Our Mission
At BeyondAcademia.de, our mission is to empower life science PhD students and postdocs from around the world who aspire to transition from academia to the German industry. Rooted in decades of firsthand experiences of our founders, we are committed to providing unparalleled support and resources.
The German job market is currently in turmoil. On one hand, the whole of the German industry has been crying about “Fachkräftemangel” (skilled labor shortage) for months, if not years. On the other hand, the recession is real; a lot of German companies are on a hiring freeze. To find a job in this environment, especially as an “outsider”, you need to positively stand out to even get noticed.
To help you with exactly that, we leverage the unique perspectives of our team, comprising both a former PhD graduate who successfully navigated this journey and an industry veteran with over 12 years of industry experience, to guide and mentor our clients. Our services are designed to provide the knowledge and confidence needed for a successful transition.
Join us on this transformative journey, where empowerment and the pursuit of industry success are at the heart of everything we do.
Meet our Experts
We’ve walked the path you’re embarking on, and we know the challenges and uncertainties that come with it. We’re not just mentors, counselors, or coaches; we’re advocates committed to helping you get noticed and hired by industry employers in Germany. Our group trainings and personalized 1-on-1 coaching sessions are designed to empower you with the skills, insights, and connections you need to excel in the life sciences industry.
Let us be your compass on this remarkable journey from academia to industry. Together, we’ll unlock your potential and chart a course toward your dream career in Germany’s life science sector.
Your Mentor from Academia to Industry
Born in Bashkortostan, Russia, in 1988, Lira Nigmatullina holds a PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of Mainz, Germany. Her journey from academia to her current position as a Software Product Manager at Germany’s third-largest Biotech company, exemplifies the challenges and triumphs you will encounter along your journey.
Lira understands your frustrations because she’s been there. She knows the struggles of navigating the industry landscape with a strong academic background. Facing countless rejections while trying to transition from her brief post-doc into IT-consulting in Italy, it was only her resilience that made her develop the right job search strategy, and the skills that got her hired for her dream job in the end. She had to learn the hard way, that a PhD is not a golden ticket that makes you attractive but that you have to sell it (and yourself) the right way.
Over the last decade she mentored dozens of peers by giving them the support that she would have wished for during her transition out of academia.
— Lira Nigmatullina, PhD
Your Career Coach and Hiring Expert
Born in Düsseldorf, Germany, in 1983, Tobias brings a wealth of experience in people development, hiring practices, and career coaching. Though his MBA from the University of Cincinnati, USA, set the foundation for a successful career, he did not forget the challenges he faced searching for his first job for months, right after the banking crisis of 2009.
Tobias understands the importance of networking because it transformed his career. It took him to send out over a hundred job applications (while working at a university to earn his living) to secure his first industry job. From his second job onwards, he never had to send out another application because all job opportunities came through his network.
With over 12 years of industry experience in Germany, including managerial roles and hiring responsibilities, as well as his people development skill that he did not just use for building and developing his own teams but also as a career coach, Tobias is well-equipped to guide you through the intricacies of the German industry job market and help you to navigate your inner obstacles.
— Tobias Kartje, MBA
Want find out how we can support you in finding your dream industry job?
What they have to say about us
Don’t take our word for it – here’s what people who We’ve worked with have to say:
Deepthi A., PhD
My biggest challenge was building confidence in my skills and understanding what I could contribute to the industry. However, after just one session with Lira and Tobias, that doubt was completely resolved, and I began to see myself as a valuable asset. The workshop was incredibly helpful, especially in guiding me to tailor my CV to meet industry expectations. I also realised the importance of networking before even considering job applications. Thanks to Lira and Tobias, I successfully landed a job, and I highly recommend their guidance to anyone looking to transition from academia-to-industry.
Zhanna S., MD
I thought I knew everything there was to know about the job search process, especially since it wasn't my first time. However, this time I was navigating the European market, so I decided to seek help. It was definitely worth it—Lira and Toby provided me with all the practical guidance I needed, allowing me to implement multiple strategies at once and significantly boost my chances. After six months of hard work, disappointment, and even more perseverance, I secured a contract with the top employer in Germany in my dream field.
Egor B.
[...] Since this is my first position in Europe, the information I received in our workshops was extremely useful and helped me optimize the entire job search process as much as possible. It was a real revelation to understand how important it is for the resume to pass as many layers of automatic filtering as possible to reach HR definitely. Although I was looking for a job in IT, not in academia, I am absolutely sure that without the training, the entire process could have taken three times longer, or maybe even more. However, in reality, I found a job quite quickly, especially given the unstable job market, and I ended up in a company that is very close to my heart. Thank you!