In this fourth episode of Season 5 of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD, I’m sharing with you my conversation about nagivating the PhD journey and avoiding misconceptions about the doctorate with Merle van den Akker.
Merle van den Akker finished a PhD in behavioural science and left academia to become an applied behavioural scientist in the financial services. She has blogged and written a book about her experiences inside and outside of academia, and how to make the most of both worlds!
What we covered in the interview:
Merle’s early academic and professional journey
Studying, interviewing, and deciding on a PhD
Struggling with the PhD journey, finding support
The importance of choosing your PhD supervisor wisely
PhD and academia careers
How tunnel vision during the PhDs can hinder your professional success
How venting about academia on a blog led into Merle’s recently published book
Seeking support, prioritizing health, exploring alternatives
This episode’s resources:
Thank you, Merle van den Akker!
If you enjoyed this conversation with Merle, let her know by clicking the link below and leaving her a message on LinkedIn:
Send Merle van den Akker a thank you message on LinkedIn!
Click here to share your key take-away from this interview with David!
You might also like the following episodes:
Jacob Kendall – The Stuff You Don’t Plan for But Should
Kate Dahl – Reinventing Yourself after Academia
Stephanie Fuccio – When Time Comes to Leave Your PhD
Sirisha Kuchimanchi – Navigating Manufacturing and Engineering as a Woman
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