Academia, take notes:

“The path to where I am now wasn’t easy. Leaving academia, for me, meant starting over in many ways,” Ashley Ruba, PhD writes in this week's #ScienceWorkingLife . scim.ag/73v

When I left #academia , I had to embrace starting over

“I had forgotten how much I enjoyed learning,” this #scientist (Ashley Ruba, PhD) writes. #AcademicChatter brnw.ch/21wK4e8

Whose responsibility is it to teach PhDs about careers outside of academia, including how to apply for non-academic careers?

Some argue that individual PhDs need to teach themselves about 'alterative' career paths & that PIs shouldn't have to do this 'extra' work. Agree?

It is not your responsibility to 'fix' academia.

In fact, you probably can't. No matter how hard you try. The efforts of a single person will not fix these deep, systemic issues.

This was the hardest truth for me to internalize.

Myths about industry that trapped me in academia:

- Industry = soulless research for profit
- Industry = a strict 9 to 5 with a 'boss'
- Industry = no intellectual satisfaction
- Industry = no flexibility or autonomy
- Industry = no teaching/mentoring

None of these are true.

It's here. My first publication in *Science*🥰

In 2022, I quit my post-doc & left academia for industry - I immediately questioned whether I had made the wrong decision.

Here's what happened next:

Science Magazine Science Careers

science.org/content/articl…

Scientists: Apply for this new American Psychological Association Senior Director position that will focus on ensuring psych science is truly the study of ALL humans' behavior!

Min starting salary is $144K/year and the person in this role can work remotely from 40 US states.

recruiting.ultipro.com/AME1075/JobBoa…

Because the Psych Job Wiki is ending, I’ve worked with Amedee Martella to create a new Psych Job Wiki for the 2024-25 academic job cycle! This site has TT jobs, non-TT jobs, and postdoc positions. Feel free to spread the word, use the site, and contribute: sites.google.com/view/psychjobw…