Career advice team

Laura Woodward Chartered MCIPD

I studied psychology at Lancaster University with the original aim of becoming an educational psychologist. 

After graduating I was offered a job recruiting police officers, which progressed into working in HR for the Lancashire Constabulary for some years. This was followed by further HR work in a rehabilitation centre before joining the HR department at the Royal Society of Chemistry.

My interest in professional development led me to move into careers work at the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2011.

Professional qualifications

• Chartered CIPD
• Mental Health First Aider

Specialist in

• HR
• Recruitment processes
• Employment law
• Mentoring
• Career breaks

Robert Bowles MRSC RCDP

After an early career in marine biotechnology, I moved out of the lab to develop a career working with people rather than micro-organisms.

I have insight into a wide range of industries and types of companies, having worked for organisations ranging from large multinational pharma companies to small software houses.

My PhD and post-doc work has given me an insight into academic careers, and I also have extensive experience in sales and marketing roles.

I use this wide range of experience to help people find the right role for them.

Professional qualifications

• Level 6 Diploma in Career Guidance and Development with Open University
• Mentoring training
• Mental Health First Aider

Specialist in

• Academic careers
• Careers in industry
• Helping people with career changes, whatever the reason

Dr Edwin Marr, PhD

My career started in Higher Education, where I began working as an associate lecturer whilst completing my PhD.

I then transitioned my career to work in careers guidance, which I have been doing since 2021 across Higher Education, delivering careers content for clients based across 91 countries. I have successfully twice delivered a teaching programme for PhD researchers, taught others working in careers how to review CVs, and undertaken HE recruitment. I also supported PGRs and ECRs working in cancer research.

I joined the RSC in 2024.

Professional qualifications

• University of Warwick, Career Development and Coaching Studies (in progress)
• AGCAS Introduction to Guidance Interviewing
• AGCAS Challenges of Career Work in HE

Specialist in

• Academic careers
• Career wellbeing
• Career change
• Pharma careers
• Global careers