Meet Dr. David Phair (PhD)
David is the Operations Manager at Grad Coach.
David oversees the day-to-day running of Grad Coach, ensuring that thousands of students receive timely, high-quality support. With a background in behavioural ecology and science communication, he brings over a decade of experience as a researcher, lecturer, tutor, and supervisor.
Beyond operations, David is passionate about simplifying the research process for postgraduate students—especially adult learners balancing study, work, and family life. He has featured on the Grad Coach YouTube channel and other learning resources, making complex ideas accessible and helping students finish faster, with less stress.
Background & experience
David began his academic journey at Stellenbosch University, completing a BSc in Biodiversity and Ecology, followed by a BSc (Honours) in the same field. He went on to earn his MSc in Zoology and later a PhD in Zoology, with his doctoral research focusing on social immunity in South African ant species. During his PhD, he also served as Postgraduate Representative for the Department of Botany and Zoology.
Alongside his studies, David gained extensive teaching experience. He worked as a biology tutor for nearly four years, supporting first-year students in a retention programme, and later as an ad hoc lecturer, teaching courses in biodiversity and ecology. He also co-supervised research projects, instructed field courses, and consistently earned strong student evaluations. Professionally, David has combined his academic expertise with applied communication skills. He worked as a freelance editor for Cactus Communications, refining manuscripts for journal publication, and was awarded a Consolidoc postdoctoral fellowship to continue publishing his research.
David first joined Grad Coach as a Research Coach, providing one-on-one guidance to postgraduate students through every stage of the dissertation and thesis process. He later stepped into the role of Operations Manager, where he now leads a global team of high-performing academic coaches.
