LATEST POSTS FROM THE BLOG

• This Online Entrepreneur Turned His PhD Research into a Thriving Business
  In this episode, Emily interviews Dr. Chris Cloney, an engineering PhD turned online entrepreneur. Chris blogged about his research during graduate school, became recognized as an expert in his […]
• How the Promise of Public Service Loan Forgiveness Has Impacted This Prof’s Career and Family Decisions
  In this episode, Emily interviews Dr. Jill Hoffman, an assistant professor at a university in Portland, OR. Decisions around finances, family, and career are bound tightly together for Jill because […]
• This Grad Student Defrayed His Housing Costs By Renting Rooms to His Peers
  On today’s episode, Emily interviews Dr. Matt Hotze, an administrative director at Rice University and co-host of the Helium podcast. When Matt moved to Durham, NC for his PhD, he immediately […]
• This Postdoc Epitomizes Side Hustling to Get Out from Under $100,000 of Debt
  In this episode, Emily interviews Dr. Shana Green, a postdoc at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. Shana finished her PhD with $108,000 of debt, and she decided to side hustle […]
• This PhD Couple Combined a Cross-Country Move with a Vacation
  In this episode, Emily tells the story of her 2015 cross-country move from Durham, NC to Seattle, WA for her husband Kyle’s first post-PhD Real Job. Emily breaks down their decision-making around how […]
• How to Plan and Prepare for a Frugal Long-Distance Move
  “Don’t do your PhD at the same university you went to for your bachelor’s, and don’t postdoc at the same university you got your PhD from. You need to demonstrate success in multiple environments.” I […]
• How to Make Money without Working: Credit Card Rewards and 529s
  In this episode, Emily interviews Seonwoo Lee, a PhD student in electrical engineering at Georgia Tech. Seonwoo has mastered two methods to earn extra money without “working.” Emily and […]
• How Far Will My New Stipend or Salary Go?
  Virtually every PhD will experience this at one point (if not multiple points): You’re looking at an offer letter, whether for grad school, a postdoc, or a Real Job and you’re not sure what to think […]
• What to Do With Your 401(k) or 403(b) When You Start Grad School
  One of the common perks that companies and organizations give to their employees is access to a workplace-based retirement account such as a 401(k) or 403(b). They may even match your contributions […]
• Moving to a High Cost-of-Living City on a Postdoc Salary
  In this episode, Emily interviews Dr. Sushmitha Vijaya Kumar, a postdoc at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Sushmitha recently completed her PhD at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, […]