Operations Manager Develops Life Science Buildings

Name: Francesco Nicolini (he/him)

PhD: Molecular Biology, King's College London, 2018

What was your main area of research?

I worked on modulating mitochondrial epigenetics to understand the role they play in heart failure and the molecular mechanisms underlying the condition.

What is your current job?

I am a Scientific Operations Manager for Breakthrough Properties in London, England.

I act as a scientific solutions consultant and liaise with Design & Construction, Leasing, Acquisitions and Asset Services teams for the development, leasing and maintenance/support of life science buildings.

What is your favorite thing about your job?

I love the diversity of tasks and the chance to travel!

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

Developing an analytical/critical thinking method and spending time working in the lab as an end user.

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

After my Ph.D., I worked as a postdoc for 2 years whilst also training to become a lab manager. I then got a job as lab manager in academia (3 years), then in a startup (3 years), and now this.

It was a multi-stage process as the PhD helped me understand what it takes to look after a lab space and manage it, then when I moved to lab management I started dealing with everything around the lab too and dealing with lots of internal/external stakeholders (property management, service engineers, delivery bay staff etc).

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

They reached out to me on LinkedIn.

PhD Graduate ➡️ postdoc (2.5 years) ➡️ Lab manager (academia, 2.5 years) ➡️ Lab Manager (biotech start-up, 1.5 years), Senior Operations Manager (same biotech start-up, 1.5 years), Scientific Operations Manager (Europe) (ongoing, 5 months-now)

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

A solid foundation of lab operations, facilities management, and ESG/sustainability

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

I rolled with the punches - my PhD project was not super successful. I took time to figure out what to do and realised I was very interested in what it takes to run a lab.. and that's how it all started.

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

Stop attending "networking events" hosted in academic spaces, there's nothing there for you, and it's a highly competitive environment with more demand than offer. Start attending start-up/biotech/professionals events, and join networking groups.