Leaving Academia, Staying in Research

Leaving Academia, Staying in Research

From Dementia Researcher Vodcast by Dementia Researcher

May 22, 2026 · 1h 5m · Episode 338

About this episode

The episode discusses the transition from academia to impactful research roles outside of traditional academic settings.

What happens when academia no longer feels like the right fit, but research still does? In this episode, Adam Smith is joined by Dr Ellice Parkinson from Health Innovation East, Elizabeth 'Lizzie' English from the British Heart Foundation, and Dr Alice Carstairs from Alzheimer’s Society to talk about leaving academia while staying connected to research. Together, they explore the career turns that took them from PhDs and lab work into roles in health innovation, charity, policy, evaluation, public engagement and research communications. They discuss what helped them make the move, what felt difficult, and how skills built in academia can be used in many different settings. The conversation covers identity, confidence, networking, mentoring, transferable skills, and the quiet pressure many researchers feel to stay on a traditional academic path. It also challenges the idea that leaving academia means leaving research behind. For PhD students, early career researchers, and anyone wondering what else might be possible, this episode offers practical advice, reassurance, and examples of careers where research still sits at the centre of meaningful work. In this episode: Explore how…

People in this episode

Host: Adam Smith

Guests: Dr Ellice Parkinson, Elizabeth 'Lizzie' English, Dr Alice Carstairs

Topics covered

  • leaving academia
  • research careers
  • health innovation
  • transferable skills
  • networking
  • career transitions

Keywords

  • PhD
  • research
  • career change
  • academic identity
  • science communication
  • mentoring
  • public engagement

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Health Innovation East, British Heart Foundation, Alzheimer’s Society

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