Resources

Career growth in science is often measured in visible milestones: a new title, a promotion, a larger project more responsibility. These markers are easy to recognise, and they are often used as the primary indicators of success. But growth that is sustainable is not defined by progression alone. It is defined by whether your career can continue to expand without gradually eroding your wellbeing, your identity, and your life outside work. Because growth that costs you everythi

From the outside, high-achieving scientists often appear decisive. They have navigated competitive academic environments, solved complex problems, and taken on significant responsibility. Their careers reflect persistence, intelligence, and discipline. But internally, many find career decisions surprisingly difficult. Not because they lack capability. But because they care deeply about getting it right. Scientific training teaches you to analyse, not to choose Science rewards

Many people sense that they would benefit from some form of support, but feel unsure about where to turn. They may have heard of mentorship, coaching, and therapy, but the distinctions between them are not always clear. As a result, people often delay seeking support, not because they do not need it, but because they are uncertain which type is appropriate. Understanding the differences can help you make a more informed and confident decision, as each form of support has its

Many people wait until things feel unmanageable before they seek support. They assume they need to be exhausted enough, overwhelmed enough, or close enough to breaking point for their struggles to be valid. Until then, they tell themselves they should be able to handle it. They continue pushing forward, even when something no longer feels sustainable. This belief is deeply ingrained, particularly in scientific environments where resilience, independence, and persistence are o

Science is often described as objective, rational, and fair. It is a field built on evidence, logic, and the pursuit of truth. Many people enter scientific careers believing that these principles extend beyond the work itself, shaping the environments in which that work takes place. But for many scientists, there is an additional layer to navigate. Alongside the intellectual demands of the role, there can also be the quieter, less visible experience of being the only one. The

Many scientists are accustomed to thinking about workload. They can describe their experiments, their deadlines, their meetings, and their responsibilities in clear and measurable terms. They know when they are busy, and they know when they are not. But workload and cognitive load are not the same thing. And it is often the cognitive load (the invisible mental burden of scientific work) that has the deepest impact on wellbeing. Cognitive load is not just about how much you do

Many scientists quietly carry a belief they rarely say out loud: that they are behind. They may feel behind their peers who stayed in academia, behind those who followed a clear and uninterrupted path, or behind where they thought they would be by this stage in their lives. This feeling often emerges when someone leaves the lab, moves into industry, changes sectors, or takes on roles that do not fit the traditional scientific trajectory. Even when the decision was intentional

On paper, many scientific careers look successful long before they feel sustainable. Roles with increasing responsibility. Leadership opportunities. Permanent contracts. Recognition from peers. Progress. And yet, behind the external markers of success, the internal experience is often very different. Work begins to occupy more mental space than it used to. Decisions feel heavier. The boundaries between professional and personal life become less defined. Even when things are g

I come from a socially disadvantaged background as the daughter of immigrant parents. My father was born in Tanzania, and my mother in Kenya. They came to the UK in the 1970s with very little, leaving behind established careers in search of stability, safety, and opportunity. Their early years here were not easy. They worked tirelessly, saving for nearly a decade before feeling financially secure enough to start a family. Growing up, I understood deeply the value of education