For many researchers looking at careers beyond academia, nonprofit careers for researchers are well worth exploring. Foundations and other nonprofit organizations often look for people who bring subject-matter expertise together with skills such as project management, communication, stakeholder coordination, and strategic thinking. That can make researchers from both STEM and the humanities a good fit, even if they do not immediately see themselves in roles such as program officer or project manager.

That was also the case for Andreas Härer, alumnus of our Leadership Academy. After a PhD in evolutionary biology and five years as a postdoc at UC San Diego, he initially searched quite broadly outside academia before discovering the Klimaschutzstiftung Baden-Württemberg. Today, he develops projects in climate protection and biodiversity conservation. We spoke with him about the transition, what working at a foundation actually looks like, and how he learned to present his academic experience in a way that made sense beyond research.

What’s your academic background and what initially drew you to a career in research?

In 2007, I started my bachelor’s studies in Biology at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. At the beginning, I wasn’t sure where I was headed exactly but I had a general interest in biomedical science and molecular biology. In 2010, I moved to the University of Konstanz to start my master’s studies, where I began exploring new areas of biology and figuring out which topics truly excited me. Looking back, it was by pure chance that I signed up for a course in evolutionary biology and ecology, which completely changed my career trajectory. Those fields were not a major focus of my bachelor’s studies, and I didn’t know much about them, but I was immediately fascinated. So, I finally knew what I wanted to do and I did my master’s thesis as well as my PhD in evolutionary biology, followed by a 5-year Postdoc at the University of California San Diego.

I had never seriously planned to pursue a career in academia. An academic career only became a real option to me after I discovered my passion for evolutionary biology during my master’s studies, and I decided to follow my gut and just dive into it.

What made you decide that it was time to leave academia?

I would say it was a slow and gradual process for me. During my PhD, I was surrounded by the idea that the ultimate measure of success was to stay in academia and eventually become a professor. Other career paths were rarely discussed in the same way, so for a long time it felt as if leaving academia would somehow be a failure. So, for a while I didn’t even think about alternative career paths because I was so focused on writing the next paper to improve my chances to find a permanent job in academia. Only during my time as a Postdoc did I start to seriously question whether an academic career actually was the right path for me. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my research and I was privileged to work with so many inspiring people. But I realized that becoming a professor might not be for me and that I had strengths and skills that would be better suited for other kinds of jobs. When I came to that realization, it was a liberating experience because I allowed myself to be honest with myself. Additionally, when my visa in the US expired and I was applying for academic positions back in Germany, all my applications were rejected. So, exploring other career paths became inevitable for me.

How did you first discover that foundations could be a career option for researchers?

When I started applying for non-academic jobs, I kept my search very broad to get a good understanding of what options are actually out there. After applying for many jobs with mixed success, I had the feeling that none of them were the right fit for me. Then, one day I saw the job ad by the Klimaschutzstiftung (climate protection foundation) Baden-Württemberg which sounded like an amazing opportunity. Only then did I become aware of working at a foundation as a potential career option for me. Having worked in this position for almost a year now, it has been a great opportunity. In my academic career, I always felt like I wanted my work to have a more immediate real-world impact. Foundations can offer a great opportunity to do just that. For example, one of my tasks is to develop projects and programs that help advance climate protection and biodiversity conservation. And I still get to interact with researchers who collaborate with our foundation on these projects.

Could you walk us through your application process?

I must admit that it took me some time and many conversations with friends and mentors to realize what a non-academic application should look like. The focus of the application and how to present yourself is quite different. This also means that you really have to change the way you think about yourself, your skills and your previous achievements. For example, the specifics of your research, probably one of the things you are most excited about, might not be that relevant for the job you are going to apply for. The number of papers you published, which you are probably very proud of, might not matter at all. However, the times you helped organize a conference or presented your work at a public outreach event or when you supervised a student suddenly become much more valuable. But it takes some time to rewire your thinking and figure out: What are the requirements of the job you are going to apply for? You need to think about all the things you have done besides your research, all the things you have learned and the skills you have gained. Which of these experiences are important for this job?

That leads me to another major point. Especially if you change careers, it might not be immediately clear to recruiters why you might be a good fit. Put an effort into this, help them understand how this specific job connects with your interests and skills and why you are passionate about it. In the end, so much in our lives is storytelling and I feel like you need to be able to tell an authentic story about yourself.

Looking back, which skills from your academic career have been most valuable in your current role?

I was actually surprised by how many of the skills I have learned, some of which I wasn’t necessarily aware of, are valuable for my current job. But I think the most valuable skills I brought from academia are the ability to work independently, think deeply about complex problems, and take ownership of projects. As a researcher, you are often responsible for developing ideas, planning projects, coordinating different stakeholders, and moving things forward over long periods of time. We rarely call it „project management,“ but that’s essentially what it is. It also means that you don’t just execute tasks, but you need to take responsibility for outcomes. If an experiment fails or the research project doesn’t go as planned, there usually isn’t someone else to step in and solve the problem. That mindset has been very valuable in my current role. I was also very fortunate to move into a field that I genuinely care about, so I naturally transferred that sense of ownership. For me, my work does not just consist of tasks on a to-do list, they are projects that I feel responsible for and want to see succeed.

What does a typical workday look like for you, and what aspects of your job do you enjoy most?

I am lucky enough to not really have a typical workday because my days are often quite different. That is actually one of the things I enjoy most about my job. I work on a very diverse range of topics and interact with many different interesting people. One day, I might be in a meeting discussing Baden-Württemberg’s peatland restoration strategy. The next day, I could be out in the field planting trees in an orchard, and the day after that I might be presenting our projects to a potential donor. I really enjoy this diversity of tasks and all the experiences and challenges that come with it.

I also have a lot of freedom to come up with new ideas and to develop projects from start to finish. For example, in our projects, I am involved in identifying project sites, interacting with scientists who conduct assessments and monitoring, engaging with local stakeholders, organizing construction measures, planning corporate volunteering events, presenting the projects to different audiences, and working with donors to secure funding. Being able to see such projects evolve from an initial idea to implementation on the ground is really rewarding.

We are a small team of six people, which means we work together very closely. Everyone is highly motivated, always willing to help, and eager to share ideas. I really enjoy the collaborative and stimulating atmosphere. My supervisor is great as well, she gives me a lot of freedom and trust, and I really enjoy working with her to achieve positive things for our planet.

Was there anything about working at a foundation that surprised you?

I guess the biggest surprise was how much creative freedom I was given to develop ideas. In academia, we sometimes act as if the freedom to follow your interests and work on ideas you care about is something unique to research. But of course, there are careers outside academia where you can do exactly that.

I was also surprised by how much faster things can move. We develop research and education programs as well as climate protection projects such as peatland restoration, afforestation, and agroforestry. We normally develop these ideas together with scientists and other experts, present them to our board, and once they are approved, we can get going and create a positive impact. Compared to academia, where getting a paper published or a grant proposal funded can take years, the pace outside of academia can be much more dynamic. I find that incredibly refreshing. Another thing I appreciate is the more immediate sense of impact and achievement. In academia, many projects take years before you see results. In my current role, I can often see progress much more directly, whether that is a project being approved, a restoration measure being implemented, or a new partnership being established.

On a more personal level, I struggled with imposter syndrome throughout much of my academic career. My current job is also challenging, and I am constantly learning new things. But at some point, I realized that the imposter syndrome was gone. I feel confident that I can do this job and that I am good at it. That was a huge relief. I am not entirely sure what caused that shift, but I think it taught me an important lesson. If you experience imposter syndrome in academia, it does not necessarily mean there is something wrong with you. Sometimes it may simply mean that your strengths and personality are a better fit for a different environment. For me, moving outside academia not only opened up a new career path, but also improved my confidence, well-being, and overall job satisfaction.

What advice would you give researchers who are considering a career outside academia but are unsure whether to take the leap?

First, be honest with yourself. Try to find out what you want to do, not what others expect you to do. Just because you have invested many years in an academic career does not mean you have to stay on that path forever. Ultimately, it is your life and your career, so it is worth thinking carefully about what motivates you and makes you happy.

I would also encourage you to reflect on what you actually like about your work in academia. Is it the research topic itself? Working independently? Developing new ideas? Project management? Writing? Analyzing complex problems? Many of the skills we develop as researchers are highly transferable, even if we sometimes underestimate their value. Another piece of advice is to talk to people you trust and to have honest conversations. Changing careers rarely happens overnight. That is why I think it is helpful to start thinking about it early rather than waiting until circumstances force you to make a decision. Even if you end up staying in academia, you probably learn some valuable things in the process.

One thing that helped me a lot was paying attention to my own reactions during job interviews. Sometimes I left an interview with a feeling that a particular position was not right for me. Instead of ignoring that feeling, I tried to understand where it came from. What aspects of the role did not appeal to me? What was I missing? Those experiences helped me define what I was looking for. Not every job is the right fit, whether it in academia or not, and that is perfectly okay.

Finally, if you decide to leave academia, be kind to yourself. For me, it felt a little bit like grieving at times. Academia had been a major part of my identity for many years, and letting go of that was not always easy. I think that is a very normal experience. But I also learned that leaving academia does not mean leaving behind everything you have built. You take your skills, your experience, your curiosity, and your passion with you. In my case, I found a role that suited my strengths and personality better than I had expected, and looking back, I am quite happy that I allowed myself to explore a different path.