Collection | 10 February 2020

The business of science

Enterprising researchers often seek private sector support to secure funds, build collaborations, and spin out companies from their work. Here is some expert advice on technology transfer and research commercialisation for scientist entrepreneurs.

Articles

‘Can you work with less-qualified people?’ and 19 other curveball questions to navigate at industry interviews

Be ready for queries that reflect stereotypes about academia and that probe why you’re switching sectors, says Tina Persson.

Tina Persson

Career Column | 15 Jan 2021 | Nature

Five ‘power skills’ for becoming a team leader

Volunteering with an organization can improve communication and help you adapt to the unexpected, say Sarah Groover and Ruth Gotian.

Sarah Groover &
Ruth Gotian

Career Feature | 29 Jan 2020 | Nature

How business-savvy scientists can find success in the risky start-up world

In the first of a three-part series on science start-ups, Nature Careers explores how scientists with a sound business idea can thrive as entrepreneurs, and why leaving academia isn’t required.

Amber Dance

Career Feature | 13 Feb 2019 | Nature

What I learnt from trying out industry before graduate school

Ty Tang was told that any move out of academia was likely to be permanent. But after two years working, he has now returned to research.

Ty Tang

Career Column | 20 Dec 2019 | Nature

University spin-offs

Herb Brody

Outlook | 18 May 2017 | Nature

Toolkit: How to transition from academia to industry

At first glance, academic training can seem ill-suited to careers in industry. However, there are plenty of ways in which researchers can improve their lot.

Career Brief | 8 May 2019 | Nature

Founding a global biotechnology summit — while pursuing a PhD

Ipshita Mandal-Johnson teamed up with other graduate students to set up an annual forum to develop tomorrow’s biotechnology leaders. This is what she learnt.

Ipshita Mandal-Johnson

Career Column | 12 Nov 2019 | Nature

Energy: Powering change

Innovators are finding better ways to produce, store and use energy, on Earth and beyond.

Neil Savage &
Katherine Bourzac

Outlook | 18 May 2017 | Nature

How a failed scientific start-up can breed success

In the second part of a three-part series on science start-ups, Nature Careers explores how founders can learn from their failures in business to try again.

Amber Dance

Career Feature | 29 May 2019 | Nature

A project-management tool from the tech industry could benefit your lab

Scientist fans of ‘agile’ and ‘Scrum’ claim that they can help labs to prioritize tasks and cut meeting times — but some research groups are more sceptical.

David Adam

Career Feature | 3 Sep 2019 | Nature

Why collaborating with industry can provide a career boost

Neuroscientist Blaine Roberts explains how partnering with companies, or a consortium of companies, can bring significant benefits to researchers — from funding and training to expanding professional networks.