Summary: <br> Even as a child, Alexandra wanted to study space. She had a Bachelor’s degree in physics from Cambridge University, so she seemed like the perfect candidate to for a PhD program.<br> <br> <br> <br> But after graduation, she didn’t feel ready. She’d need a Master’s degree first, but money was tight and her student visa had run out.<br> <br> <br> <br> She found a job prospect at a particle accelerator lab, but was turned down because they wanted more programming experience. So she packed her bags and headed home.<br> <br> <br> <br> Her goal remained the same – to study astrophysics and earn a PhD. But due to circumstances, her plans had to change.<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> This week, we hear Alexandra’s journey in her own words. It’s a powerful story because so many of us will find our own experience in the obstacles she had to overcome: impostor syndrome, tight finances, moving and finding a job with a spouse, PIs that ignore your emails, balancing work with family, and so much more.<br> <br> <br> <br> What’s unique about her story is not that she faced so many obstacles, but that each and every time she picked up and continued on. She always made a backup plan, and sometimes her backup plans had their own backup plans.<br> <br> <br> <br> She offers some helpful advice to other PhD students and those who aspire to that path. Her experience with networking, skill-building jobs, and getting the inside scoop from current graduate students will be helpful to anyone applying this year or in the future.<br> <br> <br> <br> Here are a few of the HelloPhD episodes she mentions in the interview:<br> <br> <br> <br> <a href="http://hellophd.com/2017/01/064-phd-internship-will-help-get-job/">064: A PhD Internship Will Help You Get a Job</a><br> <br> <br> <br> <a href="http://hellophd.com/2019/12/125-demystifying-the-research-institute/">125. Demystifying the Research Institute</a><br> <br> <br> <br> <a href="http://hellophd.com/2020/06/135-the-science-training-toolbox-with-dr-andres-de-los-reyes-plus-antiracism-for-academia/">135. The Science Training Toolbox with Dr. Andres De Los Reyes.</a><br> <br> <br> <br> <a href="http://hellophd.com/2020/07/137-tools-for-finding-research-mentor/">137. Tools for Finding a Research Mentor</a><br> <br> <br> <br> And if you want to support her research, consider downloading the <a href="https://einsteinathome.org/">Einstein@Home</a> app to share your compute power in the search for pulsars! If your computer helps uncover a new pulsar, you’ll receive a signed certificate of your discovery!<br> <br> <br> <br> If YOU have a great graduate-school story, or advice for your fellow travelers, why not <a href="mailto:podcast@hellophd.com">email us</a> and join the conversation?<br> <br> <br> <br> <a href="https://www.promega.com/resources/student-resource-center/hellophd/?utm_source=hellophd&utm_medium=shownotes_dec_jan&utm_campaign=academic_hellophd"></a><br>
