{"id":642,"date":"2025-03-11T10:03:28","date_gmt":"2025-03-11T10:03:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.cardiff.ac.uk\/career-directions-for-researchers\/?page_id=642"},"modified":"2025-03-25T10:34:36","modified_gmt":"2025-03-25T10:34:36","slug":"research-and-policy-careers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.cardiff.ac.uk\/career-directions-for-researchers\/exploring-career-options\/research-and-policy-careers\/","title":{"rendered":"Research and policy careers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many early career researchers use their research management skills to pursue research-related and policy roles outside of academia. Research<\/a> has highlighted the enormous value employers place on doctoral graduates\u2019 research and analytical skills, as well as related skills such as critical thinking and innovation. Research and policy careers outside of academia exist in many different sectors, providing early career researchers with opportunities to continue researching in their field of expertise, supporting or facilitating research and the communication of research and utilising their research skills to have a wider societal impact.<\/p>\n

Research roles outside academia<\/h4>\n

Data consistently highlights the popularity of research careers outside of academia for early career researchers. Vitae\u2019s most recent publication of \u2018What do researchers do?<\/a>\u2019, which explores doctoral graduate employment, shows that 70% of all UK domiciled employed doctoral graduates surveyed used research skills in their role and over 60% conducted or interpreted research.<\/p>\n

Research is conducted in almost all sectors and industries for varying purposes and objectives. You could be working on research in your field of expertise in a different environment, for example in a commercial research and development environment or for the government. Or you could be utilising your research skills in a different capacity, for example by working in consultancy or market research.<\/p>\n

The below graphic from Taylor and Francis<\/a> highlights some popular research career pathways of early career researchers:<\/p>\n

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Examples of research and policy careers<\/h4>\n

Below is some further detail about a few popular research roles outside of academia:<\/p>\n

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\n Chevron right<\/title>\n <\/path>\n<\/svg> Research management and administration<\/h2>

Individuals working in research management and administration have wide and varied roles, all focused on maximising the impact and effectiveness of others\u2019 research. This could include identifying sources of funding, negotiating contracts with external sponsors, the financial management of research projects and the dissemination\/sharing of research. While those in research management often do not conduct their own research, their work is essential to every aspect of an institution\u2019s research output. This type of role might suit you if you are passionate about the wider impact and value of research and want to remain working within the research community, but perhaps do not want to be responsible for conducting your own research. This role also exists in higher education.<\/p>\n

You can look at the Association of Research Managers and Administrators website<\/a>\u00a0and Indeed\u2019s overview of the role of a research manager<\/a> to find out more. It\u2019s also a good idea to look at live job adverts across different sectors to understand what these roles entail, for example this Research Manager job advert<\/a> in an independent policy organisation and this Research Manager job advert<\/a> in a charity.<\/p>\n<\/div> <\/div>

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\n Chevron right<\/title>\n <\/path>\n<\/svg> Intellectual property and patent careers <\/h2>

Another way to work in a field related to research is to work in intellectual property. Intellectual property<\/a> includes any invention, process, design or product that can be copyrighted, patented or trademarked to prevent it from being stolen or copied by others. Working in intellectual property is a way to remain working within research, by protecting the outputs of others\u2019 research.<\/p>\n

Many different people are involved in the protection of intellectual property, leading to varied career options for those interested in the field:<\/p>\n