"After PhD" views: Sonia Romero
Sonia Romero visited us on June 26th 2025, in the frame of the "Career Prospects" talks organised by the IMDEA Nanociencia Alumni Programme. She reflected on her journey #BeyondPhD, from her post doctoral stay at IMDEA Nanociencia, to her position as Medical Affairs Project Manager at Meisys.
During her candid talk, Sonia shared valuable insights into her career journey, tracing her path from a postdoctoral researcher to her current role in industry. She emphasized that networking is crucial for reaching relevant positions, particularly when transitioning beyond academia. Reflecting on her PhD and postdoc training, she highlighted that problem-solving and presentation skills remain the most valuable assets in her daily work. These core competencies have allowed her to adapt and thrive in a complex, fast-paced environment.
She also spoke positively about her experience in a large company, where she finds the possibility of vertical promotion as well as horizontal movement toward new challenges especially appealing — a key factor in shaping a fulfilling 30-year career. Yet, she admitted that she still misses aspects of academic life, particularly the independency, and the intellectual atmosphere of the lab. Her decision to move into industry was driven by a desire to feel a more immediate impact of her work —a motivation strengthened by the tangible outcomes and broader reach her contributions have achieved.