We Fight For PhDs And PhD Careers
We have helped and are helping thousands of PhDs transition into their first or next industry career. Our members develop their careers knowledge for life.
Sophia Stodiek, PhD
Senior UX Research Lead - DoorDash
You feel like you’re in a dark hole [when you don’t have a job you love]. In industry, you really are appreciated, and you get paid well. Seeing what you can accomplish, having people tell you that they appreciate you, giving your feedback — it’s incredible.
Monair McGregor, PhD
Community Engagement Program Lead - SiteBridge Research, Inc.
I thought I had aged out of the opportunity to transition into industry and that where I was at the time was where I should be. After joining the Association, these mindset challenges and Imposture Syndrome were no longer an issue. The Cheeky Scientist social media quotes really helped me gain the confidence I needed to transition successfully. From there, I was able to create a professional industry resume and build my networking strategy. It feels great working for a company where my values align.
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Rajesh Bawa
Vice President of Data Science & Analytics - The Knot Worldwide
I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Vice President of Data Science & Analytics at The Knot Worldwide!
Tana Silvas, PhD
Research Scientist - Amazon
The Diamond Program prepared me for my salary negotiation, and I increased my salary by four times just by following the steps outlined in the program. Now, I feel extremely valued. It’s like everything I went through was totally worth it beyond my wildest dreams. I went from sleeping in my car at Safeway thinking, “Why is this happening to me?” to seeing those numbers and knowing that this is what that was all for.
Orly Levitan, PhD
Chief Scientist - Hygieacare Inc
I dreamt of becoming a professor because I really loved the combination of research, teaching, and mentorship. It was amazing that, after leaving academia, I was able to find this. Not necessarily in my role as a scientist in industry, but through Cheeky Scientist. [Joining Cheeky Scientist] was one of the few things I never questioned – and I question everything.
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Dipmoy Nath
Associate Director, R&D - Eterna Therapeutics
I’m happy to share that I have joined Eterna Therapeutics as an Associate Director, R&D. It has been an interesting couple of months with its fair share of ups and downs, but I’m glad that I’ll finally be able to take the green banner down. I would like to thank my network for being so supportive and lending a helping hand whenever needed. Hope I can pay it forward.
Hoda Erajee, PhD
Clinical Project Manager - Syneos Health
I was getting zero interviews. My darkest hour was when I decided to accept a low salary position. I had to sit down and figure out what I really needed to do with my life and what was wrong with my approach. After attending a few Cheeky Scientist webinars, I became a member. I started to do the steps, bit by bit. Take the baby steps – those are the ones that will make you successful.
Sidharth Mohan, PhD
Senior Scientist - The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson
The private group was the biggest plus that Cheeky Scientist offered. It was so supportive, so dynamic, and willing to help at a moment’s notice. You can get 24/7 feedback on any material that you want feedback on, you can contribute and help other people, so it’s such an amazing network.
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Michael Oliver
Data Science Engineer - Huski.ai
I have started a job as a Data Science Engineer at a tech startup. Thanks for all the help with the interview prep!
Klodjan Stafa, PhD
Associate Director - The Estée Lauder Companies
I’m very, very happy with my overall experience with the Cheeky Scientist Association. For me, joining the Association was the perfect timing when I was trying to get into industry. It was the perfect place at the perfect time to start learning how to effectively transition into the private sector.
Camillia Smith Barnes, PhD
Software Engineer - Google
Before Cheeky Scientist, I had never worked outside of academia. I didn’t even know how to begin my industry job search. CS has changed my life for the better – now, I’m a software engineer at Google. Pretty big difference. Cheeky Scientist made it possible, and they’ll do the same for you.
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Maureen Metzger
Senior Data Scientist - Virta Health
Super excited to share that I’m starting a new position as Senior Data Scientist at Virta Health!
Shobeir Seddington, PhD
Lead Director of Data Science and Personalization - CVS Health
Right after my PhD I knew I did not want to go into academia and the postdoc path. So I started applying for non-academic positions, but there were two problems. First, I did not know which job titles I might be eligible to apply to. The other part was that all my thought process, my resume, my LinkedIn, everything was academic. Before joining the Association I was lost, I was discouraged. After joining the Association, things started to be a lot different.
Brent Ware, PhD
Senior Quality Engineer - In Vitro Testing - Medtronic
I had to change my mindset and understand that what was valued in industry wasn’t valued in academia inversely. In industry it’s about what you can do and the bottom line.
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Daniele Parisi
Senior Computational Scientist - THERAtRAME
After moving back to Europe I have secured a job offer in Belgium for a position as Senior Computational Scientist in a startup called THERAtRAME. After a quick negotiation, I have accepted a 70k/year contract. Thank you again for you support and help. I wish you all the best. Kind regards, Daniele Parisi, PhD
Alexis Paez, PhD
Marketing Director and Director of Science Outreach - NeuroNexus
I knew I didn’t want to do lab work forever, but I didn’t know how to target a different path in my job search. Cheeky Scientist helped me articulate the type of career and lifestyle I wanted. Now, I hold an industry position as director of science outreach at NeuroNexus.
Robert Hable, PhD
Innovation & Product Commercialization Coordinator - BASF
I was very stuck in academia. My mental health was at its lowest point – I had a hopeless mindset. CSA gave me hope that there was more outside of academia. The Association provided a great road map to career success.
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Farimah Salami
Program Coordinator - Science Liaison - St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
I am thrilled to announce my new position as a Program Coordinator – Science Liaison at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Many thanks to Cheeky Scientist team for their support and guidance over the last 6 months, Jordan Gambill for the recruiting process and helping me land here, Caroline Mazhari for a smooth onboarding process, Dustin James for providing this opportunity, Dr. Sima Jeha and Gokhan G. for the informative interviews that helped me learn more about the role. Ever since I started working in a children’s hospital, I was always saddened by the suffering of children. There were days when I received emails from worried mothers and fathers outside the US, from developing countries with a lack of necessary medical facilities, from Turkey, Pakistan, India, Syria and Iran, parents with empty hands and scared hearts seeking treatment for their sick kids. Those days I felt the most failure because I knew my hands were tied and my power was limited. I believe working with the Global Pediatric Medicine Department at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital gives me the best opportunity to direct all my ability and knowledge in the right path to help sick children.
Umar Twahir, PhD
GSC-ATS Supply Chain R&D Engineer - Equipment Design Engineer - Intel Corporation
One thing that I had never realized the power of, was LinkedIn. Upon joining the Association I saw how much LinkedIn was stressed. Immediately, I’m talking less than 48 hours after I started applying some of the LinkedIn makeover techniques provided through the modules and the books that we received as free gifts, I had a recruiter reach out to me and say, “We saw that you had project management experience, do you want a job?” It was amazing, because having had LinkedIn for about a year and a half before that, no one had ever reached out to me. Just doing ten percent changes resulted in an immediate reach out from a recruiter.
Eda Machado, PhD
Clinical Project Manager - IQVIA
I had spent many years in academia; I was stuck in that mindset for so long before joining the Cheeky Scientist Association. I thought I could only do academic work, and that industry wasn’t a possibility for me until I joined the Association. I love the amount of support I receive from the Cheeky team and other members of the Association. The community is very precious to me and my success.
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Julian Ramelow
Scientist I, Protein Engineering - Zymtronix
I am very excited to share that I have started a position as a Scientist I in the Protein Engineering Department at Zymtronix. I am happy to be part of this amazing team and am looking forward to contributing to their cutting edge work. Thank you to my family, friends, network, and great old colleagues who have helped me during the job search process!
Paige Potts, PhD
Evidence Evaluation Specialist - Smith+Nephew
I was afraid that I didn’t have enough technical skills. But the program taught me the importance of highlighting my strengths. So, I was able to narrow down my job search to careers that would fit my strengths. Even so, I suffered from severe imposter syndrome, but the group has helped me realize my potential. I am a very well trained academic who knows how to go down to the grindstone and get things done, and because of these skills and work ethic, I am so valued in industry.
Shilpa Sen, PhD
Qualification Services Project Manager - Cytiva
Being able to work, having skills, and still not getting any job is kind of frustrating. But the Cheeky Scientist Association platform not only gives you confidence, but also a supportive environment where you can talk about your problems to other people who might be in the same situation. CSA gives all of us PhDs a platform that helps us move forward.
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Grecia Gaviria
Professional Services Manager - RethinkEd
New Journey Alert! I have joined the New York team at #RethinkEd as a Professional Services Manager. I am delighted to integrate my behavior analysis knowledge with cutting-edge technology to devise impactful solutions. Technology’s potential to serve as a catalyst for educational and behvavioral transformation is vast. I look forward to exploring the many ways we can leverage this potential to enhance learning environment outcomes.
Roshan Thomas Ramlal, PhD
Evaluation Lead, Digital Communications - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The first tool that Cheeky Scientist provided was the career map and that really made a huge difference. It changed my perspective on how I was looking and it gave me a fresh start. That’s what actually convinced me to join the program, I was getting value and wanted to see how I could go deeper in the program. The Facebook group also helped me, seeing what different experiences people were going to and if I had a question I would get an immediate response. That was really useful.
Abhay Thakur, PhD
Head of Dowstream Manufacturing - Thermo Fisher Scientific
Cheeky Scientist helped me perfect my LinkedIn profile, strengthen my salary negotiation skills, and land a top industry position as a Senior Scientist. I highly recommend Cheeky Scientist’s programs to other PhDs.
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Norianne Ingram
Medical Science Liaison - AVITA Medical
I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Medical Science Liaison at AVITA Medical!
Yahfi Talkukdar, PhD
Senior Territory Manager - Johnson & Johnson MedTech
I was struggling to find success in my industry job search before becoming a Cheeky Scientist program member. Cheeky Scientist provided the momentum and networking community I needed to land a top industry position as a Clinical Account Specialist. Today, I work as a Field Sales Specialist for Biosense Webster. Thank you Cheeky Scientist!
Shounak Datta, PhD
AI Data Scientist 3 - Change Healthcare
Before joining the Cheeky Scientist Association, I would submit an academic CV attached to my job applications versus an industry resume. Reflecting on that now, “what was I thinking?”. After joining the association, I learned how to write an industry resume and started to feel confident in my job search.
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Remil Aguda
Design to Cost Chemist | Lead Analyst - Abbott
I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Design to Cost Chemist | Lead Analyst at Abbott!
Mentor Mulaj, PhD
Senior Scientist, Large Molecule Drug Product Development - Johnson & Johnson
Like many other PhDs, I had no idea initially that there were other alternatives for PhDs and I was 100% focused on academia. Soon after I joined my first postdoc I realized that academia might not be a good fit for me so I started searching for other opportunities, but guess what, it was not easy. Thankfully I came across the Cheeky Scientist Association and I finally joined. As soon as I joined the Association it felt like being home. You will feel the warm welcome in the Facebook group when you ask questions. You will start feeling like you’re going in the right direction.
Gabriel Villar, PhD
Manager, R&D Operations - Upward Farms
I had been left in the dust by my academic institution. After joining CSA, everything was an ‘A-ha’ moment. The CSA platform was incredibly helpful and allowed me to hit the ground running as I applied to industry positions.
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Ananya Chakravarti
Scientist II, Process and Analytical Development - Morphocell Technologies
I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Scientist II, Process and Analytical Development at Morphocell Technologies!
Dennis Oriero, PhD
Nonfabrication Process Engineer - Meta
I was already in industry but I wanted to transition into a higher level career in the tech sector. The main challenge I had was marketing myself in terms of transferable skills to the new industry that I was targeting. That was a huge challenge for me. I had interviews, went for on-site visits, and most of the interviews I felt like I did quite well and was hoping for a job offer, but it never materialized. I started asking myself, what was it I wasn’t doing right. That’s when I joined the Association. The Association provided a lot of valuable resources, including resume updates, LinkedIn profile updates, information on interviewing and negotiating for higher level industry careers, and a network of industry professionals.
DeLisa West, PhD
Alzheimer's Disease Diagnostic Consultant - Eli Lilly and Company
The biggest thing that I’ve gotten from Cheeky was the informational interviews. It helped me learn the right words to use and narrow down my skills. I’ve made some lifelong friends and colleagues through this. There are so many resources to help you make the right steps moving forward. This was the most life-changing process. I value myself and my PhD more now than I did before joining Cheeky.
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Brandon Austin
Director of Development - Houston Public Media
I have started a new role [Director of Development at Houston Public Media]. Thanks for the help and guidance.