Maria Derkacheva
PhD
Time moves. You evolve.
Does your current role still reflect the person you’ve become?
Design what’s next in your career – own your future.
Working harder won’t get you there.
Deliberate, well-positioned moves will.
Deliberate, well-positioned moves will.
Start the Career Clarity Diagnostic
PhD ETH Zurich
Marie Curie Fellow
Certified Career Coach
Accredited Coaching Award
NLP Practitioner
Trusted expertise. Proven impact.
I help mid-career life science professionals design their next career move – aligned with their values, ambitions and evolving priorities.
The Scientist’s Crossroads
You did not get here by accident.
You worked hard, built expertise, and proved your value.
But at some point, working harder stopped being the answer.
Something feels off: unclear, constrained, or no longer meaningful in the same way. Not because you are failing. Because you may have outgrown the path you are on.
You are not lacking skills.
You are not lacking credibility.
You are not lacking credibility.
What may be missing is clarity on what comes next – and the space to think beyond where you are now.
I approached Maria when I was disoriented and facing personal and professional challenges. Through her coaching, I discovered deep motivations, values and vocations I was unaware of.
The visualisations she helped me create are still crisp and serve as my pole star. This lasting change is a true testament to Maria's coaching talent.
Alexander, PhD
Deputy Professor
Clarity. Direction. Results.
A trusted guide
through change.
through change.
If the hardest part of
your career right now is…
your career right now is…
Being constantly stressed about the next step
Deciding what
comes next
Holding it all together while trying to stay functional
Feeling lonely because you cannot discuss this openly with anyone
Sensing that your current path no longer fits the life you want
You do not have to figure this out alone.
Your current career path may no longer fit the life you want or the person you have become. But finding a better direction requires time, energy, and clarity – exactly the things that are often hardest to access when you are overwhelmed.
That’s where I come in
I create the space you may not have right now: to think clearly, reconnect with what matters, and design what comes next with intention.
Together, we work on:
Shedding the overwhelm so you can finally hear yourself clearly
Exploring what is next without pressure or predetermined answers
Positioning you strategically so your value is seen and recognised
Creating opportunities that reflect who you have become – and who you are ready to be
From “I should” to “I want”.
That is the shift we are working towards.
Ready to understand what needs to shift?
Start with the Career Clarity Diagnostic.
This free 10-minute self-assessment is designed for science professionals who sense that something needs to change, but are not yet sure what exactly.
You will get more clarity on:
where you are in your career right now
what feels misaligned
what may be blocking your next step
what kind of support or direction could help you move forward
Start the Career Clarity Diagnostic
You will answer a short set of questions and receive a personalised starting point for reflection.
My Approach to Career Coaching
A structured process for turning uncertainty into intentional career decisions.
Career clarity is not about finding one perfect answer overnight.
It is about creating enough space, structure, and evidence to make decisions you can trust.
It is about creating enough space, structure, and evidence to make decisions you can trust.
Clarity on Direction
Define what truly matters now and translate it into career decisions.
Success Mindset
Shift from external validation to owning your direction, choices, and professional growth.
Strategic Positioning
Articulate and show your value so the right opportunities can recognise you.
Creating & Landing Opportunities
Turn clarity into roles, influence, visibility, and impact.
Explore working with me
Reflection with real results.
A deeper look at how clarity, strategy, and coaching support can translate into confident next steps.
I gained clarity on what truly matters to me professionally and defined my career path based on a clear and structured strategy, grounded in my values, strengths and vision.
But Maria does not stop at reflection. The programme also delivers concrete results: a polished CV, prepared interview responses, and networking confidence. In the end, it resulted in two very good career options – and I could even choose between two jobs.
Gaby, PhD
Clarity. Direction. Results.
CAREER COACHING
Want to see how this work could support your situation?
Explore the coaching process, what support looks like, and how we can work together to create your next step with clarity and intention.
Clarity on direction
Strategic positioning
Support that leads to action
Explore working with me
Meet Maria
Scientist, career coach, and thinking partner for science professionals.
I know what it feels like to be at a career crossroads – not because I have read about it, but because I have lived through several versions of it.
My path has taken me from academic research to programme management and career coaching, across countries, roles, and life stages. That experience shapes the way I work: with structure, honesty, strategic thinking, and respect for the complexity of real career decisions.
PhD in Life Sciences, ETH Zurich
Marie Curie Fellow
Researcher → Strategic Programme Manager → Career Coach
International experience across 6 countries and 3 languages
Certified Career Coach and NLP Practitioner
Mother of two, building a career designed to support life – not replace it
More about me
Resources for your next career step
Practical tools and reflections to help you think more clearly about your future.
Explore free and paid resources designed for science professionals navigating
career questions, transitions, visibility, applications, and professional growth.
Career Clarity Tools
Reflect on what feels misaligned and what kind of career direction may fit you better now.
CV, LinkedIn & Applications
Practical support for positioning yourself clearly and preparing for future opportunities.
Scientist's Crossroads – Deliberate Moves
Insights on career clarity, transition, and intentional growth for life science professionals.
Explore Resources
You have outgrown where you are.
That’s not a problem – it’s a starting point.
That’s not a problem – it’s a starting point.
Feeling like your current path no longer fits isn't failure. It's information. Let's use it to design what comes next – with clarity, strategy, and the space to think it through properly.
A thoughtful starting point for scientists ready for change.