Events on Monday 23 March 2026
9:30 - 10:30, Online
Uncover strategies to identify supportive employers, cultivate resilience, and strike a balance between professional and personal life.
Using Research Skills for Careers in Policy
10:45 - 11:45, Online
12:00 - 13:00, Online
Charities and not for profit organisations offer intellectually challenging, values driven careers that draw on many of the skills developed through doctoral and research work. This panel brings together professionals working across the charity and not for profit sector who have previously worked in academic research. Panelists will discuss how they moved from academia into the sector, the types of roles available, and what the transition looked like in practice.
13:30 - 14:30, Online
Panelists will share their career journeys and how they navigated the move beyond research while staying within Oxford. The session will explore the variety of career paths available, the skills and experience that transfer well, and practical insights for those considering a similar transition. There will be time for questions and discussion. Hear from:
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Dr Monica Palmero Fernandez, Research Practice Coordinator, Research Services, University of Oxford
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Dr Afra Pukol I Campeny, Educational Policy Officer, University of Oxford
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Dr Kristina Pikovskaia, Research Manager, Department of Economics, University of Oxford
15:00 - 16:00, Online
This panel talk will give you the opportunity to hear from a patent attorney and an intellectual property lawyer about their work, how they use their science background in their jobs, and the differences between these two professions.
16:15 - 17:15, Online
What do 50 tiny plastic ducks have to do with careers...? Find out at this keynote session. Navigating careers beyond academia can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re managing the demands of a busy PhD or postdoc. This session is designed to help you get clearer on what you actually want from your next steps, focusing on the parts of yourself you can take with you from academia and apply elsewhere, rather than dwelling solely on what you might be leaving behind.
Holly Prescott is a career guidance practitioner specialising in supporting doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, with 10 years’ experience helping researchers to feel more confident about their next steps and to make career transitions into a variety of sectors. She is also the founder of Post-PhD careers blog ‘PostGradual’ which, since its launch in 2021, has attracted over 75,000 unique readers in over 150 different countries.
Events on Tuesday 24 March 2026
9:30-10:30, Online
In this session we'll explore a multitude of career paths relating to a love of education. We'll answer the question: Is it possible to carve out an academic career that focusses primarily on teaching? And we'll look at the potential to transition to a myriad of other teaching roles. Then we'll broaden the discussion into alternative career areas that have education values at their heart and build on the research skills that you already have such as education policy, advisory and development roles and more.
Join Dr Abby Evans, one-time academic, ex-high school teacher and current careers professional, for this information-filled session on alternatives to academia in the education sector.
10:45-11:45, Online
Communication skills are fundamental to a researcher’s day-to-day work. This panel session features speakers who have built on these skills to go into healthcare and medical communications, careers that aim to raise awareness of therapies and medical devices that could transform lives.
12:00-13:00, Online
Have you decided that an academic career is not for you? It is easy to get stuck after coming to this realisation and wonder what to do next. During the session we will look at tools and strategies for identifying attractive roles and understanding what a job really entails, whilst also considering the importance of knowing your own skill set and preferred parameters and using that knowledge to shape your job search.
13:30-14:30, Online
Researchers with strong analytical and quantitative skills are in demand across the finance sector. Roles in quantitative research, software development, and strategic analysis often draw directly on the methods, coding, problem-solving, and rigour developed through academic research. In this panel, professionals from quantitative finance will share insights into the day-to-day realities of their work and what they look for in candidates with research backgrounds.
15:00-16:00, Online
The ability to utilise research skills - critical thinking, project management, communication - mean that consulting careers are rewarding and engaging for many researchers moving beyond academia. In addition, consultants are sought from a broad range of disciplines and backgrounds. Whether it's social enterprises or finance, technology or research, having impact in an area that interests you is possible through a career in consulting.
This panel session will feature PhD holders who are now working in consultancy across a range of sectors.
16:15-17:15, Online
Dr Mike Moss FRSC FRSA will provide an overview of $2.75 Trillion of research and development globally. Innovation is putting together what is needed with what is possible. In general, scientists and engineers will be able to define what is possible based on available or foreseeable technology. What is needed by the business or market, by customers or consumers can be defined by anyone with any degree subject with an interest in the human condition and societal trends.
Events on Wednesday 25 March 2026
Careers in Tech: AI/ML, Software and Consulting
9:30-10:30, Online
10:45-11:45, Online
In this session, with the help of our panel of publishing professionals, we will explore the options for researchers in publishing – the roles, the skills, the areas of publishing where a doctorate is essential and the areas where it is a ‘nice to have’; how a doctorate degree is viewed and how best you can promote the skills you have developed on your DPhil. hear from:
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Manuel Breuer, Chief Editor at Nature Communications for Springer Nature
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Caroline Kuhtz, Production Editor at Berghahn Books
12:00-13:00, Online
This panel event will feature speakers sharing their insights in transitioning from academic research to a career in the Creative Industries.
13:30-14:30, Online
Scientific Research & Development in Industry: Panel Discussion
15:00-16:00, Online
16:15-17:15, Online
The session will explore the range of career paths available within research funders, the skills and experience that are valued, and what to consider when preparing for a career in this space. There will be time for questions and discussion. Hear from:
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Dr. Janina Pescinski, Training and Development Manager for The British Academy Early Career Researcher Network, The British Academy
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Dr Nikolay Ogryzko, Research and Innovation Careers Policy, UKRI
Events on Thursday 26 March 2026
9:30-10:30, Online
In this two-part careers-adviser led session, we will first provide an overview of careers in International Development, discussing how the sector is structured, different types of roles and how to find jobs and work experience opportunities. In the second part, we will provide an overview of the varied and rewarding careers in diplomacy, and share methods you can use for identifying the relevant routes into diplomatic roles and how to find out more about your chosen career path.
10:45-11:45, Online
This presentation will share the building blocks of creating effective CVs and Cover Letters, including how to best translate our research and wider experience into language employers want to see.
Recruiter Panel: Advice from the People Reviewing Your Applications
12:15-13:15, In person at the Careers Service
14:00-17:00, In person at the Careers Service
This is a unique opportunity to meet representatives from a variety of organisations that are looking to hire researchers. Join the fair for details about the jobs and programmes they have available and discuss the careers paths you could follow in their sector.
