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 its 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.
Dr Martin Tafelmeyer, Manager, d-fine Ltd: As a Manager at d-fine I support financial institutions and large corporates across Europe optimizing their cash and liquidity management processes as well as the underlying IT infrastructure. I did a Diploma of Physics at ETH Zurich. During my PhD in astrophysics at EPFL in Lausanne and the observatory of Geneva I worked on determining the chemical composition of stellar atmospheres with the goal to derive a chemical evolution history of our galaxy. Joining d-fine after my academic career did not only allow me to continue working on complex and challenging projects but also gave me the opportunity to explore completely new areas and continuously diversify my knowledge.
Dr Ashley Clark, Life Sciences Strategy Consultant, Axiom Healthcare Strategies
Dr Anna Barona, Allan & Overy Consulting: My role as a graduate analyst at A&O Consulting is to support on a range of mandates and workstreams. The work I do is highly varied, and can be anything from research and project management to drafting pitches for client work and contributing to broader business development. I studied for a BA in Archaeology and Anthropology at Oxford and a MA in Conservation at UCL. I then returned to Oxford for a DPhil in Cognitive Archaeology, where I looked at skill, creativity and cognition in contemporary and past human interactions with clay. During my time as a research student, I was an Inclusive Teaching intern at the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL), where I contributed to a ‘Race and the Curriculum’ project. I also took part in two student consultancy programmes, TOSCA and the Student Consultancy.
Dr Matthew Buchan, Senior Digital Consultant, Newton Europe As a Digital Consultant at Newton Europe, I work alongside clients to apply cutting-edge data science techniques to solve some of the biggest challenges currently facing UK industry, government, health and social care. I completed a BSc in Neuroscience at the University of St Andrews, before coming to the University of Oxford to read for an MSc in Neuroscience and a DPhil in Pharmacology (Systems Neuroscience). My thesis explored the developmental origins of sensory processing in the brain, using fluorescent imaging and microelectrode recording techniques to understand how different types of brain cells react to sensory stimuli. Prior to joining Newton, I worked in the Emerging Technologies department at IBM Research as a Research Scientist (Artificial Intelligence) and maintained a role as a visiting researcher at the Department of Pharmacology. During this period I contributed to a wide portfolio of research spanning applications of AI in defence, pharmaceuticals, news media, and AI ethics. At university I was a choral scholar in the Choir of The Queen’s College, Oxford. I was also heavily involved in a number of committees, notably the Cortex Club (Oxford Neuroscience Society), the Oxford Foundry Student Advisory Board, and the Christ Church Graduate Common Room.
