From PhD to Research Consultant: My Journey with Kohlrabi’s Accelerator

If you’re nearing the final stretch of your PhD, you might recognise how I’m feeling right now: a mix of excitement about finally finishing and seeing those letters after your name, combined with the creeping dread of how much work still lies ahead, and maybe even a flicker of anxiety about what comes next. Do you stay in academia, jump into industry, or try to carve out something in between?

For me, these questions have come a bit later in life. I didn’t start my PhD straight out of university; I brought with me years of experience in charity leadership with some consulting assignments along the way. So when the opportunity arose to dip my toe into research consultancy and explore it as a career option, I jumped at it. I wanted to understand what research consulting really looks like and whether I could bring together my newly acquired academic research skills with my track record in consultancy in way that aligns with my passions and values.

Kohlrabi’s PhD Accelerator programme was that opportunity. This 12-week programme is designed for final-stage PhD students who are pondering life beyond academia. It’s not just theory – it’s a practical, interactive and confidence-building course leaving you with everything you need to know to get started in research consultancy, run by an inspiring team who have been on this exact journey. Each week, I joined a small cohort of fellow PhD students online for half a day of learning, discussion and testing out ideas. We covered everything from what research consultancy actually is and the different models you can adopt to how to price your work and network effectively.

One of the most valuable aspects for me was the chance to reflect on the differences between academic research and consultancy research. Academia values rigour and depth, often over long timelines. Consultancy, on the other hand, requires agility and speed. Clients move fast and they need you to respond. Thinking through not only these contrasts but also the synergies helped me identify what I want from my work and where I could add value.

After working through these principles we got practical; exploring consulting frameworks, research methodologies, and leadership approaches all using real world examples. I loved the emphasis on translating PhD skills into consultancy because, as our facilitators kept reminding us, the truth is, you already have so many of the capabilities you need.

The final part of the course was where things really clicked: a live client project. This wasn’t a simulation but a genuine opportunity to work with a real client and put our learning into practice, with support from the Kohlrabi team throughout. It’s absolute gold dust: immediate hands‑on experience, the chance to learn by doing, and a tangible track record to show for it at the end.

For me, the programme was the catalyst I needed. Off the back of the course, I got in touch with organisations aligned with my research interests and secured a couple of consultancy projects.

The PhD Accelerator was an investment which gave me the time and space to think through what I want and what I’m good at, as well as some new tools to help me tailor my approach to best support clients. Its made me realise that working outside academia doesn’t mean leaving your skills behind, its just about using them in a different way.

So, if you’re grappling with the question of “what’s next?” and wondering whether consultancy could be part of the answer, I can’t recommend this programme highly enough. It has certainly helped me to answer that question as well as giving me the tools I need to get on with it!

About Rachel Perowne

Rachel Perowne is a PhD student at the Centre for Behaviour Change at University College London, where her research focuses on improving how young people are engaged and involved in mental health research.