PostPhDirections

✨ SPECIAL EDITION FROM THE ALMA.ME CAREERS WEEK 2026 ✨ What does industry actually feel like once you get there? In this special panel episode recorded live at the Alma. Me Careers Week 2026, Angela Priest sits down with four Alma.me Job Accelerator Program alumni who recently made the leap from academia into industry. Together they get honest about the mindset shifts, the culture shocks, the un...

Are you applying to junior roles because you think you need to prove yourself before you can aim higher? In this episode of PostPhDirections, I sit down with Emily Richard, a cognitive neuroscience PhD who is now a Data Science Lead at AG Associates, working on veteran suicide prevention. When Emily started her industry job search, she did what so many PhDs do she aimed too low. She kept applying...

In this episode of PostPhDirections, I'm joined by my co-founder Angela Priest, who brings over 20 years of hiring experience across startups and big cooperates. We get into everything you need to know about the current job market — the honest, behind-the-scenes version. We cover: Why uncertainty has become the new normal for employers — and what that means for your job search The AI shift: wh...

What if I told you one of the most powerful tools for landing your first industry job is completely free, takes 30 minutes, and most PhDs aren't using it? I'm talking about coffee chats (aka informational interviews – but let's keep it casual). When I was halfway through my PhD at Karolinska Institutet, I had that constant background noise: "What can I do after my PhD? Where do my...

Does your first job after your PhD have to be perfect? Spoiler: No. If you're finishing your PhD and stressing about finding the "perfect" industry job, this episode is for you. I break down why PhDs overthink this decision, how industry actually works (hint: you're NOT locked in for 5 years), and what really matters in your first role. You'll hear: Why the "perfect job" mindset comes from academi...

Is your PhD work experience when applying for industry jobs? This is one of the most common questions PhDs ask when transitioning out of academia. In this video, I explain why the real issue isn’t a lack of work experience, but a misunderstanding of what industry actually means by “experience.” Industry employers care about applied skills, problem-solving, collaboration, communication, and deliver...

In this episode of PostPhDirections, Sophia Parks shares her journey from a decade in academia - spanning a PhD and two postdocs, including at Stanford - to a remote industry role in project management. Despite strong credentials and years of grant-writing experience, Sophia found herself trapped in a system defined by funding uncertainty, external validation, and limited control over her future....

Looking to break into Pharma after your PhD? Learn first-hand from someone who has hired across the US and multiple European countries how to ace the transition from academia into industry and stand out from the crowd. In this episode of PostPhDirections , I spoke with Ben Weber, Vice President of Translational Research at Novo Nordisk, about how PhDs can successfully transition from academia into...

Looking to break into Pharma after your PhD? Learn first-hand from someone who has hired across the US and multiple European countries how to ace the transition from academia into industry and stand out from the crowd. In this episode of PostPhDirections , I speak with Ben Weber , Vice President of Translational Research at Novo Nordisk, about how PhDs can successfully transition from academia int...

When I came across one of Kertu Tenso’s posts on Instagram, I knew I had to talk to her. She’s a data scientist today—but what makes her story so powerful is how early she started preparing for that transition while still doing her PhD. In this episode, I chat with Kertu about how she carved her own path from public health research into data science, even when people told her it wasn’t possible. W...

In this episode of PostPhDirections , I sit down with Amy Turner, who shares her story of moving from academia into a dynamic role in scientific marketing at Proteintech. Amy talks about how she found clarity after her PhD, why taking a short break helped her gain perspective, and how a complete LinkedIn profile — not a huge following — led to her being headhunted for her first industry role. She...

In this episode of PostPhDirections , I speak with Dr. Larry McGrath, a historian and anthropologist who made the leap from academia to tech—now working as a senior researcher at Amazon Prime Video, with previous roles at Meta. Larry shares how humanities PhDs can translate their deep research skills, cult into real business impact. We talk about his career pivot, how he helps other academics tran...

In this episode of PostPhDirections , Angela Priest, COO of Alma.me, sits down with Stacey Cohen—marketing strategist, founder of Co-Communications, and author of Brand Up 2.0 . Stacey unpacks the essential elements of personal branding for early-career professionals, especially those transitioning from academia to industry. From debunking the myth that branding is narcissistic to explaining how t...

In this episode, I talk with Philipp Baaske, a physicist and the co-founder of NanoTemper Technologies. What started as a failed PhD project in a dark LMU lab turned into a side experiment - and eventually into a global biotech company that’s transforming drug discovery. Philipp shared how he made the leap from academia to entrepreneurship, why bootstrapping was the best business education, and ho...

In this episode of PostPhDirections, we talk with IrenaPalamani Xhuxhi, an AI Tech Lead at Amazon, about her inspiring journey from academia to the tech industry. Irena shares how she managed a PhD in economics while raising two children, applied to nearly 70 jobs, and overcame imposter syndrome to land her role at Amazon — the only tech job she applied for. We explore the mindset shifts needed to...

In this episode of PostPhDirections , I talk with Jorge Quintana, a macroeconomist who made what he calls a “transition squared” — moving from academia to industry and from Europe to the U.S. We dig into how he navigated both shifts, what made the transition challenging, and how he learned to show up not just as a qualified candidate, but as a whole person. Jorge shares how practicing interviews,...

In this episode, I sat down with Ana Osorio Oliveira - a neuroscientist, career advisor, and startup contributor - whose career shows that you don’t have to choose between staying in research and exploring other passions. Ana shares how she built a fulfilling and flexible "portfolio career," combining neuroscience with science communication, career support, and even a past life as a Zumba instruct...

In this episode of PostPhDirections , I chatted with Dr. Ellen Dobson, postdoc and grad program manager at the Morgridge Institute for Research, about how casual coffee chats can lead to career clarity-and even a job. From walking away from the lab bench to helping researchers design fulfilling futures, Ellen shares how informational interviews shaped her own path and why they’re a must for any ea...

In this raw and unscripted solo episode, I’m sharing my personal journey of how I built a 100K+ LinkedIn community-starting from a place of fear, doubt, and zero strategy. I talk about what truly worked for me, how I overcame the anxiety of posting that first piece of content, and the mindset shifts that changed everything. I’ll walk you through the power of authentic engagement, the importance of...

Transitioning from academia to industry isn’t easy-just ask Claudia Belliveau, PhD. In this episode of PostPhDirections, we dive deep into the challenges, strategies, and mindset shifts needed to break into the pharmaceutical industry. Claudia, did a PhD in neuroscience PhD and is currently a job seeker. Claudia shares her real-time experience, insider tips on networking, and how informational int...

In this episode, I chat with Professor Robert (Bob) Harris - also known as MADBob (Making a difference) - about his quite impressive journey on LinkedIn. Bob talks his social media literacy, what made him getting started on LinkedIn, and how he's used LinkedIn to share valuable insights on doctoral education and supervisor training. We discuss the powerful impact his posts have had on a global aud...

In this episode, I sit down with Angela Priest to talk about some of the most common mistakes we see in resumes and CVs. We dive into why tailoring your application to the job is so important and how a resume isn’t just a list of accomplishments - it’s a tool to get you an interview. We also chat about how to communicate your skills clearly, especially when transitioning from academia to industry....

Join me as I sit down with Dr. Andrea Grandi to talk about the challenges and strategies of moving from academia to the pharmaceutical R&D industry. We explore what it really takes to break into the field- how you can streamline your approach and focus on the right goals. Andrea shares his insider knowledge on landing R&D roles, the power of networking, and the key skills PhDs can leverage...

In this conversation, I, sit down with Vicky Sherwood to explore the world of medical writing and how PhDs can successfully transition from academia into a medical writer role (yes there is more than one ;) learn more here). Vicky shares her own journey into medical writing and the different roles within the field. Vicky explained the differences between various specialisations within medical writ...

In this conversation, Angela and I delve into the topic of self-limiting beliefs, particularly among PhDs transitioning into industry roles, alongside Angela Priest. We discuss common misconceptions about job descriptions, the overqualification dilemma, and the importance of collaboration and continuous learning in the workplace. Angela highlights that job descriptions are more like guidelines tha...