Name: Maria Machado (she/her)
PhD: Vascular Physiology, Ulster University, 2010
What was your main area of research?
I designed and conducted experiments where novel techniques were developed to measure vascular permeability in several locations of a growing vessel network. I validated protocols for animal surgery, intravital confocal imaging, and image analysis. And I was lucky to effectively collaborate with other researchers in biology, mathematics, and physics, as well as present my work in international conferences and mentor graduate students.
What is your current job?
I am a Freelance Affiliate Consultant, and I work remotely.
I have scrutinized scientific materials and secured publishing of scientific papers in core clinical practice, by conducting reviews of 500+ different manuscripts in the biomedicine field. I have assigned executive listings and invited manuscripts to be peer-reviewed. I have developed training materials for graduate students and other researchers and planned/executed events both online and in-person to foster engagement in science, research, and the academic publishing process.
I love that I get to make my own schedule and secure an appropriate balance and time for family, friends, and hobbies. I love reading and writing about different areas of science and its communication among geographically spread out clients. I am able to advocate for integration, diversity, equity, and accessibility as part of my role.
How did you find this position? What were the career steps you took to get to where you are now?
I found it a natural progression of my interest in the field. I have made efforts to establish a remote network of other colleagues that have supported my growth and involvement, providing me with increased diversification opportunities.
PhD graduate ➡️ postdoctoral fellow ➡️ editor ➡️ assistant managing editor ➡️ content reviewer ➡️ integrity auditor ➡️ blogger ➡️ consultant ➡️ co-chair of Peer Review Week
Why did you decide to not pursue a career in academia?
I was tired of the uncertainty and having to move around so much. Family issues and the pandemic brought and kept me close to home, and I found a group of friends that keep me happy. However, leaving the dream of pursuing an academic/research career was difficult. At first, it felt like failure. But everyday, I find new ways to apply what I learned throughout my academic career in my present job. It's incredibly valuable that I was exposed to so many different fields, ways of working, and cultures.
What advice do you have for someone getting their PhD and looking to pursue a career outside of academia?
What you love can be incorporated into any job. I love reading. I do that a lot in my job. I haven't stopped enjoying it, and that's very important.
If you are considering remote work, establish a remote network. LinkedIn is good for this, but so is attending webinars, participating in conferences, and taking courses online.
Think about what distinguishes you from others. To secure continued work participating in webinars and delivering training, it was important for me to highlight my skills in communication and public engagement, as well as the ability to improvise and adapt.