Laser Scientist to Startup CEO
- ashleymo5779
- Apr 9
- 2 min read
Name: Celia Millon (she/her)
PhD: Laser Science, Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (CNAM), 2018
What was your main area of research?
I did my PhD at CEA Saclay, France working on laser ultrasonics. It was very applied. I decided to do my first postdoc in a more academic setting at Ecole Polytechnique, France. I dove into underwater filamentation. After a year, I moved to Germany to work on THz spectroscopy of water.
As you can see, I have changed my topic a lot. I loved it. I realized I like to touch a lot of different topics and that I was not on the track for a professorship. I started to think of a start-up.
What is your current job?
I am on my way to becoming the CEO of my own start-up in Bochum, Germany.
I mostly manage people and projects. I work to create a vision as well as a business and financial strategy for my start-up. This includes understanding the tech and product as well as the market and customers needs.
The best part is the people and the collaborations.
How did you find this position? What were the career steps you took to get to where you are now?
I created it for myself.
Why did you decide to not pursue a career in academia?
For three reasons:
I did not have the perfect CV that could give me access to the golden Professor position (not enough publications, not enough specialization in a field).
I was not willing to be responsible for the academic career of students.
I wanted to learn in a broader spectrum than what academia is offering. It was difficult for 6 months to accept that I had to stop my research and dedicate myself to a new path...but I was fortunate to have a very supportive professor.
What advice do you have for someone getting their PhD and looking to pursue a career outside of academia?
For an old post-doc, there is a transition to do. In my case, the transition was from a researcher to a CEO.
It meant, understanding the standard and expectations of my new role. It takes time, effort, and humility.
Are there any components of your identity you would like to share, including how they have impacted your journey?
I am curious about everything, not obsessing about one topic. This is what drove me out of academia.