This week, we will be joined by Eleni Routoula (she/her). Originally from Greece, Eleni moved in the UK 6 years ago to pursue further studies. Her educational background has been in chemical engineering, but after 10 years of chemeng studies including a PhD on the topic, she realised that my passion was not about the practice of the profession as a researcher or industrial engineer. During my PhD in chemical engineering, Eleni discovered an interest in teaching, researchers’ development, science communication, networking, and employability, through participation in numerous extra-curricular activities. Her non-research interests ranged from teaching assistance and participating in outreach, to chairing committees and an editorial placement in the journal Nature. She decided to pave her way in a sector different than originally intended, by pursuing further experience and employment in areas of interest. Currently, her main focus is educating students and researchers on the realisation and development of transferable skills and extracurricular experience as a means to shape and pursue conventional and unconventional careers. You can find her on Instagram @curleni.

A full-text transcript of this episode is available via google doc.

Grad Chat episodes are posted every second Saturday at 9 am Eastern Time; check out the PhD Balance YouTube Channel for all the videos!

Want to be a guest or know somebody we should be talking to? Fill out our google form!

Follow our host Linda on Twitter: @LindaCCor