Frequently Asked Questions

  The Catalytic Site is a career coaching practice I founded to help academic researchers — Master's graduates, PhDs, and postdocs — and early-career industry professionals explore and secure roles in biotech startups, life science companies, consulting, and venture capital. My goal is to equip you with the insights, tools, and network needed to navigate this landscape confidently and build an intentional, successful career. 

  I offer personalised 1:1 career coaching sessions covering everything from exploring your options to preparing for interviews and negotiating offers. I also built Career Compass, an AI-powered career tool that helps researchers map their background to industry roles, translate their academic experience into industry language, and track their readiness for the transition. Additionally, I support early-stage biotech and life science startups with specialist executive recruitment. 

 Whether you're just starting out, considering a career change, or looking to advance in your current role, I'm here to help. I typically work with:

• Academic researchers (PhDs, Postdocs, PIs) looking to transition into biotech startups, life science companies, consulting, or venture capital

• Early to mid-career scientists already in industry who want to make a more intentional next move

If you don't fit neatly into one of these categories, feel free to reach out anyway — we can have an informal chat to explore how I can support you.

 I primarily work with professionals in the United Kingdom and Europe, and my network spans the UK, Europe, the US, the Middle East, and Asia. That said, many of the strategies I use are relevant far beyond these regions, and I'm always happy to connect with people internationally. If you're based elsewhere, feel free to get in touch — we can explore together how I may be able to support you. 

 These are the three categories I use to describe how close a role is to where you are now. A Step role directly leverages your existing skills — you could apply today with confidence. A Stretch role requires building new competencies over roughly 3–12 months but is very achievable with targeted effort. A Pivot involves a more fundamental shift in direction, typically taking 12–18 months and requiring significant new experience. Career Compass assigns one of these ratings to every role it identifies for you, so you always know where you stand and what to focus on. 

 Absolutely — and this is something I see every day. Biotech startups actively seek PhD researchers for roles across R&D, scientific operations, business development, medical affairs, project management, and beyond. The key is learning how to translate your academic experience into language that resonates with startup hiring managers, and understanding which roles align with your specific background. Career Compass, my AI career tool, maps your profile to specific roles and shows you exactly what a realistic transition looks like. 

  It varies, but most researchers I work with land their first industry role within 3–12 months of actively targeting the transition. Adjacent roles — such as scientific project management, medical affairs, or research scientist positions — tend to move faster. Roles requiring a bigger pivot, such as business development or venture capital, typically take longer and benefit from deliberate upskilling and network building. The earlier you start understanding the landscape, the smoother the transition. 

 There are more options than most postdocs realise. Common entry points include Research Scientist, Scientific Project Manager, Medical Science Liaison, Business Development Associate, Alliance Manager, and Innovation Advisor. Early-stage startups often hire for hybrid roles that combine scientific and commercial responsibilities — these can be a great fit for researchers with broad experience across lab work, project coordination, and stakeholder engagement. 

 Career Compass is an AI-powered career tool I built specifically for life science researchers. It includes four tools: a Career Navigator that maps your background to industry roles with Step, Stretch, or Pivot ratings; a Profile Brief generator that distils your experience into a clear industry-facing summary; an Activity Translator that reframes your academic activities in industry language; and an Industry Readiness Tracker that scores your preparedness for the transition. It also includes Cici, an AI career advisor trained on sector-specific knowledge. You can access it at app.thecatalyticsite.com. 

Once your session, short course, or CV/LinkedIn review is confirmed, I'll send you an invoice directly by email. Payment is made via bank transfer. 

Career Compass subscriptions are handled separately at app.thecatalyticsite.com. 

 ⏳ Cancellations made more than 12 hours before the session: Eligible for a 100% refund.

🚫 Cancellations made less than 12 hours before the session: No refund will be provided unless the session is rebooked within the next 10 working days (exceptions apply if there are no available slots or specific circumstances).

🔄 Rescheduling: You are welcome to reschedule your session at no additional cost up to 30 mins before your session. Just drop me an email.