Research Scientist Gets to Research New Technologies

Name: Manasi Doshi

PhD: Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, 2021

What was your main area of research?

I was trying to understand what materials are good conductors of electricity, what materials are good for gas sensing, and can we do something to make them better at these tasks. I was specifically looking at carbon nanotubes and graphene which are nano sized (100,000 times thinner than a human hair) straws and nets of carbon. For gas sensing, I was looking at explosives detection to make your airport security faster and tiny conductors can make your electronics smaller

What is your current job?

I am a Senior Research Scientist for Schlumberger-Doll Research Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

I get to research new technologies for emissions reduction and energy decarbonization.

What is your favorite thing about your job?

I love the freedom to do research without teaching.

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

Literature review and time management

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

Presenting dense technical materials to sponsors and lay people

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

University recruitment. The recruiters were looking for candidates with a very engineering focused profile. I did not fit into that, so I asked about more research related openings.

PhD ➡️ short 10 month postdoc ➡️ research scientist

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

Make sure you diversify your skillset. Take that coding class or get that specialized training for the new equipment.

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

This was a very easy decision. I was finalizing my dissertation through COVID. Academia's prioritization of undergraduate studies over grad student / professor wellbeing put me off.

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

Go for it! It will be different, but you will actually get time to do things you like.