Press and Media Appearances

Jennifer Polk has appeared in articles, interviews, and video about From PhD to Life and her work as a career coach for PhDs. She’s been mentioned in Nature, Science, U.S. News and World Report, The Globe and Mail, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Ed, CBC, and The Boston Globe. Jen Polk is a sought after podcast and YouTube guest.

Email Jen Polk at Jen@FromPhDToLife.com

Jennifer Polk, photo by Nadalie Bardowell
Teach and Retire Rich podcast with Dan Otter and Scott Dauenhauer
WET Podcast
Rock Your Research Podcast with Chris Jones
Grad Square Radio Podcast
Izzy
Personal Finance for PhDs Podcast
The Scientistt Podcast
Helium Podcast
Recovering Academic Podcast
Curiosity in Focus Podcast
EdD Pathway Podcast
Beyond Academia Podcast from LSE
Resolvve Podcast
PhD Talk Podcast
How to Do Grad School Podcast
Lab Coats and Life Podcast
The PhD Life Coach Podcast with Professor Vikki Burns
The PhD Life Raft Podcast
The Social Academic Podcast
Papa PhD Podcast
A podcast logo featuring the title "Sienna & Slate" in elegant serif font at the top. Below the title, there's a graphic of a microphone encircled by soundwave lines, symbolizing audio or conversation. The tagline beneath the graphic reads, "Short Casts & Conversations for Writers. Thinkers. Doers." The overall design has a sophisticated, minimalist aesthetic with a neutral color palette.

How to Pilot a Postacademic Career

In conversation with William Pannapacker for the Chronicle of Higher Education, 19 July 2024

More and more doctorate recipients are leaving academia to find work. Here’s what detailed data show.

Article by Dana Gerber and Yoohyun Jung for the Boston Globe, 11 June 2024

Bridging the gap between academia and industry: Letting go of academic mindsets

In conversation on with Tory Wobber from Academic Exit as part of the From PhD to Exit series on YouTube, 10 March 2024

Professors Leaving Academia: Why They Quit and Where They Go

In conversation with Tory Wobber from Academic Exit as part of the From PhD to Exit series on YouTube, 29 February 2024

To postdoc or not to postdoc?

In conversation with Nicole Quinn and Brenda Raud from the Lab Coats and Life podcast, episode 1, 14 February 2024

Should you pay for career advice?

Article by Fawzi Abou-Chahine for Chemistry World, 9 January 2024

Do you need to do a postdoc? The truth about the jobs you’re qualified for as a PhD

In conversation with Tory Wobber from Academic Exit as part of the From PhD to Exit series on YouTube, 17 November 2023

How to Network

In conversation with Vikki Wright from the PhD Life Coach podcast, season 2, episode 9, 13 November 2023

Doctorate Done, What Next? Crafting Your Post-PhD Roadmap

In conversation with Emma Brodzinski from the PhD Life Raft podcast, 7 November 2023

Interview about my post-PhD journey

In conversation with Kyra Prats, 7 November 2023

Will you be happy if you leave academia? 9-5 work is more flexible than you think

In conversation with Tory Wobber from Academic Exit as part of the From PhD to Exit series on YouTube, 13 October 2023

Career Help for PhDs and other job seekers

In conversation with Brian Richie from Career Elevator, X Spaces, 29 September 2023

How to make the leap into industry after a PhD

Article by Spoorthy Raman for Nature, 15 August 2023

How to Navigate the Switch from Academia to Industry

Article by Georgina Salazar for the Association for Women in Science (AWIS), 6 January 2023

What Are Informational Interviews? With Jennifer Polk, PhD

In conversation with Jennifer van Alstyne on The Social Academic podcast, 13 September 2022

Are You a Sellout if You Leave Academia After Your PhD?

In conversation with David Mendes from Papa PhD, episode 190 and the launch of season 4 of the Papa PhD podcast, 22 July 2022

Why Go to Grad School? The Best and Worst Reasons

Article by Ilana Kowarski for U.S. News & World Report, 27 May 2022

How to handle a supervisor’s sudden departure

Article by Nikki Forrester in Nature 604, 787-789, Published online on 25 April 2022

Jen Polk

In conversation with Matthew Downing, The Ed.D. Pathway Podcast, episode 9, 29 March 2022

Personal Branding & Networking on LinkedIn for Industry Professionals

Panelist invited by iSTEMCare, moderated by Pawan Upadhyay, PhD, 19 March 2022

Developing an entrepreneurial mindset

In conversation with Peter Harrington as part of the Beyond Academia podcast from The London School of Economics and Political Science for research students and early-career academics, episode 8, 18 January 2022

Grad School Survival Guide: Careers Outside Academia

In conversation with Simon Spichak, Resolvve podcast, episode 17, 30 December 2021

Interview with Jennifer Polk

In conversation with Eva Lantsoght and Rico Massa on the PhD Talk podcast, episode 43, 22 September 2021

Navigating a Career Path Outside the Academy

Facilitator of this panel discussion featuring Sandra McKay, Arjun Prui, and Usha Srinivasan as part of the EPIC Conference from AGE-WELL, 9 June 2021

Jen Polk – From PhD to Life

In conversation with Nosa Edoimioya for the How to Do Grad School podcast, episode 27, April 2021

Building PhD Careers

In conversation with Chris Cornthwaite for Roostervane, 22 March 2021

How to Set Yourself Up for a Successful Career and Financial Life Post-PhD

In conversation with Emily Roberts for the Personal Finance for PhDs podcast, season 7, episode 14, 7 December 2020

How do I design my personal brand for any career?

Panelist for Horizons by Hopkins career conference co-organized by PHutures and PDCO at Johns Hopkins University, 12 November 2020

Jennifer Polk: From PhD to Life

In conversation with Jamie Slevin on The Scientistt Podcast, episode 23, published 25 November 2020

Coaching for PhDs in Transition to Industry & How to Gain Social Media Following as a PhD

In conversation with Natalia Bielczky for the Ontology of Value® YouTube channel, 1 November 2020

Seventeen Minutes Of Science: Helping PhD’s Launch Meaningful Careers Outside Of Academia

In conversation with Sarah Cheesman for 17 Minutes of Science from InVivo Biosystems, 6 October 2020

Meaningful Careers After PhD? | Industry Careers for PhDs | Academic Careers for PhDs | STEM Jobs

In conversation with Rahim Munir, Behta Pani YouTube channel, 27 August 2020

What is Networking? With Jennifer Polk

In conversation with Jennifer van Alstyne live on The Social Academic YouTube channel, 12 August 2020

Hey Boss, I’m Leaving! How to Approach Career Transitions with your Advisor

Article by Murielle Ã…lund for POSTDOCket, volume 17, number 7, July 2020

Using Zoom to Teach and Meet with Students

With Norman Eng as part of Tools for Teaching Online, 18 March 2020

Are you having second thoughts about your career choice?

Article by Jared Lindzon for The Globe & Mail, 14 February 2020

Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise: Choose a PhD Program That Will Support Your Personal and Professional Development

Segment on career development for the Personal Finance for PhDs podcast, season 5, episode 2, 13 January 2020

Expert panel to address challenges PhD graduates face entering the labour market

Article by Anqi Shen for University Affairs, 29 May 2019

Opening Doors for Students by Celebrating PhD Career Path Diversity: Learning to Eliminate Default Career Mindsets

Interview (with L. Maren Wood), “Opening Doors for Students by Celebrating PhD Career Path Diversity: Learning to Eliminate Default Career Mindsets,” Helium podcast, episode 14, 4 December 2018

A Conversation with Jen Polk

Part 1 and Part 2, Beyond Academia blog, 1 October 2018

Academe Is a New Green Pasture for Consultants

Article by Kelly Field for The Chronicle of Higher Education, 15 July 2018

(Re)connecting With Your Students

Article by Deidra Faye Jackson for the GradHacker blog on Inside Higher Ed, 1 May 2018

Whom Did You Thank in Your Dissertation?

Article by Scott Jaschik for Quick Takes on Inside Higher Ed, 22 April 2018

Why “Follow your passion” isn’t always good career advice

Article by Clifton Mark for CBC Life, 26 March 2018

Who’s Teaching the Teachers?

Article by Elizabeth Alsop for The Chronicle of Higher Education, 11 February, 2018

University Affairs wins three golds at 2017 Cnadian Online Publishing Award

Article by Anqui Shen for University Affairs, 15 November 2017

Is a PhD really worth your time and money?

Article by Eric Davidson for Fulcrum from The university of Ottawa, 14 November 2017

Interview with Jennifer Polk

Recovering Academic Podcast, season 2, episode 6, 1 November 2017

Heading to a Conference? Tack on a Vacation, Too

Article by Emily Roberts for the GradHacker blog on Inside Higher Ed, 17 October 2017

You’re Not Alone

Article by Derek Attig for Carpe Careers on Inside Higher Ed, 24 September 2017

Outside the lab: Side jobs for scientists

Article by Elie Dolgin, Nature, volume 549, pages 297–299,

Jennifer Polk

In conversation with Daniel H. Kwan for the Curiosity in Focus podcast, episode 31, 28 August 2017

The Young Academic’s Twitter Conundrum

Article by Oliver Bateman for The Atlantic, 10 May 2017

Sharp differences in career paths of PhD grads across fields, UBC study finds

Article by Simona Chiose for The Globe and Mail, 13 April 2017

Life and Lessons After PhD, Beyond the Academia

Interviewed by Sudiksha Joshi for We Are Always Learning, 21 February 2017

Finding your dream psychology career

Article by Laura Zimmerman for Monitor on Psychology, volume 48, number 2, February 2017

Hope for PhDs who want to leave the profession

Interview with Rick Shenkman for the History News Network at the annual meeting of the American Historical Association, 7 January 2017

From PhD to Life

Interview with Dan Otter and Scott Dauenhauser for the Teach and Retire Rich podcast, episode 37, 13 October 2016

Maximizing a Student-Run Conference’s Potential

Article by Jordan Reed and Leanne horinko for the GradHacker blog on Inside Higher Ed, 26 May 2016

Help for Academics Thinking Beyond the Professoriate

Interview with Daniel Fincke, Camels with Hammers blog on patheos.com, 4 May 2016

Life after Grad School

A resource recommended by Cynthia Macdonald in her article for the University of Toronto Magazine, 28 March 2016

Highlights: From PhD to Life with Jennifer Polk

Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, Simon Fraser University, 5 February 2016

From Linguistic Judo to Hustle

Article by Alfreda S. James for Carpe Careers on Inside Higher Ed, 17 January 2016

Interview with Jennifer Polk of PhD to Life

Interview with Daveena Tauber for ScholarStudio Session, 13 January 2016

Interview with Jennifer Polk

Interview with Erik Marshall, WET Podcast: Writing, Education and Technology, episode 46, 12 December 2015

University Affairs won 5 Gold in the Business-to-Business category for Best Blog, News Coverage, Video Content, Email Newsletter and Website design. (CNW Group/Canadian Online Publishing Awards (COPA))
University Affairs won 5 Gold in the Business-to-Business category for Best Blog [mine!], News Coverage, Video Content, Email Newsletter and Website design. (CNW Group/Canadian Online Publishing Awards (COPA))

The Who’s Who’s of Canadian Media were at the COPA Awards in Toronto to celebrate digital publishing excellence

Cision, press release from the Canadian Online Publishing Awards (COPA), 27 November 2015

University Affairs wins five gold awards for online publishing

Article by Ashleigh Vanhouten for University Affairs, 20 November 2015

Interview with Jennifer Polk

Interview with Scott Rank, The Scholarpreneur Podcast, episode 23, 16 September 2015

University Affairs nominated for seven Canadian Online Publishing Awards

Article by Natalie Samson for University Affairs, 15 September 2015

What’s up with alt-ac careers

Article by Suzanne Bowness for University Affairs, 8 September 2015

PhD Life Coach? Jen Polk helps grad students launch meaningful careers

Interview with Chris Jones, Rock Your Research podcast, episode 4, 25 August 2015

Finding Myself at Congress

Article by Stacey R. Devlin for The Pixelated Historian, 31 May 2015

Feeling Stuck

Article by Carrie Arnold for Science’s Career Magazine, 28 May 2015

Thriving as a Freelance Academic

Katie Rose Guest Pryal for Vitae, 8 May 2015

What it might mean when you begin to ‘put yourself in charge

Post by Jet for the Ruminations: Life after Academia blog, 19 March 2015

Fears of a post-PhD future

Post by Andrew Kloiber on ArchivalAdventure, 19 March 2015

13 Academics Speak Out: ‘What Would I Do If I Had No Hope of Tenure?

Featured by Scott Rank for The Scholarpreneur, 9 February 2015

The University is Just Another Client

Katie Rose Guest Pryal for Vitae, 5 February 2015

Career Coaching for Scientists: Why and Where Do I Find One?

Article by Joanne Kamens for the AddGene blog, 29 January 2015

Jennifer Polk, PhD, History

Interview with Marco Altamirano for the GradSquare Radio podcast, episode 18, 22 January 2015

The American Red Cross and YMCA in Revolutionary Russia, 1917-1924

Article by Christopher Stroop for Dissertation Reviews, 12 January 2015

A Manifesto for the Freelance Academic

Article by Katie Rose Guest Pryal for The Chronicle of Higher Education, 31 October 2014

Finding a Mentor

Article by Gwendolyn Beetham for the University of Venus blog on Inside Higher Ed, 14 October 2014

Avoiding the Post-Grad Scramble: Dr. Jennifer Polk, history grad, on her alt-ac career path

Article by Jackie Amsden for the SFU Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Fellows blog, 27 June 2014

The Rogue Scholar Strikes a Balance

Article by Brandy Schillace for Inside Higher Ed, 5 June 2014

When PhDs realize they won’t be professors

Article by Josh Dehaas for Maclean’s, 22 May 2014

Escape from the Ivory Tower: PhDs ditch campus for startups and beyond

Article by Alex Dalenberg for Upstart Business Journal, 29 April 2014

Interview with Cheri DiNovo

Radio interview with Cheri DiNovo for the program, 3 Women on CUIT 89.5FM Toronto, 10 December 2013

The Rogue Scholar Goes Digital

Article by Brandy Shillace for Inside Higher Ed, 6 August 2013

Jennifer Polk: ‘Recent PhDs Need to Have their Confidence Boosted

Interview with David Austin Walsh for History News Network, 5 August 2013

Jennifer Polk

Interview with Dan Mullin, the Unemployed Philosopher’s Podcast, episode 11, 4 June 2013

How to Network: My Interview with Jennifer Polk, PhD

Interviewed by Liz Covart, 10 May 2013

Rogue Scholar Salon: Introducing Jennifer Polk and From PhD to Life

Fiction Reboot Daily Dose, 3 February 2013

Thank you to Jackie Amsden at SFU for this graphic representation.