Science Business Analyst Tackles Cross-Functional Projects

Name: Hannah Dear (she/her)

PhD: Cell & Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, 2024

What was your main area of research?

I studied how a specific cell signaling pathway (Hedgehog Signaling) contributes to embryonic development. My research was on the downstream proteins, the GLI transcription factors, which mediate changes to DNA transcription. The majority of my project was developing a mouse model that we used to study the GLI transcription factors.

What is your current job?

I am a Science Business Analyst at HHMI in Bethesda, Maryland.

This role was brand new when I stepped into it in January 2025, so it’s been evolving ever since — which is one of the things I really enjoy.

At a high level, I’d describe my work as a form of internal consulting. I sit within the department at HHMI that supports all of our investigators across the country, and my role involves tackling cross-functional projects that improve the systems and processes that support them.

My responsibilities span a range of areas, which keeps the work dynamic and interesting. A few examples include:

• Efficiency Improvement Projects – streamlining workflows to help our internal teams and scientists work more effectively.

• Data Management Projects – helping improve how we collect, store, and use information to make better decisions.

• User Experience Design Projects – working on internal websites and tools to make them more intuitive and user-friendly (though I’m not doing the coding myself).

• Competition Management – supporting the structure and operations behind large-scale scientific competitions and application cycles.

Some of these projects I lead independently, while others I contribute to as a team member, depending on the scope and stakeholders involved.

What is your favorite thing about your job?

One of my favorite things is the variety — no two projects are exactly the same — and I really enjoy being involved from start to finish. I get to see an idea take shape, evolve through feedback and iteration, and ultimately become something tangible and impactful.

During my PhD, I seriously considered going into consulting, but I realized that I wanted a role where I could stay with a project beyond just the recommendation phase (at least for my first job). I didn’t want to hand over a slide deck and never see the outcome. In my current role, I get to stay engaged throughout the entire lifecycle of a project, and that’s incredibly satisfying.

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

I think the most important skill I developed was managing multiple projects at once. Between my experiments and extra-curriculars, time management was a necessary skill.

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

Academic Experience:

• My PhD work in an academic lab gave me a deep understanding of the academic research environment, which is essential in my current role. Much of the decision-making at HHMI is grounded in the academic system since we support and employ academic scientists. Having firsthand experience navigating the “unwritten rules” and politics of academia has been invaluable in understanding the needs and perspectives of the people we work with.

  
  

Consulting Experience:

• I was involved with miLEAD Consulting, a graduate student- and postdoc-run consulting group at the University of Michigan. Through that, I developed core business skills, learned to think strategically, and worked with clients across industries. I also participated in several consulting bridge programs that gave me a solid foundation in corporate thinking and efficiency — all of which I apply regularly in my current role.

Leadership in Outreach and Program Management:

• I served as a student leader for the Developing Future Biologists (DFB) summer program for two years. I coordinated a national cohort of students to come to Michigan for a weeklong immersive experience in academic science. Running two application cycles taught me a lot about program design, applicant review and selection, and cross-functional team coordination — all highly transferable to what I do now.

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

I regularly checked the HHMI website because it is located very close to my house. I wasn’t expecting such a perfect role to pop-up.

PhD graduate ➡️ Science Business Analyst

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

Join student-led organizations, volunteer for cross-functional projects, or participate in consulting or leadership programs. These experiences will not only help you build transferable skills but also give you clearer insight into the kind of work environments and roles you enjoy.

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

For me, it was a fairly clear decision from the beginning — I knew when I started my PhD that I didn’t want to run my own lab. I was more interested in exploring career paths beyond traditional academic research.

I chose the University of Michigan for graduate school specifically because it offered a wide range of opportunities to learn about non-academic careers. That intentional choice made the transition feel less daunting and more like a natural progression.

Throughout my PhD, I actively sought out experiences that helped me explore other options and ultimately confirm that academia wasn’t the right fit for me.

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

Get involved early and often! The PhD is an ideal time to explore — take advantage of opportunities outside the lab to gain exposure to different industries and ways of working. The more diverse experiences you can gather, the better you'll understand what excites you and what doesn't.