A few generations ago, you could probably graduate from a PhD program and immediately land yourself a junior faculty position at a nearby university. But as grad school enrollment grew, a new quasi-professional job-description emerged in the nebulous middle ground between student and professor. Lacking a better name, we just called them ‘postdocs’. It was […]

The post 202. Academia Has a Postdoc Problem appeared first on Hello PhD.

Josh and Dan traveled to Washington DC for the Society for Neuroscience Conference 2023. We chatted with students, postdocs, and faculty about everything from grad school applications to industry jobs to work-life-balance. And we recorded this special update from the hall of posters and vendors. Here are a few photos from our vantage point at […]

The post 201. Society for Neuroscience 2023 – LIVE! appeared first on Hello PhD.

It’s no secret that biomedical research relies heavily on animal models. Our mammalian cousins share so many common genes and pathways that we can often make breakthrough advances in human medicine through the use of animal proxies. But animal research is neither easy nor fun. Experiments are expensive, time consuming, and it’s often dirty, smelly […]

The post 194. Mailbag: Do I Have to Do Animal Research? appeared first on Hello PhD.

It’s that time of year again – summer days are growing shorter, your friends are trying to fit in one last trip to the beach, and the backpack aisle at Target is about to be cleared out to make way for the Halloween costumes. Yes, it’s back-to-school time. From toddlers to teenagers, this time of […]

The post 119. Ten Tips to Crush Your First Semester appeared first on Hello PhD.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you had a crystal ball that could reveal your grad-school future? You might look forward to see if that next experiment will work out, or if your research will eventually make the cover of Nature. What you should do with the power of foresight is to take a deep look […]

The post 118. Find a Better Mentor with GradPI appeared first on Hello PhD.

In some jobs, one day at the office looks a lot like the next. You could look through your calendar and optimize your meeting schedule and to-do list without much thought. But working in a lab is different: your projects are in constant flux, experiments lead to other experiments, and you need to balance bench […]

The post 059: Simple Tricks for Time Management – The Focus Funnel (R) appeared first on Hello PhD.

For most graduate students, the list of potential careers runs something like this: Research Faculty Teaching Faculty Industry Researcher Science Writer …. ummmm… But the truth is that there are other, less talked-about careers that can be a perfect fit for scientists who may love learning but not working at the bench. Raison d’Liaison Listener […]

The post 117: Bridging The Gap as a Medical Science Liaison appeared first on Hello PhD.

Ten weeks is not a long time. It feels even shorter when you’re tossed into the deep-end of a top-tier research lab. If you’re spending your summer as a Research Assistant between semesters, or you’ve graduated and want to get some summer experience before grad school, we have ideas to help you hit the ground […]

The post 116: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Summer Students appeared first on Hello PhD.

It’s no secret that post-secondary education is a rough road to walk. Graduate students rack up debt for the privilege of working long hours for an unpredictable number of years with very little faculty support. Well, that might be true in much of the Northern hemisphere, but in a land where mammals lay eggs and […]

The post 115: PhDown Under – 4 Ways a PhD is Better in Australia appeared first on Hello PhD.

Here’s a controversial idea: what if graduate school finished on a predictable schedule the way (checks notes) every other academic training program does! Since kindergarten, your education has had fixed milestones. You knew it would take 12 years to graduate from high school, 4 for college, and 2 for a masters or an associates degree. […]

The post 114: Grad School Should Have a Time Limit appeared first on Hello PhD.

Sometimes, a graduate school education follows the strait and narrow path through dissertation, postdoc, and faculty position. And sometimes, it sprouts wings and takes you somewhere else entirely. That was the experience for Isaac Childress. Isaac began his career as a physics PhD studying high-energy particles. But “Plan A” didn’t turn out exactly as he […]

The post 113: All Work and Some Play – Isaac Childres on Following Your Passion After a PhD appeared first on Hello PhD.

It’s that time again… Let’s open the mailbag and see what you, our listeners and friends, have sent in! You asked for it… We start out with a couple of questions from David, who is considering going back to grad school for computational biology after a successful career as a software developer. He wants to […]

The post 112: Listener Mailbag – Leaving Home, Avoiding the GRE, Finding Collaborators, et al! appeared first on Hello PhD.

It looks like a cross between an anteater and a hedgehog, but don’t let that description fool you into believing it’s easy to spot an echidna in the wild. These denizens of the Down Under know how to hide. “They’re really understudied in Australia because they’re hard to find in the wild,” says Tahlia Perry, […]

The post 111: Empowering the Impossible with Citizen Science appeared first on Hello PhD.

Dr. Jimena Giudice has all the traits of a promising new faculty member. Through her training and early career, she has earned more than a dozen grants and awards. She’s co-authored two dozen papers. And she has trained students and postdocs, gaining a reputation as a highly effective mentor. You’d expect that Dr. Giudice’s undeniable […]

The post 122. Tenure Tracker – The Life Non-Linear with Dr. Jimena Giudice (R) appeared first on Hello PhD.

You might believe that because you’re in grad school and receiving a research stipend, you don’t really need to worry about paying an income tax.  You don’t have a ‘real job’ and no one asked you to fill out any paperwork so you’re off the hook, right? Wrong.  Utterly, expensively, illegally wrong. The Tax Man Cometh […]

The post 033: It’s Tax Season – Here’s What You Need to Know (R) appeared first on Hello PhD.

After a tough day of negative results and an ornery PI, it can be nice to come home to someone who thinks you’re amazing, loves you unconditionally, and wants nothing more than to cuddle with you on the couch. Of course, we’re talking about pets; dogs, cats, gerbils, rabbits, birds, horses and, I’m told, snakes […]

The post 110: The Secret Life of Pets (in Grad School) appeared first on Hello PhD.

It’s been an exhausting journey, but you’re nearing the end. You slogged through reams of application forms, personal statements, and letters of reference. You gave up every weekend for two months, traveling to interview at different schools. But the blessed day has finally arrived when your inbox ‘dings’ with the sound of a grad school […]

The post 109: HelloPhD Guide to Grad School Applications – Understanding Your Offer Letter with Dr. Emily Roberts appeared first on Hello PhD.

It’s Monday morning and you arrive in lab a little late. No worries, you drop your tissue culture media into the warming bath, turn on the hood, and head down the hall while things ‘warm up.’ Next stop is the -80 freezer. You dig through the drifting piles of frost and snow, around the boxes […]

The post 108: My Green Lab with Allison Paradise appeared first on Hello PhD.

When you’re a graduate student, your conception of ‘industry’ has a lot in common with your understanding of a black-hole. First, you’ve been told it’s a scary and unpredictable place. (“Did you know they can just change your project or fire you at will?”) Second, it’s a one-way trip. (“Once you step off the tenure […]

The post 107: Industry Insights – Career Evolution at 23andMe appeared first on Hello PhD.

See our previous episodes in this series: 101: HelloPhD Guide to Grad School Applications – Knowing When, and Where, to Apply with Dr. Beth Bowman 102: HelloPhD Guide to Grad School Applications – Crafting the Perfect Personal Statement with Dr. Brian Rybarczyk With most jobs, you’ll need to submit a polished resume along with a […]

The post 106: HelloPhD Guide to Grad School Applications – Acing Your Interview with Dr. Beth Bowman appeared first on Hello PhD.

Well, you’ve done it again… Our inboxes are full-to-bursting and it’s time to answer your questions in this week’s episode. We start with some feedback on episode 098: I’m in Grad School and I’m Pregnant! How to Have Kids AND a Career in Science. Listener Sara shares her experience of being pregnant while working with some dangerous […]

The post 105: Listener Mailbag – Grad School Readiness, Paper Critiques, and More! appeared first on Hello PhD.

It’s a tragic fact: many jaw-dropping, eye-opening, and heart-pounding research results never makes an impact on the scientific community. And it’s partly your fault. By “your,” of course,  I mean all of us.  Because when we waste the opportunity to share our results in their best light at a scientific conference or poster session, our […]

The post 104: How to Give a Perfect Poster Presentation appeared first on Hello PhD.

Life in grad school may not have many horror-movie freak-outs, but there are plenty of harrowing and traumatic experiences to thrill even the most stoic scientist. In celebration of Halloween, we asked our listeners about their lab and grad school horror stories!

The post 103: Laboratory of Horrors! appeared first on Hello PhD.

Please recount your life story, all of your future plans, and why this graduate program is uniquely suited to fulfill those dreams.  Limit your answer to 140 characters. Okay, okay, the typical “Personal Statement” prompt on your grad school application is probably not that outrageous, but they CAN feel both cryptic and overwhelming. Here’s a […]

The post 102: HelloPhD Guide to Grad School Applications – Crafting the Perfect Personal Statement with Dr. Brian Rybarczyk appeared first on Hello PhD.

This week, we open the mailbag to answer listener questions about getting extra research experience as an undergrad, and making a difficult choice between Master’s programs. Stay with us! Could Great be Perfect? Our first letter comes from Owen. He’s a freshman who found a research lab he loves, and is doing some amazing work. […]

The post 193. Listener Mailbag – Undergrad Research and Choosing a Master’s Program appeared first on Hello PhD.

You’ve studied hard, gotten good grades, and spent the last two years working in research labs on campus.  You’re feeling ready for that next, inevitable step: applying to graduate school. In a perfect world, the next step would be easy.  You’d simply fill out an application, and submit it to every Genetics or Microbiology department […]

The post 101: HelloPhD Guide to Grad School Applications – Knowing When, and Where, to Apply with Dr. Beth Bowman appeared first on Hello PhD.

It's important to recognize each major milestone in grad school and beyond. That's why we've invited a few friends to help us celebrate our 100th episode!

The post 100: The One Where We Celebrate appeared first on Hello PhD.

“I was observing that there was this growing mistrust in science, and I couldn’t really understand why. I think that people just don’t trust scientists anymore, or at least not as much as they used to.” As a graduate student at the University of Connecticut, Sarah McAnulty was struck by the anti-science and pseudoscience she […]

The post 099: Skype a Scientist with Sarah McAnulty appeared first on Hello PhD.

It’s no secret that graduate school and postdoctoral training are some of the most intellectually and emotionally challenging periods you will face in your career. Experiments fail, grant deadlines loom, and PIs push you to work long hours to publish or perish. That’s why many trainees wait to start a family.  Time is precious, and […]

The post 098: I’m in Grad School and I’m Pregnant! How to Have Kids AND a Career in Science appeared first on Hello PhD.

Sure, scientific conferences are not a competitive sport, but the sheer volume of information, introductions, and events can leave you feeling like you just lost a round of rugby. This week, we share some sage advice for making your next conference the best one yet. Listener Matthew writes: I have a topic that I think […]

The post 097: Conference Like the Pros – How to Plan, Network, and Win appeared first on Hello PhD.

The best thing about the Hello PhD podcast is our amazing audience of grad students, postdocs, and career scientists. We get emails, tweets, and website comments full of thoughtful questions and insightful observations. And though we try to read and respond to each message, not every question makes it into the show. Sometimes, we can […]

The post 096: Listener Mailbag – Program Prestige, Changing Careers, and More! appeared first on Hello PhD.

A PhD takes years to complete, so it’s no surprise that your situation may change during that time.  Your PI may move to a different University, your spouse may take a job in another town, or you may need to move back home to care for ailing parents. In these situations, you’re forced to make […]

The post 095: Should I Finish My PhD Remotely? appeared first on Hello PhD.

We got an email from a first-year student who seems to love everything about grad school… except the tests.  He’s wondering: Do grades matter? Dear Josh and Daniel, I am a first year chemical engineering PhD student and am currently working through a class-filled semester. For two of my classes, my midterm grades were much less […]

The post 094: Do Grades Matter in Grad School? appeared first on Hello PhD.

Susanna was experiencing insomnia that began to interfere with her work and life.  She visited the campus health clinic, and they referred her to mental health resources on campus. There, the doctor recommended medication for depression and anxiety, and therapy to work through the issues that were interfering with her sleep. “We’re actually really worried […]

The post 093: The Grad School Mental Health Crisis, and What You Can Do About It appeared first on Hello PhD.

“Things are not progressing as they should. You’re having a hard time focusing on the research, and we know that you don’t want to be in academia anyway.  Do you want to quit?” The question landed like a punch, and Mónica’s committee meeting took a turn she hadn’t expected. She was in the fourth year […]

The post 092: Making Time for Science Communication with Mónica Feliú-Mójer appeared first on Hello PhD.

When you think about your day, which events and activities feel the most fulfilling? Which tasks do you tolerate, but would rather avoid? Maybe your experiments feel like a drag, but you get a lot of satisfaction out of crafting an abstract for your latest research article. Or perhaps you love training new students in […]

The post 192. Careers In Focus: Medical Writer appeared first on Hello PhD.

Think about your training as a grad student and postdoc – you spend countless hours at the bench, running experiments and reading papers to finish your personal research project. Now think about your PI or faculty advisor. Does she spend time at the bench?  Or are you more likely to find her in her office, […]

The post 091: Cross-Train for the Faculty Track with the Academic Pathways Postdoctoral Fellowship appeared first on Hello PhD.

Josh and Daniel are on the road this week, so we decided to bring you some goodies from the archive.  An 8-ish step plan to save science!   Biomedical science is broken.  Funding is unpredictable, training programs drag on indefinitely, and some of our best scientists are drawn to careers outside of the university or drowned in paperwork if […]

The post 011: The 8.5 Fixes That Will Save Biomedical Science (R) appeared first on Hello PhD.

Have you ever submitted a grant, only to have it rejected?  You respond to the reviewers’ comments, addressing weaknesses and tweaking the protocol to honor their suggestions. Then, when you resubmit, the proposal is rejected again.  This new group of reviewers suggest changes to the protocol. And guess what, their suggestions sound a lot like […]

The post 090: Maybe Grant Funding Feels Random and Subjective Because It Is appeared first on Hello PhD.

On a graduate student’s stipend, it’s hard to imagine having enough money left over to afford a dinner out, let alone enough to invest for retirement. But if you can scrape together a few dollars each month, you have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to grow that investment. As a grad student, time is on your side. Compound Interest […]

The post 089: The Grad Student’s Guide to Investing for Retirement appeared first on Hello PhD.

But I have no skills! At least no skills employers would be interested in! As a career counselor, Melanie Sinche heard grad students and postdocs voice this concern nearly every day.  She looked at these talented scholars and saw the ability to think critically, analyze data, and solve problems. To her eye, these were transferable […]

The post 088: 15 Transferable Skills PhDs Can Use In Any Career appeared first on Hello PhD.

Some decisions in life are simple (“Yes, I want cheese on that burger!”) and some are difficult (“Do I want to spend the rest of my life with this person?”). On that spectrum, choosing a University graduate program sits closer to marriage than it does to your lunch options. First, grad school takes a long […]

The post 087: How Do I Choose a PhD Program? appeared first on Hello PhD.

Turning over the last page of the calendar seems to naturally invite some reflection on the previous 365 days. When you look back at 2017, what went well? And what do you wish you could change in the coming year? This week, we take the opportunity to reflect back much farther – to our days […]

The post 086: Five Resolutions for Happier, Healthier Scientists appeared first on Hello PhD.

Pick up any newspaper and you’ll find an article summarizing the ‘latest research’ on the health benefits of chocolate, a new treatment for Alzheimers, or the long-term risks of screen time for your toddler. As a scientist, you probably groan before you reach the end of the title: the claims are extreme, the statistics are […]

The post 085: Scientists in the Newsroom – The AAAS Mass Media Fellowship feat. Rebekah Corlew appeared first on Hello PhD.

In every episode of Hello PhD, we explore science training and life in the lab.  But for every scientist, that saga begins with a grad school application. Whether you’re ready to apply today, or would like to apply to a graduate program ‘some day,’ we share a few tips and tricks that will make the […]

The post 084: The 4 Keys to an Effective Grad School Application appeared first on Hello PhD.

Publishing your research in a peer-reviewed academic journal is an exercise in patience. You write and edit, wait for feedback from your PI, wrangle the figures into some esoteric format, and then submit.  That’s when the real patience begins. From submission to publication, the peer review process can take more than a year.  Meanwhile, you’re […]

The post 083: Preprint First, Peer-Review Later appeared first on Hello PhD.

A few months ago, Emma Hinkle was organizing her lab notebooks as she prepared to start a career. She had completed her graduate training, earned a PhD, and had a job lined up that started on Monday. In those few moments of quiet between her years of graduate school and the career to come, she […]

The post 191. The Tough Times are Worth It w/ Dr. Emma Hinkle appeared first on Hello PhD.

Two scientists walk into a bar. One steps on stage and delivers ten minutes of raucously funny stand-up comedy.  The other enjoys an evening of laughter as enterprising STEM professionals share their science. Scientists doing stand-up may sound like a joke, but it’s actually the latest innovation in science communication. Weird Al Einstein Begun in […]

The post 082: The Science of Comedy with The Peer Revue’s Niki Spahich appeared first on Hello PhD.

As a graduate student, Joel Schwartz developed an immunofluorescence assay for neurotransmitter transport. To quantify his results, he needed to circle the cells in each image so the computer could measure the intensity. By the time he graduated, Joel had circled over 10 million individual cells. Over the years, Joel discovered a better way: he […]

The post 081: Data Science Will Accelerate Your Research – with Joel Schwartz, PhD appeared first on Hello PhD.

Uncertainty is a defining feature of postdoctoral training: Q: Is a postdoc a student or an employee? (A: Neither. Both?) Q: Should you continue in your PhD research field, or try something new?  (A: Yes) Q: How are you supposed to find a job while you’re ALSO doing research and writing papers? (A: Pray that […]

The post 080: Postdoc Straight Talk – Where Are They Now? appeared first on Hello PhD.