Grad School Sucks: Recent Episodes
Matthew Carlson, PhD
The weekly podcast where we believe that your life and career after grad school should rock.
Join us as we interview current and former graduate students who have used their academic skills to craft amazing careers in entrepreneurship, industry/business, non-profit, and policy/government as well as academic careers.
If you are wondering about your career options after grad school, then this podcast is for you.
In this episode, I interview Senior Lab Manager Dr. Raúl Peña.
We discuss his career as an academic scientist as well as his popular social media account Research Goes Slowly.
Check out Research Goes Slowly on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/research_goes_slowly/
In this podcast episode, I discuss the importance of transitioning from academia to industry after completing my PhD.
I share my personal journey of wanting financial stability and finding a job as a research scientist, only to be later disillusioned by the academic world's challenges.
I encourage listeners to start planning their industry transition early and offer a three-step approach for success.
Click the link below to download my free six week checklist and start mapping out your path to a career in industry today: https://www.gradschoolsucks.com/sixweekchecklist
Happy Sunday! In this short episode, I share a story I recently heard where a friend of mine doubled his salary without having to change jobs. Check it out - there's a valuable lesson in here for anyone who wants to maximize their current or future starting salary.
Ready to start going industry? Download my Six Week Checklist for a roadmap to your first industry job:
https://www.gradschoolsucks.com/sixweekchecklist
$1 Webinar: https://www.gradschoolsucks.com/offers/KuoycFgx
Hey folks, in this video, I'll be discussing three important reasons why you should consider joining LinkedIn.
First, LinkedIn is a hub for job openings, with over 90% of available jobs posted on the platform.
Second, LinkedIn allows you to connect with recruiters who can help you find relevant job opportunities.
Finally, LinkedIn provides a strong professional network where you can seek advice, explore different job titles, and conduct informational interviews.
Ultimately, joining LinkedIn can greatly enhance your chances of finding the right job and expanding your professional network.
Ready to start your journey towards going industry? Then register for my $1 Webinar: https://www.gradschoolsucks.com/offers/KuoycFgx
Also, connect with me on LinkedIn! https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwillcarl/
In this episode, I share three somewhat controversial resume hacks that I think every PhD going industry should consider.
Read my blog post on how to write job descriptions in your resume: https://www.gradschoolsucks.com/blog/addimpact
Follow me on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/gradschoolsucks/
Download my six week checklist to start your industry journey today: https://www.gradschoolsucks.com/sixweekchecklist
On this week's episode, I interview Dr. Nicole Betz, a senior research & insights analyst.
Nicole talks about:
- How data collection and analysis fits into businesses (particularly marketing)
- The big differences between working in academia vs industry
- Things you can do to prepare yourself for the industry job market after grad school
This is a great episode for social scientists and humanities students and graduates!
Links from the episode:
Follow Nicole on Twitter
https://twitter.com/njoybetz
Follow Nicole on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-betz-phd-915bb1222/
Follow Alt-Ac Chats on Twitter
https://twitter.com/AltAcChats
Follow Alt-Ac Chats on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/company/altacchats/
Ready to start going industry? Download my six week checklist to get started: https://www.gradschoolsucks.com/sixweekchecklist
Hey folks! Today I answer some more questions from listeners on Instagram on getting your first industry job after grad school.
Don’t follow me on Instagram? Check me out here: https://instagram.com/gradschoolsucks
Need to the scoop on a company you're interviewing with? Check out Glassdoor: https://www.glassdoor.com/
Apologies that this episode is a week late!
Hey folks! Today I answer some questions from listeners on Instagram on getting your first industry job after grad school.
Don’t follow me on Instagram? Check me out here: https://instagram.com/gradschoolsucks
PS - Wow, there’s some bad static at the beginning and then again near the end. Sorry y’all! Won’t be using that mic again :/
Do you have a gaps in your resume that you'll need to explain to a recruiter?
Maybe you took time off after you obtained your degree.
Maybe you started a family or cared for an elder.
Maybe you just couldn't find a job.
Regardless, there are some critical ways you can address gaps in your resume, which I review on this episode.
Ready to go industry? Download my six week checklist below to get started: https://www.gradschoolsucks.com/sixweekchecklist
Former history professor Joe Stubenrauch joins the podcast to talk about...
- What User Experience (UX) Research is and how he got his first UX position
- Why (and how) he left his position as a history professor
- How coffee chats and passion projects fueled his transition from academic to industry
Connect with Joe on Linkedin:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-stubenrauch/
Check Out Joe's Website:
https://www.joestuben.com
Ready to start going industry? Download my six week checklist: https://www.gradschoolsucks.com/sixweekchecklist
Today I discuss what I think is the true cost of doing a PhD and how to recover from it.
Main points:
To do a PhD, you ultimately sacrifice opportunities to:
-
Gain real-world career experience outside of academic
-
Build a professional network that you can leverage for your industry career
-
Achieve a higher salary and invest for your future (i.e., retirement)
I also review ways to recover from each of these "losses" after you are done with graduate school.
If you are interested in having a career in industry after grad school, be sure to sigh up to my newsletter for tips and add me on LinkedIn to build your professional network! Links below.
Newsletter:
https://www.gradschoolsucks.com/newsletter
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwillcarl/
Today I interview Dr. Elnaz "Ellie" Parviz, an assistant professor of communication studies.
We talk about her journey from international student to professor, what it was like being on the job market, her experiences with tokenism, and what grad students (particularly international grad students) should do to be competitive for academic jobs.
Follow Ellie on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/dr.elnaz.parviz/
Connect with Ellie on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/elnazellieparviz/
Clara Sandoval joins the podcast this week to talk about:
- Her job as a data analyst
- Why she chose to stop at a masters degree
- What she loves about coding <3
- Why she is still involved in academia via adjunct work
Find Clara on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/just_4_clarafication/
Find Clara on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarasandoval14/
Angela Cannata joins the podcast to talk about her life as a first-generation international student, how she put her mental health first in grad school, and what it's like to be a STEM content creator on Instagram.
Follow Angela on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/futuredr.can
Follow Angela on TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@futuredr.can
Follow Angela on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/futuredrcan
Dr. Kelley Voss joins the podcast to talk about:
- How she went from community college student to community college professor
- Why the octopus is an amazing animal to study
- What grad students need to do to prepare for a career in teaching
Check out Kelley's Star Trek Alien Physiology podcast:
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/spinalfrontier
And follow her podcast's Instagram account:
https://www.instagram.com/spinalfrontierpod/
Grad students! We are back to interview-style episodes with special guest Dr. Elizabeth "PhDelery" Delery.
In this episode, Elizabeth joins the podcast to talk about:
- What it's like to be a professor with ADHD
- What osteopathic medicine is and why it's important
- How she networked her way into a postdoc and then a professorship
- Why grad students should "f*ck around a find out" before they graduate
Follow PhDelery on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/phdelery/
Find Elizabeth on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethdelery/
Get the Easy Shit, Tough Shit, Oh Shit Notepad:
https://amzn.to/3IyhPkU
Hey folks! In this episode, I discuss why you should consider creating a portfolio project to aid you in your industry job search.
Next week we return to interview-style podcast episodes!
LINKS
Fill Out the PhD to Industry Summer Bootcamp Survey:
https://forms.gle/EPQcQfLH189UanMK8
Buy a 'Study Habits' Sticker Pack:
https://gradschoolsucks.myshopify.com/products/study-habits-sticker-pack
Check Out My Portfolio Website:
https://www.mattwillcarl.com
A short and sweet episode about conducting informational interviews! :)
Perfect for graduate students wanting to know more about what their industry options are and how to prepare for them.
Sign Up for Sticker Email Alerts:
https://www.gradschoolsucks.com/stickers
In this episode, I share some tips on how to make sure your industry resume communicates the impact you had as a grad student.
Additionally, I share some thoughts about the future of Grad School Sucks - the podcast, the socials accounts, the website, etc.
Note: The podcast will return to releasing interview-style episodes on March 2nd, 2023.
LINKS
Be sure to follow on Instagram
Buy some stickers!
Read blog post I referenced
Download the free resources I mentioned
Ashley Ruba, PhD is a formerly NIH-funded Research Fellow who know has a career in User Experience Research at Meta Reality Labs.
Ashley joins the podcast to talk about how toxic positivity in conversations about the academic job market is ultimately unhelpful, how she landed a UXR job making over three times her postdoc salary, and why grad students (particularly in the social sciences) should consider UXR as a potential career option.
This is a great episode for folks who need to hear the inside story of just how competitive the academic job market is and for anyone who is interested in the UXR space.
Follow Ashley on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyruba/
Follow Ashley on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/ashleyruba
Gregg Murray, PhD is a User Experience Researcher who formerly was a tenured English Professor.
Gregg joins the podcast to talk about how he discovered user experience research (UXR), why academics are a perfect fit for the UXR space, and how grad students can prepare themselves to enter the industry job market.
This is a great episode for folks who are interested in the UXR space or anyone who wants to hear about how to make the leap from academia to industry.
Follow Gregg on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/greggmurrayphd
Get mentored by Gregg on ADPList:
https://adplist.org/mentors/gregg-murray-phd
Liz Slonena, PhD is a clinical psychologist in private practice who specializes in working with trauma and ADHD.
Liz joins the podcast to talk about how she got diagnosed with ADHD while in grad school, why burnout and exploitation are endemic in grad school (as well as what we can do about it), and how awesome life after grad school can be despite what you may experience as a graduate student.
This is a great episode for anyone who feels like they are struggling to survive the pressures of graduate school and needs a pick-me-up to get through the semester.
Note: This episode does contain discussions various kinds of exploitation (e.g., labor, intellectual, sexual) of graduate students.
LINKS
Socials
Newsletter: https://yourzenwithin.beehiiv.com/subscribe
Website: www.drlizlistens.com
Instagram: @Dr.LizListens https://www.instagram.com/dr.lizlistens/
TikTok: @Dr.LizListens https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.lizlistens
Facebook Group: How to Thrive with ADHD: Business Support : https://www.facebook.com/groups/664858398595080/
Free Meditations
Youtube: Your Zen Within | Relax with Dr. Liz https://www.youtube.com/c/YourZenWithinRelaxwithDrLiz
Aura Wellness & Hypnosis App: Free 30 day premium guest pass: https://www.aurahealth.io/guestpass/dr-liz-slonena
Insight Timer: Dr. Liz Listens https://insig.ht/QBuKayPZLrb
Dr. James Hentig is a clinical research scientist and retired military veteran.
After his medical retirement from the military in 2012, James went to school to conduct well-funded graduate and postdoctoral research focused on traumatic brain injuries, which laid the foundation for his current work in medical device research.
James joins the podcast to talk about the transition from his military career to his research career, what it’s like to be a patient researcher, and what grad students today should be doing to prepare for a career in industry research.
This is an inspiring episode for anyone who feels emotionally connected to their area of study. Additionally, James shares several key tips on breaking into industry research that you won’t want to miss.
Note: This episode contains discussions of war, physical injury, and mental health issues.
Connect with Jayme on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hentig
Dillon Jones is a biologist and science communicator as well as the founder of Learn Adventurously, which is an online platform for science enthusiasts.
Dillon joins the podcast to talk all about frogs, discuss his experiences in grad school, and describe how budding science communicators can build a following of folks who want to hear about their unique scientific perspective.
Be sure to listen to the whole episode to hear Dillon’s best frog joke, find out why he slept on a sleeping bag instead of a mattress for a year, and learn about the conservation trips to Belize that Dillon organizes and leads.
This episode is perfect for folks who have an interest in biology as well as anyone who wants to dive deeper into the art of science communication.
Follow Dillon on Instagram:
@dillonthebiologist
Check Out Dillon’s Website:
https://learnadventurously.com
For the first ~15 minutes of this episode, I share some thoughts about how to choose your industry career path when academia no longer seems like a great option.
For the rest of the episode, I rebroadcast an amazing interview from a previous episode with Life Coach and Therapist, Shaquinta Richardson, PhD.
Join My Sticker Giveaway:
https://forms.gle/LouXQzurCcdrwxdB7
Shaquinta is a licensed marriage & family therapist, a former clinic director & faculty member, and a life coach who focuses on all things self-care.
Shaquinta talks on the pod about seeing education as a way out of poverty as a child, creating her own path in graduate school to focus on her career success, and why she focuses so much on self-care with her coaching clients.
Check out Shaquinta's website here:
http://www.beyondachieving.com
Check out Shaquinta's Instagram here:
http://www.instagram.com/dr.shaquinta
You can find everything Grad School Sucks related here:
http://www.gradschoolsucks.com
Chase Baker is an industry scientist working in biotech and is finishing up his masters in molecular biology.He joins the podcast to talk about life in the biotech space (startup & corporate), what it’s like to work in industry while also being in graduate school, and how grad students can prepare themselves to break into the seemingly illusive biotech world.This episode is perfect for those looking to work in biotechnology companies after graduation.Follow/Connect with Chase on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasecbaker/Join the Grad School Sticker Giveaway!https://forms.gle/L8tCQ9rjKKj8oGDz5Note: We ran into some technical issues when recording this episode so the video will be partially or fully missing from the majority of the interview.
This episode is made up of two parts: (1) a short solo episode where I share two things that I'd do differently if I went back to grad school and (2) a rebroadcast of my past interview with Dr. Savannah Young.
For the short solo part (first ~20 minutes of today's episode), I discuss how I (A) chose a major professor based solely on intuition and (B) volunteered myself into exhaustion. Feeling like you aren't meeting your top goals as a grad student? Check out this blog post, which I reference in the episode.
For the rest of the episode, I'm joined by Savannah who talks about breaking into qualitative (and quantitative) research roles in industry, the pay scale that can be expected for these kinds of positions, and how grad students can use their research skills and passions in industry settings. What a great episode for social scientists who want to go into industry!
Connected with Savannah on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/savannahespiveyyoung/
P.S. This episode is brought to you by stickers! I am doing a free grad school sticker giveaway over on Instagram. You can check out the details of the giveaway at this post.
Sydney Siver is a PhD Candidate in Industrial/Organizational psychology and works as people analytics consultant in an industry setting.
Sydney joins the podcast to talk about how she knew she wanted to go into industry before she went to grad school, what her role as a people analyst is like, and how current grad students can prepare for a career in industry while still in grad school.
If you’re in the social sciences or do human-focused research generally and you want to find your place in the business world after grad school, you’ll get a lot out of today’s episode.
Connect with Sydney on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ssiver/
In this solo short episode, I discuss why grad students need a LinkedIn profile and how to get a good first-draft profile up and running today.
Add me on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwillcarl/
Follow Grad School Sucks on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/grad-school-sucks/
Jessica Binder, PhD is a multifaceted biomedical data scientist whose recent work was in using knowledge graph builds to aid in drug discovery efforts.
Jessica joins the podcast to talk about her short career as a motorcycle stunt rider, what it’s like to be a mother in grad school, and her diverse professional experiences as a scientist in both academic and industry settings.
If you are interested in the biomedical sciences or simply want to know more about the differences between working in academia and industry, then this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicabinder/
For everything Grad School Sucks:
https://www.gradschoolsucks.com
On this episode of the podcast, we’re doing something a little different.
Considering the time of year, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on a few thoughts I have about the podcast and express my gratitude to all you listeners out there for your attention and your support of the show.
Also, I reshare the very first interview that I did for this podcast, starring my good friend Dr. Ally DeGraff (GSS 002).
TLDR: I monologue for a few minutes and rebroadcast an old episode.
Don't forget to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. <3 <3 <3
P.S. Sign up to learn more about the upcoming grad student sticker giveaway! Click here for more details.
For All Things Grad School Sucks:
www.gradschoolsucks.com
Erinn Duprey, PhD holds a dual-appointment Research Scientist position at the Mt. Hope Family Center and the Children’s Institute in Rochester, NY. Her research focuses on child maltreatment, child and adolescent mental health, and suicide prevention.
Erinn joins the podcast to talk about postdoc and research scientist life as well as discuss her new foray into science communication about parenting.
Follow Erinn on Instagram to learn the science behind parenting and child development:
@dr.erinn.parenting
*********
Grad School Sucks
@gradschoolsucks
www.gradschoolsucks.com
Ashley Walsdorf, PhD LMFT is Assistant Professor of Couple and Family Therapy in the online program at Alliant International University.
Ashley joins the podcast to talk about why she loves teaching and interacting with her students, common misconceptions about life as a teaching professor, and how teaching-oriented graduate students can best prepare for applying to positions at teaching universities.
Email Ashley by clicking here.
Grad School Sucks
Instagram: @gradschoolsucks
Website: https://gradschoolsucks.com
Kayla Reed-Fitzke, PhD is Assistant Professor of Couple and Family Therapy and Public Policy Research Fellow at the University of Iowa. Kayla joins the podcast to talk about her life as a faculty member, why she loves her job as a professor, and what professor position-seeking grad students should do to maximize their chances of nabbing that elusive TT job. Follow Kayla on Twitter: https://twitter.com/drkreedfitzke Connect with Kayla on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayla-reed-fitzke-ph-d-lmft-04403b89/ See Kayla's faculty profile: https://education.uiowa.edu/directory/kayla-fitzke ***** Find everything Grad School Sucks: http://www.gradschoolsucks.com
Chris is a writer, speaker, and content creator who talks about careers and meaningful work. He got his PhD in religious studies before working in policy and then becoming a content writer and SEO consultant. He created and still runs the website Roostervane, a popular blog on his journey and thoughts about meaningful work after grad school.
Chris joins the podcast to talk about his journey through grad school, the process of leaving academia and finding work in policy, and what grad students today should be thinking about in order to craft a post-grad school career characterized by meaningful work.
Connect with Chris on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-cornthwaite/
Check out Chris's website:
https://christophercornthwaite.com
Read Chris's book "Doctoring: Building a Life With a PhD":
https://amzn.to/3N8C62p
See everything Grad School Sucks related here:
www.gradschoolsucks.com
Shaquinta is a licensed marriage & family therapist, a former clinic director & faculty member, and a life coach who focuses on all things self-care.
Shaquinta talks on the pod about seeing education as a way out of poverty as a child, creating her own path in graduate school to focus on her career success, and why she focuses so much on self-care with her coaching clients.
Check out Shaquinta's website here:
www.beyondachieving.com
Check out Shaquinta's Instagram here:
www.instagram.com/dr.shaquinta
You can find everything Grad School Sucks related here:
www.gradschoolsucks.com
Matt is joined by friend and former colleague Dr. Savannah Young, Qualitative Marketing Analyst at Illumina. Savannah talks about breaking into qualitative (and quantitative) research roles in industry, the pay scale that can be expected for these kinds of positions, and how grad students can use their research skills and passions in industry settings. https://www.linkedin.com/in/savannahespiveyyoung/
Matt is joined by good friend Dr. Megan Hicks, Assistant Professor of Social Work at Wayne State University as well as CEO of Hicks Data Consulting.
Megan talks about her postdoc experience, getting into early career grant writing, and how she started her data consulting business.
https://www.hicksdataconsulting.com
Matt is joined by Warren English, former microbiology graduate student and current fitness coach.
Warren talks about immigrating to the United States for graduate education as well as the process of leaving academia to start a business around his passions.
https://linktr.ee/WEPhit
Matt is joined by good friend Dr. Alycia DeGraff, licensed clinician and business woman.
Ally talks about being a first-generation college student, finishing her dissertation while climbing the corporate ladder, and what grad students today should be doing to prepare for their future careers.
https://degrafftherapy.com
Welcome to the Grad School Sucks podcast. In this little intro, I briefly share what the podcast will be about. Stay tuned for full episodes next week!
Matt is joined by good friend Dr. Megan Hicks, Assistant Professor of Social Work at Wayne State University as well as CEO of Hicks Data Consulting.
Megan talks about her postdoc experience, getting into early career grant writing, and how she started her data consulting business.
https://www.hicksdataconsulting.com
Matt is joined by Warren English, former microbiology graduate student and current fitness coach.
Warren talks about immigrating to the United States for graduate education as well as the process of leaving academia to start a business around his passions.
https://linktr.ee/WEPhit
Matt is joined by good friend Dr. Alycia DeGraff, licensed clinician and business woman.
Ally talks about being a first-generation college student, finishing her dissertation while climbing the corporate ladder, and what grad students today should be doing to prepare for their future careers.
https://degrafftherapy.com
Welcome to the Grad School Sucks podcast. In this little intro, I briefly share what the podcast will be about. Stay tuned for full episodes next week!