From materials science to UK policy: Dr Thanuja Galhena
Picture this: you love the lab, but you want your work to change things beyond one project. Dr Thanuja Galhena's story, set out in a GOV.UK case study, shows a practical route from materials science to the UK Civil Service. We break down what shifted, which skills carried over, and what you can do next.
After years in academia and industry-including a postdoctoral post at the Cambridge Graphene Centre and a senior scientist role at a UK graphene manufacturer-Thanuja spotted an opening she hadn't planned for. She wasn't actively job hunting in government, but the chance to try a new challenge drew her in. The move quickly turned from experiment to career.
Purpose was the difference. With foundations in chemistry, nanotechnology and materials science, she realised she could shape decisions with national consequences. Instead of one prototype, think industrial growth and jobs-outcomes she says made the work deeply satisfying because the results could be felt well beyond a single lab.
Today her brief is clear: bring foreign investment into the UK's advanced materials sector, build stronger supply chains, and help shape policy frameworks that support growth. What this means: connect researchers and firms, make it easier for graphene-based ideas to become products, and advise on what would enable uptake across industries.
The day-to-day surprised her. Government is dynamic; no two days are the same. You work with start-ups, multinationals, universities and local authorities-and your technical judgement feeds into policy and investment choices. Colleagues and culture mattered too; support made the transition stick.
Still, the learning curve was real. Moving from R&D to policy and strategy changed the problem-solving playbook. The vocabulary looked familiar but meanings shifted-new acronyms, new briefs, and a constant check against the Civil Service Code and the public interest. The pace is fast, and you respond as issues break.
Transferable skills did the heavy lifting. Relationship-building across academia, industry and government; running research projects; and explaining complex ideas to non‑specialists all proved decisive. If you can turn a materials characterisation result into a clear 'so what?' for a finance lead or minister, you're already doing policy work.
Her message to future applicants is encouraging: this is work at the intersection of science, policy and strategy, with nationwide impact. If that motivates you, embrace the cultural shift. Try practical steps this week-draft a 200-word note on your research for a lay reader, seek an informational chat with a policy official, and practise answering the question 'what outcome are we buying with this decision?'
Thanuja continues to keep one foot in academia. As an OPEN Visiting Fellow in 2026, she will help strengthen ties between research and policymaking. The lesson for students and educators is simple: policy does not mean leaving science behind; it means using it in public to solve real-world problems at scale.