Welcome back to Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD!
In this episode of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD, host David Mendes welcomes Elle Campbell, CEO of LabReNew, and Patrick Penndorf, founder of Re-Advance — two scientists who pivoted from labs to lead sustainability revolutions in research.
With backgrounds in chemistry and biochemistry, they reveal how spotting systemic issues like lab waste and inefficiencies sparked purpose-driven organizations, blending scientific rigor with entrepreneurship.
They unpack PhD-to-leadership transitions, transferable skills like iterative problem-solving, and why sustainability is a game-changer for careers beyond academia.
Elle Campbell holds a Master’s in Bioanalytical Chemistry from the University of Warsaw and now leads LabReNew, a nonprofit delivering free sustainability consulting to small, underfunded labs to cut costs, energy use, and carbon emissions.
After quitting her PhD, she revitalized LabReNew, boosting revenue to $300K in six months through AI tools, community building (150% engagement growth at The 2nd Lab), and strategic programs in Canada’s bioeconomy.
Elle’s analytical mindset turns environmental challenges into scalable impact, mentoring scientists on greener workflows while optimizing nonprofit operations.
Patrick Penndorf studied biochemistry and molecular medicine, founding Re:Advance in 2022 to consult on lab sustainability worldwide.
Through LinkedIn influence and events like the Green Laboratory Work Summit, he demystifies research’s environmental footprint, teaching optimized protocols that save time, resources, and yield better data.
Still active in science communication for groups like the International Union for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Patrick bridges labs and leadership via volunteering and serendipitous projects.
🔍 In this episode
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How PhD problem-solving mirrors entrepreneurship: Granular goals, iteration, and adaptability
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The founder-CEO distinction: Passionate drive vs. strategic execution in sustainability ventures
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Networking and volunteering as gateways from pipettes to purpose-driven organizations
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Why labs ignore sustainability — and transferable skills to fix waste, culture, and careers
This episode’s resources:
- LabReNew | LabReNew.org
- Re-Advance | Re-Advance.com
Thank you, Elle and Patrick!
If you enjoyed this conversation with Jackie Hoermann-Elliott and Jenna Morton-Aiken, let them know by clicking the links below and leaving them a message on Linkedin:
Send Elle Campbell a thank you message on Linkedin!
Send Patrick Penndorf a thank you message on Linkedin!
Click here to share your key take-away from this interview with David!
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