Are you interested in investigating other roles within the university that are available to researchers?

Higher Education Institutions support the good conduct of research and are key drivers of research excellence within the university.

Chaired by Research-Careers.Org lead editor Dr Linus Milinski this session features individuals who have utilised their experience as researchers to successfully pursue diverse career paths within the Higher Education sector.

Dr Danielle Fairbrass, NDS Bioresource Programme Manager, University of Oxford

As NDS Bioresource Programme Manager I am responsible for managing the formation of the NDS Bioresource, bringing multiple biobanks within the department under one roof and delivering a single route for researchers to access the essential collections and biobanking services available therein. I did a BSc in Biochemistry followed by a MSc(Eng) in Biological and Bioprocess Engineering, before obtaining my PhD in Biological Engineering, all at the University of Sheffield. My doctoral studies focussed on engineering the metabolic resilience of Chinese Hamster Ovary cells during advanced therapeutic production. I then held a short post-doctoral position at the Institut de Génétique & Développement de Rennes interrogating the biomechanic underpinnings of asymmetric cell division.

Following my time in France I returned to the world of advanced therapeutics and took a position in the Cell Line Development Team at Oxford Biomedica, where I worked for 5 years developing producer cell lines for cell and gene therapy. I then took up a position as Senior Scientist, and then Group Lead at the CAR-T focussed Techbio start-up, Coding Bio. Throughout my career I have been an active member of many professional networks, including ESACT-UK, the CGT Circle and BIA Women in Biotech.

Dr Sonja Pawelczyk, Head of Operations, Botnar Institute for Musculoskeletal Sciences

Dr. Sonja Pawelczyk began her career as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Oxford, working in the Wadhams and Armitage Groups within the Department of Biochemistry from 2007 to 2012. ​ She then transitioned to a role as a Research Contracts Specialist in the Medical Science Division at Oxford, where she negotiated research agreements and advised academic staff on funder terms. ​ She then became the Institute Administrator for the Botnar Research Centre, managing administrative support and restructuring teams to enhance efficiency. ​ Her leadership and strategic planning skills led to her promotion to the Head of Operations at the Botnar Research Centre. ​ In this role, she oversees administrative functions, supports grant applications, and coordinates with funding bodies. ​

Dr Lexi Earl, Programme Manager: The Oxford Martin Programme on the Future of Food

Lexi Earl is the Programme Manager of the Oxford Martin Programme on the Future of Food. As well as running the Future of Food network, Lexi manages a number of different projects on dietary change and planetary health. Prior to joining the Oxford Martin School, Lexi was a Communications and Outreach Manager at the University of Nottingham, and a Research Fellow on the Tracking Arts Learning and Engagement project. She is the author of Schools and Food Education in the 21st century (Routledge, 2018) and, with Pat Thomson, Why garden in schools? (Routledge, 2021). She writes a Substack on her intersecting interests of motherhood, feeding, and gardening.

Dr Simon Guillaumé – Regional Engagement & Innovation Manager, Innovation & Engagement, University of Oxford

I completed my PhD in Chemistry at UCL in 2021 (over Brexit and a pandemic – it took 1 year longer than planned), during which I also undertook a mandatory three-month placement with the Grand Challenges team at the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. This experience broadened my perspective on my transferable skills, beyond academia. After completing my viva, I spent a year at UCL Public Policy, facilitating collaborations between academics and policymakers—primarily within the London Borough of Camden, Parliament, and government departments.

In 2022, I joined Oxford University’s Innovation & Engagement team, supporting a range of strategic projects related to the development of Oxford’s Innovation Ecosystem, fostering strategic business partnerships, and helping academics collaborate with external partners. Earlier this year, my focus shifted toward regional engagement, where I support relationships with organisations such as Oxfordshire County Council, Culham, Harwell, and other organisations, to create opportunities for closer collaboration, in both research and innovation.

Dr Louise Pankhurst, Laboratory Manager, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford

I have been the Laboratory Manager for the Foster Lab since 2019. Before this I completed a BSc in Environmental Science with Biology, a PhD in Microbiology, and 9 years’ Postdoctoral Scientist roles, most of which were in a single research group here at the University of Oxford. As well as performing research, during my Postdoctoral career I was involved in several large-scale collaborations and enjoyed liaising with researchers from across the world, providing the training and help they needed to ensure the smooth running of the project.

As a Laboratory Manager I am responsible for ensuring our team of researchers have the resources, equipment, and environment needed to produce world-class work. I liaise with colleagues across the Department and University to manage projects, troubleshoot, and improve how our laboratory operates. I still enjoy time at the laboratory bench researching and developing methods, with a particular focus on next-generation sequencing. Alongside my main role, I contribute to the wider Department. I have sat on committees aimed at improving working conditions for research staff, performed outreach, enacted projects to improve biodiversity on Departmental property, and am passionate about improving the sustainability of science.