Category: Uncategorized
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The problem with “once a scientist, always a scientist”
Dear Reader, I saw this comment on LinkedIn recently: “Once a scientist, always a scientist.” At first glance, it feels like an empowering sentiment, reassuring PhDs that they haven’t wasted their years of training even if they jump ship to a different kind of job. But here’s the nuance: sometimes, clinging to that identity can…
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For PhDs who feel stuck in limbo
Dear Reader, Here’s a surprising thing about my work: Many of my clients already have jobs outside of academia. Yep. Good jobs, even. They’re working with me because they feel “in limbo” (to borrow a phrase from someone I spoke with last week). Everything looks great on paper. Their LinkedIn profiles make them out to…
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What my clients taught me this week about leaving academia
Dear Reader, The hardest part of leaving academia isn’t the job search itself. Yep. It’s the years of conditioning that make brilliant, passionate people feel like failures long after they’ve left. You can get out on paper—land a good job, even one you enjoy—and still feel weighed down by academic culture. That voice in your…
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“Do you do any intellectual work at all anymore?”
Dear Reader, On Saturday, I went to a small party with people I’ve known casually for years but rarely see. When we all first met, I was doing my PhD in history. Fast forward 15+ years: One of us is a tenured professor, and almost all of the other folks are decades into stable, well-paying…
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What to do after breaking up with academia
Dear Reader, If you’re letting go of academia as the guiding framework for your life and career, welcome. What do I mean? Well, education is good! Critical thinking is essential! Research is awesome. Writing for others is a gift to the world. What’s less great is the culture of publish or perish, the shame you…
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Still love your students? You can leave anyway
Dear Reader, I want to talk about something that comes up all the time in my work. Quick reminder! Today I’m hosting a live tour of my PhD Career Clarity Program at 1:00pm Eastern / 10:00am Pacific / 6:00pm UK. Sign up for the tour Consider the following statements: “I don’t want to leave my…
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Feeling stuck in academia? Let’s figure out what’s next
Dear Reader, Last week, 90 professors, postdocs, and other PhDs joined me for a live workshop to reflect on whether it’s time to leave academia. The reasons were varied: constant job insecurity, burnout, disillusionment—so many overlapping crises, eh?—values misalignment, or simply a desire for something different. What united participants was not wanting to do this…
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What 90 PhDs told me about leaving academia (reflections on yesterday’s workshop)
Dear Reader, Yesterday, I hosted a live workshop for professors, postdocs, and other PhDs who are thinking about leaving academia. About 90 people showed up (!) and responded to prompts such as, What do I want more of? Who will I be if I leave? What might help me decide? Folks shared powerful insights about…
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Is it time to leave academia? (Free workshop Wednesday)
Dear Reader, If you’ve been thinking about leaving academia—but haven’t decided for sure—this is for you. Wednesday at 12pm EDT, I’m hosting a free, live reflection workshop for professors, postdocs, and other PhDs who are in that “maybe” space. The session is called: “Is It Time to Leave Academia?” It’s not a webinar. It’s not…
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Is it time to leave academia? (free workshop invite)
Dear Reader, This is for you if you’ve been thinking about leaving academia, but haven’t yet decided for good one way or another. I tend to address my work at folks who are ready to get a job elsewhere. But this summer, I wanted to do something helpful for folks who aren’t in full job-search…