From Lab Bench to Leadership - Finding Purpose and Sustainability Beyond Academia

About this episode

PhD holders share their journeys from lab work to leading sustainability initiatives in science.

Episode Overview PhD holders Elle Campbell (Lab Renew) and Patrick Penndorf (Re:Advance) share their journeys from lab benches to leading sustainability initiatives in science. Discover how scientific skills fuel entrepreneurship, reduce lab waste, and build purpose-driven careers beyond academia. Ideal for PhD students exploring non-academic paths, lab managers optimizing workflows, and scientists passionate about green research. Guests Elle Campbell: Master's in Bioanalytical Chemistry (University of Warsaw); leads Lab Renew, a nonprofit helping research labs cut environmental impact through programs, funding, and sustainable strategies in Canada's bioeconomy. Patrick Penndorf: Biochemistry and molecular medicine background; founder of Re:Advance, a German sustainability consultancy teaching scientists greener workflows; popular LinkedIn voice on lab sustainability and science communication. Timestamps 00:00: Intro to Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD – redesigning the lab ecosystem. 00:29: Elle Campbell's pivot from PhD to environmental mission. 01:07: Patrick Penndorf's serendipitous path to Re:Advance. 04:00: Finding purpose: Sustainability as a "why" for scientists. 12:00…

People in this episode

Host: David Mendes, PhD

Guests: Elle Campbell, Patrick Penndorf

Topics covered

• sustainability
• entrepreneurship
• PhD career paths
• lab management
• green research

Keywords

• PhD
• sustainability
• entrepreneurship
• lab waste
• green research
• career transition
• mentorship

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Lab Renew, Re:Advance

Places: Canada, Germany, University of Warsaw

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