Ashley Ruba, PhD @ashleyruba_phd Twitter profile

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

2 months

I'll never gatekeep knowledge. I fully believe that PhDs can figure out how to leave academia on their own. Here is a free guide with links to every resource I know:

PhD Career Exploration Guide

50+ resources and 50+ non-academic job titles

ashleyruba.ck.page

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

So you're going to do a PhD! Yay! Here's my best advice: 1) Don't work nights/weekends unless you have a hard deadline. Work 40hrs, no more. My most cherished grad school experiences were hanging out with my friends. Do not waste your youth providing unpaid labor. Don't do it!!

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

So, let me get this straight. I won not one, but two @APA awards. But, in order to accept these awards at the conference, I need to pay nearly $600 in registration fees. No one day pass. No fee wavier. No way to attend a 50 min ceremony. Conferences are a scam. I’m not going.

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

By age 30, you should have a PhD and be several years into a post-doc with no house, no retirement savings, and no long-term job security in the field that you’ve devoted the last decade of your life.

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

The clearest evidence that my PhD skills were extremely undervalued in academia: Sept 2019, post-doc salary: $50k Sept 2020, post-doc salary: $52k Sept 2021, post-doc salary: $54k Sept 2022, UX salary: $160k Post-docs are highly skilled researchers. Academia, treat us better.

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

I spent 10 years in academia. I published 15 first author papers. I won two dissertation awards. I had a prestigious post-doc fellowship. And yet, no one could guarantee that I would get an academic job. This is the state of the job market. You must consider alt-ac careers.

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

5) Be kind. Do not fall into the toxicity of academia. Academia is full of smart people trained to be hypercritical (and, unfortunately as a result, negative). You can follow this path, or you can be the change. You do not have to perpetuate intergenerational trauma.

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

3 years

During the final year of my PhD, I had no papers published from grad school. I seriously considered leaving academia b/c of harsh journal rejections. In 2020, I published seven first-author papers, more than all other years of my career combined. You matter. Your work matters.

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

Overall, I had a really positive PhD experience. Now that I’ve reached 10k followers (!), I’m ready to share my secret: You must choose an advisor who be kind and not toxic for 5+ years. Oh, and you need decide this based on a few hours of interviews. Don’t pick wrong! 1/

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

PhD students: if you want to pursue a TT faculty position, I highly recommend sitting on a hiring committee in your dept. Check out how the hiring process works! I sat on a hiring committee as a 4th year phd, & what I saw made me reconsider my entire career trajectory. 1/

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

6) Don't be afraid of change if you are unhappy. Find a different advisor. Change programs. Leave altogether! You do not need a PhD to live a happy life. But if you wreck your mental health for a degree, you will likely regret it. Do what is best for YOU 💛

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

I've thought about how to write this tweet for a few weeks now. But I don't have anything clever so here it is: I'm leaving academia. 1/

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

6 months

18 months ago, I quit my post-doctoral fellowship. It was one of the hardest decisions I've ever made. 1/

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 months

Three months ago, I was diagnosed with Autism. I'm 32. I had masked so heavily my entire life, no one ever noticed. Not even me - a Developmental Psych PhD. Here are 4 major signs I ignored for years: 1/

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

3) Go to therapy (if you can afford it). Seriously. I was in therapy for my last four years of grad school, and WOW. I was able to manage the stress of grad school & process previous trauma/grief to become a happier person. One of the best decisions I've made.

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

2) Explore alt-ac jobs. Do an industry internship . Not only will you learn about the kinds of careers you like, but you will also have industry experience for your resume. I said no to an internship opportunity in grad school, and I regret it now! Do not commit to being a prof.

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

A solid resume is necessary to getting an #altac job. But I’ve seen so many resumes from academics that don’t understand the assignment. You can’t just list all your experience. You need to quantify it. Here’s how to get started (you’ll want to save this tweet 😉): #AltAcChats

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

5 months

As a PhD student, I rarely worked more than 40 hours a week. I published seven first author papers and won two dissertation awards. You'll never do your best work while burnt out. Take a break this month.

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

6 months

Yesterday, 20 tenured professors told me why they left academia for industry. Here's what they said: 1. "I was on the tenure track and it broke me. I lost my identity and confidence."

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

When I started looking at non-academic job ads, I often thought "what does this even mean??" It's easy to believe you're unqualified for a job when you don't understand industry jargon. So here are my top five must-know terms, translated for academics: 1/ #AltAcChats

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

5 months

"Did I just waste the last decade of my life?" It's a question I've asked myself often. Not so long ago, academic success meant everything to me: I was a straight-A student. I was the first person in my family to go to college or earn a PhD. I won over 20 awards in the process.…

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

7 months

Having a PhD isn't an indicator of intelligence. It's an indicator of stubbornness.

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

8 months

Academia may not pay well, but at least it has work-life balance and career stability.

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

4 months

A PhD should guarantee a stable job after graduation. A decade of post-secondary education should teach you fundamental job search skills. A degree conferred to < 2% of the world's population should lead to a six-figure salary.

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

4) If your stipend sucks, find a side hustle. @UW was/is garbage & only paid $25k pretax (in SEATTLE!!). I found some easy jobs as a writing tutor, psych subject pool manager, and yoga teacher to make an extra $15k. I used the $$ to eat out/travel with my friends (see tip #1 )

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

"Should I do a post-doc after my PhD or go right into industry? I want to see if I can get an academic job." I grappled with this same question three years ago. Instead, I wish I would have asked myself this: "Would I pay $120,000 for the *chance* at an academic job?" 1/

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

6 months

I'm often asked "should I do a PhD?" I usually say no, because: - a PhD doesn't prepare you for most careers - a PhD isn't required for most careers - the risk to your mental health is high - the opportunity cost is high $$ How would you answer this question?

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

1 year

Four months ago, I posted my UXR salary on academic twitter. As a post-doc, I had no idea how much more money I could make in UXR, so I wanted to share this info with others weighing similar decisions. The response was far worse than I expected. 1/

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

3 years

Feeling really emotional today as I work on my diversity statement. For the first time in my life, I am writing these words: I have a disability. Disclosure has been a very very hard choice, but I know it is the right choice: 1/

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

8 months

My PhD skills were extremely undervalued in academia: Sept 2019, post-doc: $50k/yr Sept 2020, post-doc: $52k/yr Sept 2021, post-doc: $54k/yr Sept 2022, UX researcher: $160k/yr Sept 2023, HF engineer: $150k/yr Forget #PostdocAppreciationWeek Just pay us more!

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

3 months

Yesterday, I received this e-mail 😭 My response: Hi Joe, What a blast from the past - I did indeed take three of your classes from 2010 to 2012! I'm happy to know that you found me interesting, because I remember myself as being quite stubborn (as most 20-year-olds are...)…

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

8 months

This @Nature article was published in 2011. In twelve years, absolutely nothing has changed. Nothing is going to change. Academia is broken. It’s been broken for a very long time. Don’t waste your life in a post-doc.

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 months

Leaving academia is emotional. There's grief, from losing your identity. Shame, from being perceived as a failure. Overwhelm, from not knowing what to do next. 1/

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

1 year

What AI thinks professors looks like based on their department. What do you think academic Twitter? Accurate or no?

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

I have felt so much heartbreak and grief about leaving academia. But, I have also felt excited about the future for the first time in a very long time. I'm looking forward to all the adventures that await me in this next chapter of my life 💛🦙

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

3 years

Well, I didn't see a developmental psychology one so....

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

1 year

If you’re a PhD who has “left” academia, I want to connect with you on LinkedIn! Also, I need your help. I need you to tweet/post more. I want to amplify your voice. We need you to show other PhDs what life can be like outside of academia. Because many still don’t know. 1/

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

Graduate students are employees. Academia isn't a calling. Unionization will make wages fairer for all. Good luck hiring post-docs to do your research!

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

Before you mock all the "I'm leaving academia" posts: My DMs are full of grads/post-docs who feel seen & encouraged by these posts. They needed to hear that an industry job is not a "failure". They needed to see others go through this same process. Because, so often they have...

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

4 months

At 2 AM on December 25, 2021, I couldn’t sleep. I called my partner: "I'm quitting my post-doc." "Are you sure?" he asked. I could tell he was surprised - surprised that I would walk away from a career in which I had devoted much of my life. For which I had sacrificed so much.…

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

4 months

Things I want for Christmas: 1. A living wage for PhD students 2. Permanent positions for post-docs 3. Work-life balance for all academics 4. Any accountability for toxic supervisors 5. Support for PhDs wanting non-ac careers

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

3 years

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

5 months

Two years ago today, I hit my breaking point. I was rejected from my top-choice faculty position. Academic hiring sucks. You have hundreds of applicants for a single position. Everyone is qualified. Everyone has a PhD and a few publications. To apply, you spent hours writing…

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

“Academic science is a LiFeStYLe” Y’all can’t be serious 😂

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

And who does this hurt the most? Who does this push out of academia? BIPOC researchers. Queer researchers. First-gen researchers. Disabled researchers. People like you & me. People who are so very tired of fighting in a system based on prestige instead of merit 💛 /end

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

My biggest barrier to leaving academia was this idea that I would only be intellectually fulfilled by my niche research area. I was wrong. Turns out, I like the research process more than any specific research question. Oh, and work-life balance w/o guilt. I like that too.

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

6 months

I analyzed 20+ years of NSF survey data. Since 2015, academia has been the "alternative" career path for PhDs. But it was the breakdown by field that really shocked me. Do these graphs match your PhD experience? 1/

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

1 year

When I was a PhD student, professors told me what having an industry job was *really* like. Everything they told me was wrong. Let's start telling the truth about what it's like to work outside of academia. 1/

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

6 months

Friendly reminders to all PhDs: 1. You are a smart, highly-skilled person. 2. Your skills are valued outside of academia. 3. You can find fulfilling work outside of academia. 4. You can learn anything that you set your mind to. & 5. Be kind to yourself. Academia is hard.

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

So, now what? I'm going to take a remote researcher position so I can move back to NC. I'm also going to live a full & happy live outside of work. I'm (finally!) going to buy a house and have children and get a dog (& maybe some alpaca!) w/o worrying about the tenure clock. 7/

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

8 months

I recently spoke to a tenured professor who left academia for data science. I asked her why she left. She said, "I got tenure and felt nothing."

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

My whole identity has been centered on academia. So I've had to tell myself over & over again that being a professor is just a job. It’s not the only job. It’s not the Best Job™. It’s just a job. I now get to decide who I am when not solely defined by work. It's freeing. 5/

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

6 months

For those in the midst of this transition, I see you. I know how hard this is. I know how scary it is to give up something good in the hopes of something better. I know how it feels to lose a part of yourself. It gets better. It gets easier. 💛/end

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

Last month, I finally asked myself. And it was clear that I did not want this career. Why? I want to live near my family in NC. I want work-life balance without crushing guilt. I want to do work that has a clear impact. And, I want to be happy. Right now, I am not happy. 3/

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

I was always confused about why former academics seemed to “vanish” after starting an alt-ac job. But after being off academic Twitter for ~3 weeks now, I get it. It’s not about shame or embarrassment for “leaving” academia. It’s about being so tired of academic culture. 1/

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

1 year

Maybe it's time for a reintroduction 🤗 Last December, I decided to leave my prestigious post-doc fellowship & successful academic research program in order to pursue a UX career. It's been one year since I made that choice. My only regret is not leaving academia sooner. 1/

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

8 months

Academic papers may take years to write and publish, but at least they're read by hundreds of people outside of our niche subfield.

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 months

3. I've memorized "scripts" for social interactions. In conversations, I'm constantly monitoring how much I'm talking + how much the other person is talking. I'm thinking of questions to ask, wanting to seem engaged. I thought everyone was running a script in their heads. 4/

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 months

4. I force myself to smile and appear "bubbly". I know that people prefer this version of me. Otherwise, I've been called "tired" or not "enthusiastic" (even when I am). I used to called this "upregulating" my affect. Now, I realize it's "masking". 5/

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

This tweet sums up EXACTLY why academia has a such huge diversity problem. Who decides what’s a “boring research program,” a “poor pub record,” or a “higher-tier” PhD program? It’s profs like this: a U Chicago prof with an MIT PhD & Yale BA…

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 months

1. Eye contact is uncomfortable. I remind myself, often, to look at people in the eyes. I do it because it's a social norm in the United States, not because I naturally want to - most of the time, I find eye contact to feel weird. I thought everyone felt that way. 2/

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 months

...but I'll never really "fit in" to neurotypical life. I'm slowly coming to terms with that. Coupled with a recent ADHD diagnosis, and I'm appreciating how much I've contorted myself to survive all these years. And how I'll have to continue to survive. /end

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

In grad school, I published seven first author papers & won two dissertation awards. All while not working more than 40 hours a week on research. You don't need to be exploited and unpaid to be great at something important.

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

1 year

For some people, talking about salary is "taboo" or "tacky". But thankfully, younger generations are breaking down these barriers. It's important to talk about salaries to close pay gaps based on gender, race, and other socio-demographic factors. 5/

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

4 months

A question every PhD student should ask: Where did my advisors' students end up after finishing their dissertations?

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

1 year

At 2 AM on December 25, 2021, I couldn’t sleep. I called my best friend & told him that I decided to quit my post-doc. I gave myself the best gift that year: finally prioritizing my happiness & my mental health. It’s always okay to choose yourself. Merry Christmas, friends🎄✨

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

1 year

Alright, my fellow PhDs. We need to talk about sending connection requests on LinkedIn. Because some of you don’t know how to network professionally. No worries - I know we didn't have any training for this! Here's how to connect with anyone (including me): 1/

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

5 months

I don't know who needs to hear this, but 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.

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

Got my first paycheck! 💰 But looking at the number, I realized something… I make more money in one week as a UXR than I made in an entire MONTH as a grad student. My stipend was <$2k a month. In Seattle. I had to work extra jobs. How do universities think that this is okay?

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 months

I'm slowly peeling back these layers. Trying to figure out who I am behind the mask. But I've been masking for so long, I don't really know who "I" am. Masking is so ingrained. So automatic. I've learned how to "fit in", as best as I can anyway... 6/

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

Currently in final round interviews for a job that pays 3x what I'm making now as a post-doc. I have intense imposter syndrome, not because of the qualifications (I have them), but because of the salary. Doubt I would feel this way if post-docs were paid more 🤔

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

The sheer number of applicants will shock you. We had 120 people (a low #) applying for one position. We could only choose three for on-site interviews. And if you still have any delusions that TT hiring is merit-based, sitting on a hiring committee will fix that real quick. 2/

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

1 year

“And let's not forget - academia is competitive for a reason. It's a meritocracy, where the most qualified and dedicated individuals rise to the top.” - a not-sarcastic post on LinkedIn today 💀

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 months

2. I take things (very) literally. There are so many examples of figurative speech that have gone completely over my head. I used to joke that I was "too smart" to understand basic word play. I thought this was just a funny quirk of mine. 3/

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

1 year

A survey of early career PhDs found: - 48% felt (very) stressed daily - 61% thought their workload was too high - 42% experienced bullying by their supervisor - 58% were considering leaving academia due to mental health concerns You are not alone.

Early-career researchers in Australia are miserable at work

Nature - Heavy workloads, bullying and a lack of support add to falling job satisfaction for postdocs, junior faculty members and other young scientists.

www.nature.com

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

Your grad school advisor is the decider of whether your experience is fun/bearable or absolutely awful. It doesn’t matter how great you are. I’ve seen many brilliant grad students just absolutely broken by toxic advisors. Several of them never finished their PhD. 2/

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

My therapist told me to start adding “and that’s okay” to the end of my anxious thoughts. It’s surprisingly hard! “The future is uncertain…” and that’s okay. “Other people may not like me…” and that’s okay. “I’m having a hard time right now…” and that’s okay.

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

8 months

Annual reminder for PhDs on the academic job market: I spent a decade in academia. I had 15 first author publications. I won two dissertation awards. I had a prestigious post-doc fellowship. No one could guarantee I would get an academic job. You must consider alt-ac careers.

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

7 months

Food for thought: Me, 3rd year post-doc: $54k/year Education: PhD My dad, cable technician: $55k/year Education: GED #PostDocAppreciationWeek

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

7 months

I won two prestigious awards for my dissertation. How did I do it? I applied. Good research isn’t enough. You can’t win anything unless you submit an application. Believe in yourself.

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

Are we really surprised that there is rampant hiring bias in academia? When faculty can make any decision they want, who is stopping them from hiring their friends' students? Or applicants with fancy degrees & famous advisors? Precisely nothing. 6/

Most US professors are trained at same few elite universities

Nature - ‘Jarring’ study reveals hiring bias at US institutions.

www.nature.com

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

Yes, I have more post-doc funding. Yes, I also have two major federal fellowships still under review. Yes, my CV is competitive. Yes, I could be a professor if I weren't so geographically constrained. But, I am. So I am applying to industry jobs (& I have interviews!). 4/

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

6 months

To everyone saying, "you should publish this analysis!" Why on earth would I spend months/years of my life publishing a dense scientific paper that few will read, when my thread already has 450,000+ impressions?? Social media impact > journal impact. Academia is funny.

Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

6 months

I analyzed 20+ years of NSF survey data. Since 2015, academia has been the "alternative" career path for PhDs. But it was the breakdown by field that really shocked me. Do these graphs match your PhD experience? 1/

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

5 months

If you're going to do a PhD, make sure that you have: - a supportive advisor * - training for non-academic careers - enough $ to live without needing loans - access to affordable mental health care * this is the most important What else would you add?

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 months

The bitter truth about academia: Your advisor is the decider of whether your experience is fun/bearable or absolutely awful. It doesn’t matter how smart you are. No one escapes a toxic advisor.

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

I saw applicants rejected for having a "boring research program" or not being "committed" enough to academia. I saw committee members have clear "favorites" who were pushed along. I seemed to be the only one who read the diversity or teaching statements. 3/

5

31

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

The # of grad students who open their DMs to me with “I’m sorry to bother you but can you help me…” breaks my heart. You never need to apologize for asking for help. I want to help you! Just promise me that, one day, you’ll “send the elevator back down” for others too 💛

5

48

937

Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

It’s been 3 months since I “left” academia: I walked away from my research program, 15 first-author pubs, & a prestigious post-doc fellowship. Guess what? I don’t miss it. Not even a little bit. I wouldn’t take a TT job now. If I can make this transition, you can too.

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

5 months

4 predictions about academia in 2024: 1. Rise in grad student & post-doc unions 2. Increased salaries = smaller labs = fewer papers 3. More PhD students choosing non-academic careers 4. Many tenured faculty deciding to "leave" academia What would you add?

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923

Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

1 year

Oh, I have an idea. Why would anyone do disruptive research with a high failure risk, when they could do incremental research & churn out pubs? Until we start valuing quality > quantity in academic research, scientific progress will stagnate.

‘Disruptive’ science has declined — and no one knows why

Nature - The proportion of publications that send a field in a new direction has plummeted over the last half-century.

www.nature.com

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

This is the last day of my post-doc. Next week I will be a UX Researcher. Behind many choices to leave academia is an unrealized dream. Today, I want to tell you about mine. I want to tell you about my lab. The lab I dreamed of running as a professor. The lab I will never run 1/

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929

Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

Do I regret my PhD or post-doc? Absolutely not. I have moved the needle (however slightly) in the field of infant emotional development. I feel great about the work that I have done in my short academic career. And if anyone wants to collaborate, I am still here! 6/

5

6

905

Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

1 year

We especially need to talk about salary in academia. I make more money now as a brand new UXR compared to most full professors. This isn't right. Academia severely underpays and overworks its PhD workforce. No wonder so many tenured faculty are leaving for industry. 7/

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

Hello new friends, followers, & allies in the fight against post-doc exploitation 👋🏻💪🏻 The hardest part about reading negative comments on my last tweet, is that I used to believe those sentiments myself. I used to believe that post-doc salaries were acceptable... 1/ #AltAcChats

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

6 months

What is it like to pursue an academic career with undiagnosed ADHD and Autism? This is the question I have been pondering all month. 1/

23

93

869

Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

6 months

I have more time, more money, and more fulfillment compared to my academic career. My mental health is better than it's ever been. I feel lighter, like an enormous dark weight has been lifted. 7/

4

11

858

Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

2 years

As someone who moved from academia ➡️ "industry", my DMs are full of questions. Many are from grad students/post-docs who are unhappy & wondering "should I 'leave' my phd program?" "Should I 'leave' academia?" I almost always say yes. 1/

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Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

5 months

Unexpected benefits of leaving academia: - frequent praise for my work - never checking my e-mail after work hours - taking paid time off without a second thought - no more wondering whether I'm "good enough" - rediscovering my love of research and learning

11

57

856

Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

5 months

Your PhD skills are valued so much more outside of academia. My salaries: 2019, post-doc salary: $50k 2020, post-doc salary: $52k 2021, post-doc salary: $54k 2022, UXR salary: $160k 2023, HFE salary: $150k Sorry @NIH - $70k still isn't enough for post-docs.

18

53

850

Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

1 year

It's true. I make more money in UXR than most full profs. But I'm not a money obsessed tech bro. I'm just a hurt, former post-doc who sacrificed everything for academia & got nothing in return. I quit academia for many reasons unrelated to salary. There was so much else: 1/

18

52

816

Ashley Ruba, PhD

@ashleyruba_phd

1 year

Nearly one year ago, I decided to leave academia. I knew I was changing careers. But I didn't know that I was about to go through a series of extremely painful identity crises. I wish someone would have warned me what was about to happen. So I'm telling you now. 1/

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