Manager at Kinetica Ltd – Scientific & Engineering Recruitment) and Ryan Quinn (Managing Director - Java & Development Operations Specialist, at Vanrath)
Hosts: Dr Alice Dubois, Head of the PDC
Recording date: 24/11/20 (editing by Alice Dubois)
Description: In this episode, two recruiters from agencies involved in health-, engineering- and data-related recruitment discuss their experience recruiting candidates with PhDs and postdoctoral experience, including the type of roles they can move to. They also share tips for job seekers to get their online profile noticed, prepare a good application and get ready for interview, as well as how to approach their career.
#7 Peter Kerr: transitioning to industry and opportunities in the Almac group
Guests: Dr Peter Kerr, Head of Operations at Sonraí Analytics Ltd and Director Global Business Development at ARC Regulatory Ltd
Hosts: Dr Claire Tonry, WWIEM postdoc (intro by Dr Alice Dubois, Head of the PDC)
Recording date: 30/10/20 (editing by Alice Dubois)
Description: In this episode, Dr Peter Kerr (Head of Operations at Sonraí Analytics Ltd and Director Global Business Development at ARC Regulatory Ltd) reflects on his career, especially his transition to the industrial sector and his multiple roles within the Almac Group. Peter shines a light on the variety of roles available in industry and provide tips to get to know more about them.
#6 Managing clinical trials from home
Guests: Dr Shaun Spence, Cluster Investigational Product Manager at Sanofi
Host: Dr Alice Dubois (Head of the PDC)
Recording date: 09/06/20 (editing by Stephen Mullan)
Description: In this episode, Dr Shaun Spence, Cluster Investigational Product Manager at Sanofi, takes us through his role and his career in clinical trials management. Shaun describes the skills needed to succeed in this field, the process of transitioning from academia to industry as well as his experience of working from home.
#5 The lectureship recruitment process (Part 2 of 2)
Guests: Prof Aaron Maule, Dr Karen McCutcheon, Dr Donna Small and Dr Paul McVeigh
Host: Dr Alice Dubois (Head of the PDC)
Recording date: 17/02/20 (recording and editing by Stephen Mullan)
Description: In this podcast, we explore the lectureship recruitment process, gathering views from both members of recruitment panels, Prof Aaron Maule and Dr Karen McCutcheon, and recently appointed lecturers, Dr Donna Small and Dr Paul McVeigh. This second part focuses on Donna and Paul' profiles at the time they applied for their lectureships, application documents and interviews, as well as tips to get ready to apply.
This discussion is the continuation from episode #4.
#4 The lectureship recruitment process (Part 1 of 2)
Guests: Prof Aaron Maule, Dr Karen McCutcheon, Dr Donna Small and Dr Paul McVeigh
Host: Dr Alice Dubois (Head of the PDC)
Recording date: 17/02/20 (recording and editing by Stephen Mullan)
Description: In this podcast and the next, we will explore the lectureship recruitment process, gathering views from both members of recruitment panels, Prof Aaron Maule and Dr Karen McCutcheon, and recently appointed lecturers, Dr Donna Small and Dr Paul McVeigh. This first part focuses on generalities on lectureships and associated positions, the recruitment process and the profile of the ideal candidate.
This discussion continues in episode #5.
#3 The REF and working in Research Policy
Guests: Chris Browne (Research Policy Manager at Queen's University Belfast)
Host: Dr Alice Dubois (Head of the PDC)
Recording date: 18/06/19 (recording and editing by Stephen Mullan)
Description: In this podcast, Chris Browne (Research Policy Manager in Queen's University Belfast) explains what the Research Excellence Framework (REF) is, what it is for, how it works and most importantly how it affects postdocs. Chris also discusses his role of Research Policy Manager and gives us an insight of other governmental assessment frameworks: TEF (Teaching Excellence Framework) and KEF (Knowledge Exchange Framework).
#2 Being self-employed and finding a job you love
Guests: Lucy McKenna (Funder of Full Aeon Ltd, Learning designer, facilitator and coach)
Host: Dr Alice Dubois (Head of the PDC)
Recording date: 28/03/19 (recording and editing by Stephen Mullan)
Description: In this podcast, Lucy McKenna (Funder of Full Aeon Ltd, Learning designer, facilitator and coach) discusses her career path, her experience building her consultancy company and what it means to be self-employed. In her role, Lucy designs workshops and coaches people to help them feel fulfilled; she here shares with us a few tips on how to choose a career to be happy in life. Lucy also talks about one of her passions and gives us a glimpse of what work may look like in the future!
#1 Careers in scientific publishing
Guests: Tasha Mellins-Cohen (director of publishing for the Microbiology Society) and Dr Helina Marshall (Postdoc in CEM; Junior editor for Access Microbiology)
Host: Dr Alice Dubois (Head of the PDC)
Recording date: 20/11/18 (recording and editing by Stephen Mullan)
Description: In this podcast about careers in scientific publishing, guest Tasha Mellins-Cohen, director of Publishing for the Microbiology Society, talks about her role, career, types of positions in publishing and challenges faced by the sector. A QUB postdoc guest, Helina Marshall, also joins and shares her experience as a junior editor for Access Microbiology.
Thank you to...
The PDC thanks all the podcasts guests, all the postdocs who contribute to the podcast in any way and all those who listen!
Huge thanks to Stephen Mullan, Video Resources Producer at QUB, for his initial advice when creating the podcast as well as for recording and editing episodes 1 to 5.
Thanks also to Queen's Mediasite Support Team, Tony Furnell, Louis Farrell and Michael McCullough, for helping with technicalities and setting up the RSS feed and podcast registration with Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts.
Thanks to Luke McCann for editing episodes 26 to 31.
Find more Podcasts created by Queen's on Queen's Podcasts List and for more information on recording podcasts, visit Queen's Podcasts Support page.