Chief of Staff Specializes in Deep Tech Strategy

Name: Cam Watson (he/him)

PhD: Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University College London, 2018

What is your current job?

I am Chief of Staff for Nuclera, based in Cambridge, United Kingdom.

In my job, I develop business strategy, identify markets to enter, build partnerships/collaborations for research and commercial teams, win funding from government and investors, and work with R&D to refine products based on market feedback.

What is your favorite thing about your job?

I love getting to problem solve and develop overarching strategies.

What is the most important skill you developed or experience you had during your PhD that now helps you in your current position?

Scientific know-how, agency and problem solving.

How did you build the skills necessary for your current role?

I worked for 2 years as a life sciences strategy consultant for LEK Consulting after my PhD.

How did you find this position? What were the career steps you took to get to where you are now?

Headhunter

PhD ➡️ Strategy Consultant ➡️ Strategy Manager at start-up ➡️ Chief of Staff at Scale-up ➡️ (now moving on to be a Venture Builder at a University in Shanghai)

If someone is interested in a similar role, what would you recommend they start doing now to prepare?

Build relevant experience in strategy and business.

Why did you decide to not pursue a career in academia?

I never wanted to be in research. The PhD was a means to get into deep tech strategy.

What advice do you have for someone getting their PhD and looking to pursue a career outside of academia?

• Identify some areas you want to work in

• Build relevant experience through shadowing/internships/courses

• Network hard

And for those interested, what was your main area of research?

I developed a biosensor to detect arsenic in drinking water.