LATEST POSTS FROM THE BLOG

• This PhD Government Scientist Is Pursuing Financial Independence: Part 1
  In this episode, Emily interviews Dr. Gov Worker, which is the moniker used by a PhD scientist and FIRE blogger. FIRE stands for Financial Independence and Early Retirement. As a PhD, Gov […]
• This PhD Student Is Paying Her US Student Loans with Her Swedish Krona Salary
  In this episode, Emily interviews Crista Wathen, an American PhD student in archaeology at Stockholm University. As a PhD student in Sweden, Crista is considered more of an early-stage researcher […]
• How Finances During Grad School Affected This PhD’s Career Path
  In this episode, Emily interviews Dr. Scott Kennedy, a bioengineering PhD who now works at a start-up in a data science position. During the course of his PhD, Scott got married and had two children. […]
• 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 […]