You can trust PhD students to get things done 

In March 2025, Kohlrabi ran its first research consultancy training workshop for PhD students at Middlesex University. The group included 15 students from biomedical sciences, life sciences, psychology, and engineering, all eager to learn how to identify their transferable skills and make them marketable. They came with plenty of questions, like: What’s an Invitation to Tender (ITT)? What should a consulting proposal and budget include? And, could AI eventually replace human consultants?

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A significant part of the discussion focused on the evolving role of AI, emphasising that the adaptability and problem-solving skills of researchers are exactly what enable them to succeed in an ever-changing technological world. Far from being replaced, students recognised how their PhD training equips them to adapt, learn quickly, and face new challenges head-on. Especially in PhDs that contribute to the creation of something tangible, no matter how small, it’s vital to look beyond the immediate future. A short-term perspective simply isn’t enough.

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Many of the participants already had real-world experience—some in marketing, business, global consulting, or healthcare—and were seeking a better work-life balance by exploring consultancy, especially in comparison to the often demanding nature of academic careers. The top strengths they listed made sense given their backgrounds: the ability to think calmly under pressure, collaborate, and ultimately deliver results.

 

However, there was some uncertainty about how their research skills might translate into consulting, particularly from those hailing from the lab. We could offer reassurance that someone who has demonstrated the rigour, tenacity, and mental flexibility required to achieve a PhD, plus the ability to think on their feet and actually deliver a project, is what a client or consulting firm wants. The research methods and trends we use in consultancy may change and can be easily picked up, but it never feels easy to find someone who can create something useful in answer to a brief. 

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In consulting, the aim is to deliver a final product that works for the client—not just a set of ideas, but a finished, functional solution. The focus is on finding the best way to solve the problem. By the end of the workshop, students began to realise that consulting is a natural extension of their research mindset. They left with the tools to make it happen for themselves—learning how to find opportunities, craft proposals, set budgets, and communicate their value to prospective clients. Most importantly, they left knowing that a career in consulting was within their reach.

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With a strong foundation in rigorous inquiry, a willingness to embrace emerging technologies, and an innate drive to "get things done," these researchers are well-positioned to excel—whatever the future holds.