Venturing Beyond Traditional Roles With Wafaa N. Aldhafiri

What this episode covers

This week on Beyond the Thesis With Papa PhD we will be talking about exploring non-traditional roles for young researchers with PhD candidate Wafaa Nasser Aldhafiri.<br /> <br /> Wafaa Nasser Aldhafifi. Wafaa, a Master's graduate in Pharmaceutical Sciences and a current Ph.D. candidate at UNMC, stands out for her dynamic career.She founded 'The Pharma Weekly Digest', a popular newsletter spanning LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter, where she curates the latest pharmaceutical news and industry buzz.With experience as a pharmaceutical scientist in leading pharma companies, Wafaa has expanded her expertise to roles in licensing and patent specialization, showcasing her versatility beyond traditional academia and industry role.<br /> What we covered in the interview:<br /> Finding Mentorship and Ventures Beyond Traditional Roles - Wafaa N. Aldhafiri's positive experiences with mentorship in academia and yoga training - David Mendes' academic journey and advice on transitioning from master's to PhD - Encouragement for PhD holders to consider non-traditional roles beyond academia and industry - Assessing interest in research before committing to a PhDExploring Versatile Career Opportunities - Leveraging STEM skills in various sectors such as policy, municipal systems, industry, and governmental entities - Shifting mindset from scarcity to recognizing the value of PhD skills in various sectors - Venturing beyond academia or industry and the versatility of PhD holders in various rolesOvercoming Fear and Criticism - Cautious approach to exploring career opportunities outside academia - Addressing fear of not being taken seriously and handling criticism and judgment - Weighing options and building a safety net when pursuing career paths beyond academiaEntrepreneurial Ventures and Career Exploration - Starting the Pharma Weekly Digest to fill a knowledge gap in the pharmaceutical world - Choosing a newsletter format for the digest and the process of compiling and reviewing content - Experimenting with various professional preferences and experiencesThe importance of Mentorship and Networking - Finding supportive mentors in academia, extracurricular activities, and hobbies - Importance of having multiple mentors in various aspects of life - Being open to learning, feedback, and networking opportunitiesPersonal Development and Well-being - Balancing studies, work, and extracurricular activities during a PhD program - The significance of extracurricular activities for developing confidence, time management, soft skills, and networking - Encouragement to focus on personal happiness and well-being <br /> This episode’s resources:<br /> Pharma Weekly Digest | TwitterPharma Weekly Digest | Linkedin<br /> Thank you, Wafaa N. Aldhafiri!<br /> If you enjoyed this conversation with Wafaa, let her know by clicking the links below and leaving her a message on Linkedin:Send Wafaa N. Aldhafiri a thank you message on Linkedin!Click here to share your key take-away from this interview with David!<br /> <br /> Leave a review on Podchaser !<br /> <br /> <br /> Support the show !<br /> <br /> You might also like the following episodes:<br /> Sheena Howard – How to Leverage Academic BrandingAmal Abuzeinab – Flourishing in Your PhD and BeyondMerle van den Akker – Debunking PhD MisconceptionsEmma Brodzinski – Supporting and inspiring graduate studentsAs always, if you find value in Papa PhD and in the content I bring you every week, click on one of the buttons below and send some of that value back to me by becoming a supporter on Patreon or by buying me a coffee :)<br /> <br /> Support the show on Patreon !<br /> <br /> <br /> Or buy me a coffee :)