I’m sick of academia. I’ve been doing good as a PhD candidate, but want to do some more practical work. Being evaluated by the number of publications and grants is meaningless for me.
Left academia after my PhD (in molecular biology) for consulting (currently interning at a public/social sector). It has been a very steep learning curve, however, quite rewarding due to the amount of impact the projects I am involved in have on communities and community businesses. I truly enjoy it and I honestly wish our PhD programmes were open about educating students about non-academia jobs instead of creating this image that all of us have to go on to do a post-doc, then become a lecturer and and and.
Thank you so much for this awesome video! I recently quit my PhD for reasons similar to your reasons for quitting academia after earning your doctorate. It took me a long time to realize the simple fact that our lives are ours to live and we should do whatever we're passionate about regardless of what others think. You point this out well :)
I left academia after two postdocs and three years of adjunct teaching. Best thing I ever did. I found a position with a small government agency and got a chance to do things that I never would have been able to do stuck on campus.
I am so glad I did this. I enjoyed defending my thesis and all, but for me it was like closing this path of my life and starting a new one. Now I work with people from different areas (law, technology, communication...), helping them with my knowledge in statistics in the law (which I had no experience before and was a whole new world for me, but now is what I do). I see the data that I analyse turning into valuable information and then been applied by judges to increase their productivity, judge more cases, managing the number of pending unresolved cases and case backlog...
I am thinking about leaving academia for a numer of reasons 1. Lost of interest 2. I want to e a mother and I would like to have free time to spend with my children 3. Financial freedom
I'm a 4th year Ph.D. in Behavioral Science. I also want to leave academia after graduation. I'm going to do a health outcomes research intern at BI this summer. In fact, no one in our PhD program can provide me with any guidance. I had no idea what healthcare consulting is. Your insight is very helpful! I also live near Boston. Hope to chat with you face to face someday in the future.
Hi Rachel! Congrats on your achievement so far in the PhD and your internship! I'm sorry to hear the lack of support in your institute. That's indeed why I started this channel. There are many resources online that you can find about alternative careers as well. Thanks for your support! It would be wonderful to meet you in person!
Found your channel through this video. Thank you so much for sharing your experience! I'm a senior PhD student and thinking about what I want to do after. This is super helpful! Just subscribed so I won't miss any of your videos ^^
Thank you for sharing your experience! I just got my PhD, I like to do the experiment and bench work, and I want to learn more about my research direction. So, I’m looking for a postdoc position now. I also consider about the industry job, but I’m worried that the industry position would be boring and wouldn’t improve my research skills and ability. Also, as a Chinese international student, getting a postdoc position might be easier than a industry position. I don’t know what would be the best way to do.
Thank you for your very insightful video. Just found out that PhD life is soo challenging, especially for a student mom like me. But your video made my day, and I look forward to your next video. Keep inspiring :)
I went into the industry after submitting my doctorate. Passed my MS Teams viva (bc covid protocols) in my work office! Now I'm flirting with the idea of going into academia, under certain conditions. To be honest, working as an engineer/scientist in the UK is downright depressing. I'm not exaggerating when I say you'll earn more money handling sh*t as a plumber after 5 years in plumbing college than you would do as an engineer/scientist who spends 10 years finishing a bachelor's, master's, and a Ph.D. and going into industry. No offense to plumbers, it's great they can earn that much. It's just a pity we can't unless we change our discipline and go into finance. Which I'd never do... Our economy is not configured in a way people for people like me to strive in. Then I've come across some postdoc positions in mainland China at some of their prestigious universities and research centers. They offer pretty amazing salary and benefits packages, including free accommodation, which is a lot higher than most industry positions (for a similar skillset), let alone academia! And now I'm having second thoughts xD BTW I prefer industry because in my field (engineering/applied science), it's very common for senior academics to come from industry. My supervisor, who is a famous professor, had two decades of industry experience before he went back into academia. But there are limitations in the industry. From my experience, I always tend to be very research biased, much more so than most of the folks i work with. Sometimes I think we don't share the same long term vision of the company. They just want to run it as it was always run. I want to take it into a new direction, inlight of industry 4.0, sustainability, new regulations etc. And that requires a lot of expensive, time consuming research! Which executives very rarely have an appitite for
Glad to hear your experience! I definitely agree there’s a path for everyone, no matter if it is academia, industry or other non-traditional path. And that’s what my channel is for: provide more diverse opportunities so you can choose based on your preference. Again, thanks for sharing!
5:26 Consultants who agree with managenent's preconceived notions are the ones who are hired. If the idea fails, management blames the consultant. You know NOTHING about how the real world works.
I am sure u made the right choice . so well done for ur choice. we have to go with what our hears say. I worked 3 years in industry after phd and before joining academia. I was invited to speak for phd students in a research intensive school in my field while I was visiting there. I went on to highlight how those 3 years- despite the extreme difficulties-are the key to my creativity seeng interesting empirical cases. the lecturer- head of school- paused me and said, no our students are set to go directly to academia. ..........I got his point and didn't build on that. And none of their students can speak confident and creatively in any meeting. but these are not important to many academics. they r happy with their small worlds. even though I am tenured now, I carry on 7 years of full time industry experience before and after phd and they contributed to me as an academic and as a person. I stay in academia because I like academic research and sometimes teaching and supervising research students. I wish academia had less of people who dont love it .. then academia was a more innovative, flowing, and creative place.
I’m sick of academia. I’ve been doing good as a PhD candidate, but want to do some more practical work. Being evaluated by the number of publications and grants is meaningless for me.
Hope you find a passion soon!
Left academia after my PhD (in molecular biology) for consulting (currently interning at a public/social sector). It has been a very steep learning curve, however, quite rewarding due to the amount of impact the projects I am involved in have on communities and community businesses. I truly enjoy it and I honestly wish our PhD programmes were open about educating students about non-academia jobs instead of creating this image that all of us have to go on to do a post-doc, then become a lecturer and and and.
Thank you so much for this awesome video! I recently quit my PhD for reasons similar to your reasons for quitting academia after earning your doctorate. It took me a long time to realize the simple fact that our lives are ours to live and we should do whatever we're passionate about regardless of what others think. You point this out well :)
Thank you so much for your kind words! I wish you the best of luck for anything you want to do! Yes! We decide what to do in our lives!
Err
I left academia after two postdocs and three years of adjunct teaching. Best thing I ever did. I found a position with a small government agency and got a chance to do things that I never would have been able to do stuck on campus.
I am so glad I did this. I enjoyed defending my thesis and all, but for me it was like closing this path of my life and starting a new one. Now I work with people from different areas (law, technology, communication...), helping them with my knowledge in statistics in the law (which I had no experience before and was a whole new world for me, but now is what I do). I see the data that I analyse turning into valuable information and then been applied by judges to increase their productivity, judge more cases, managing the number of pending unresolved cases and case backlog...
Thanks for sharing Caroline! It’s great to hear you enjoy the work!
I clearly heard the faith and confidence in your trembling voice for protecting your choice and journey. Congrats.
I am thinking about leaving academia for a numer of reasons 1. Lost of interest 2. I want to e a mother and I would like to have free time to spend with my children 3. Financial freedom
Great points! Thanks for sharing
I'm a 4th year Ph.D. in Behavioral Science. I also want to leave academia after graduation. I'm going to do a health outcomes research intern at BI this summer. In fact, no one in our PhD program can provide me with any guidance. I had no idea what healthcare consulting is. Your insight is very helpful! I also live near Boston. Hope to chat with you face to face someday in the future.
Hi Rachel! Congrats on your achievement so far in the PhD and your internship! I'm sorry to hear the lack of support in your institute. That's indeed why I started this channel. There are many resources online that you can find about alternative careers as well. Thanks for your support! It would be wonderful to meet you in person!
I am frustrated! thank you for showing me the exit strategy of consulting
Spot on! thank you very much, I am on that process after submission to identify a path worth pursuing.
Glad to help!
Found your channel through this video. Thank you so much for sharing your experience! I'm a senior PhD student and thinking about what I want to do after. This is super helpful! Just subscribed so I won't miss any of your videos ^^
Thank you so much for the kind words! I hope my videos can help you a bit to go through your PhD!
Thank you for sharing your experience! I just got my PhD, I like to do the experiment and bench work, and I want to learn more about my research direction. So, I’m looking for a postdoc position now. I also consider about the industry job, but I’m worried that the industry position would be boring and wouldn’t improve my research skills and ability. Also, as a Chinese international student, getting a postdoc position might be easier than a industry position. I don’t know what would be the best way to do.
Congrats on getting the PhD! If you like the bench work and then yes, academia is a better option for you as an international student. Good luck!
讲得太好了，very nice.insights, keep going, Catherine!
Thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for the insight!
Look forward to your next video.
Thank you for watching! Please let me know if you have any questions!
Very helpful information before I apply postdoc. I will still apply, but I will keep in mind there are other options.
Thank you for your very insightful video.
Just found out that PhD life is soo challenging, especially for a student mom like me.
But your video made my day, and I look forward to your next video.
Keep inspiring :)
Thank you so much for the kind words!
I went into the industry after submitting my doctorate. Passed my MS Teams viva (bc covid protocols) in my work office!
Now I'm flirting with the idea of going into academia, under certain conditions. To be honest, working as an engineer/scientist in the UK is downright depressing. I'm not exaggerating when I say you'll earn more money handling sh*t as a plumber after 5 years in plumbing college than you would do as an engineer/scientist who spends 10 years finishing a bachelor's, master's, and a Ph.D. and going into industry. No offense to plumbers, it's great they can earn that much. It's just a pity we can't unless we change our discipline and go into finance. Which I'd never do... Our economy is not configured in a way people for people like me to strive in.
Then I've come across some postdoc positions in mainland China at some of their prestigious universities and research centers. They offer pretty amazing salary and benefits packages, including free accommodation, which is a lot higher than most industry positions (for a similar skillset), let alone academia! And now I'm having second thoughts xD
BTW I prefer industry because in my field (engineering/applied science), it's very common for senior academics to come from industry. My supervisor, who is a famous professor, had two decades of industry experience before he went back into academia. But there are limitations in the industry. From my experience, I always tend to be very research biased, much more so than most of the folks i work with. Sometimes I think we don't share the same long term vision of the company. They just want to run it as it was always run. I want to take it into a new direction, inlight of industry 4.0, sustainability, new regulations etc. And that requires a lot of expensive, time consuming research! Which executives very rarely have an appitite for
Glad to hear your experience! I definitely agree there’s a path for everyone, no matter if it is academia, industry or other non-traditional path. And that’s what my channel is for: provide more diverse opportunities so you can choose based on your preference. Again, thanks for sharing!
you really the best!! Cant wait to see u in Boston! xD
Haha yasssss
Thank you, wanna have you to be my phd mentor, got 2 more years to go :)
Hang on there! Let me know if you have questions or concerns. I will always have your back!
Yeah i am one who want leave academic right now it's end of my phd
Follow your heart!
Thank you. How do I find you in LinkedIn?
Hi Kay, please let me know if you have any questions by email drcatslab@gmail.com. Thanks!
5:26 Consultants who agree with managenent's preconceived notions are the ones who are hired. If the idea fails, management blames the consultant. You know NOTHING about how the real world works.
i thought consulting is all smoke and mirrors?
I'm glad i will be doing a master before i have to decide where to go from there.
You are burning that hard earned phd. in real life.
I am sure u made the right choice . so well done for ur choice. we have to go with what our hears say.
I worked 3 years in industry after phd and before joining academia. I was invited to speak for phd students in a research intensive school in my field while I was visiting there. I went on to highlight how those 3 years- despite the extreme difficulties-are the key to my creativity seeng interesting empirical cases. the lecturer- head of school- paused me and said, no our students are set to go directly to academia. ..........I got his point and didn't build on that. And none of their students can speak confident and creatively in any meeting. but these are not important to many academics. they r happy with their small worlds. even though I am tenured now, I carry on 7 years of full time industry experience before and after phd and they contributed to me as an academic and as a person. I stay in academia because I like academic research and sometimes teaching and supervising research students.
I wish academia had less of people who dont love it .. then academia was a more innovative, flowing, and creative place.