Science Futures in the Age of AI: Exploring Careers Beyond the Bench

The Science Futures Career Day is designed to expose postgraduate students and early-career researchers to a wide spectrum of career opportunities across the scientific ecosystem, extending beyond traditional academic pathways. While rooted in scientific training, the event adopts an interdisciplinary, future- and career-oriented approach which highlights opportunities in academia, industry, entrepreneurship, policy, and science communication, as well as emerging domains such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data. Furthermore, conversations will point out how digital transformation reshapes the global job market to create new career pathways and skill demands. As such, by integrating insights from data-driven and AI-enabled sectors, the event equips participants to navigate evolving workforce trends and position themselves competitively within a rapidly changing science and innovation landscape.

Thus, the programme aims to equip participants with the knowledge, competencies, and strategic insights required to navigate an increasingly dynamic and competitive global workforce. Emphasis will be placed on transferable skills, career adaptability, and informed decision-making. Through a combination of keynote engagements, industry-led discussions, practical workshops, and interactive roundtable sessions, participants will gain direct exposure to professionals from diverse sectors. The event prioritises actionable guidance, including career mapping, recruitment readiness, and entrepreneurial thinking.

Key focus areas include:

• Understanding diverse career trajectories within and beyond academia in the AI era
• Development of employability skills, including CV writing, job applications, and interview preparation
• Navigation of the transition from postgraduate training to the workforce
• Exploration of entrepreneurship and innovation as viable career pathways
• Accessing support structures for research translation, commercialisation, and funding

This event ultimately seeks to bridge the gap between academic training and real-world career opportunities to enable participants to position themselves effectively within the broader science and innovation landscape.