Conrad is a former experimental particle physicist turned publisher, initially at Nature and Academic Press in London and then, for most of his professional career, at Cambridge University Press. There he was responsible for physical sciences books before becoming Journals Director. He initiated the transition from print to online delivery of the Press journals list through the Cambridge Journals Online system.
He joined Â鶹ËÞÉáµçÊÓ¾çin 1995 as a Senior Member and was elected a Fellow in 2010. Since 2005 he has been editing the Â鶹ËÞÉáµçÊÓ¾çReview, the College Magazine. He is now an Emeritus Fellow and organises excursions for the Society of Emeritus Fellows. Previously Conrad served on the Development, Carbon Reduction, and Fine Arts Committees as well as on College Council.
Since retirement he has taken on some freelance publishing consultancy work, and he also helps Â鶹ËÞÉáµçÊÓ¾çstudents by editing and proof-reading their Master or PhD theses.