Academic perspectives
The PFDC interviewed recent Fellows and Lecturers and asked their opinion on different subjects related to academic career progression and their current work.
Academic Routes
![Can you describe a typical working day or week?](/assets/website/images/placeholder/video-placeholder.jpg)
Can you describe a typical working day or week?
A typical working day or week
![What are the main skills that you use in your role?](/assets/website/images/placeholder/video-placeholder.jpg)
What are the main skills that you use in your role?
The main skills used in your role
![What has helped you to make your career decisions?](/assets/website/images/placeholder/video-placeholder.jpg)
What has helped you to make your career decisions?
What has helped to make career decisions
![If you could go back, would you do anything differently?](/assets/website/images/placeholder/video-placeholder.jpg)
If you could go back, would you do anything differently?
Is there anything you would do differently if you could go back in time?
![How have you used your networks for career development?](/assets/website/images/placeholder/video-placeholder.jpg)
How have you used your networks for career development?
How have you used or developed your networks to aid your career development?
![What advice would you give to increase visibility?](/assets/website/images/placeholder/video-placeholder.jpg)
What advice would you give to increase visibility?
What piece of advice would you give to someone to increase visibility or develop their reputation?
![Any advice about the application and interview processes?](/assets/website/images/placeholder/video-placeholder.jpg)
Any advice about the application and interview processes?
Do you have any advice about the application and interview process?
Meet the Speakers
Meet the Speakers
Dr Maria Papathanasiou
Current role: Lecturer
Organisation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London
Research background: Masters and PhD in Chemical Engineering
Dr Ajay Ghambir
Current role: Senior Research Fellow
Organisation: Grantham Institute, Imperial College London
Previous organisations and roles: Before joining Imperial College, Ajay has previously worked in Consulting and Finance, as well as an Economist for the UK Government’s Department of Energy and Climate Change
Research background: Interdisciplinary research MEng in Engineering, followed by a PhD in Energy Economics
Dr Sarah Rouse
Current role: UKRI Future Leaders Fellow
Organisation: Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London
Research background: PhD in biochemistry (theoretical) followed by a series of postdoctoral positions in experimental labs
Dr Julia Stawarz
Current role: Royal Society University Research Fellow
Organisation: Northumbria University, Mathematics, Physics and Electrical Engineering
Research background: PhD in space plasma physics, followed by postdocs and fellowships in Physics
Dr Angela Kedgley
Current role: Reader
Organisation: Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London
Previous research field: PhD in mechanical engineering, followed by postdoctoral research on biomechanics of the hip and the knee