“One of the Big Values of a PhD to an Industry Role Is the Proven Ability to Tackle a Substantial Project Largely Independently”

In our interview with Vijay Iyer, he shares his journey from neuroscience microscopy to a role supporting neuroscience users at MathWorks. Vijay values independence, learning, and collaborations in his cross-functional industry position. He continues leveraging his specialized expertise and project management abilities from his PhD. He encourages mixing in reading, networking, and participating where possible (internships, freelancing) in the more innovative corners of the business world to help cultivate a vocabulary that bridges the worlds of academia and industry. Vijay advises embracing unplanned chances and focusing on transferable skills.