The Struggling Scientists

Episode 68: Leaving Academia for a non-academic career, with Ashley Ruba

The Struggling Scientists

Show Notes

Welcome to The Struggling Scientists! In this episode, we dive into the world of non-academic careers for PhD holders. Our special guest, Ashley Ruba, shares her remarkable journey from academia to a fulfilling role as a human factors engineer in the medical device industry. We uncover the challenges academics face, the stigma around non-academic careers, and the misconceptions that often hold back PhD professionals. From networking tips to the day-to-day responsibilities in her new role, Ashley imparts invaluable advice for navigating this transition. Join us as we unravel the opportunities and intellectual fulfillment beyond the confines of academia.

If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, or papers we really need to read, you can reach out to us via our website: https://thestrugglingscientists.com/

Would you like to know more about becoming a guest on our podcast or sponsoring us? Then please check out the information on our website!

Find your next funding opportunity now with https://thestrugglingscientists.com/Astound and use the code StrugglingScientist for 25% discount

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

More from The Struggling Scientists

Oct 15, 2026

Leaving academia can be intimidating. You've spent years training as a researcher, but what jobs can you actually do outside academia? And how do you even get started? 🎓

Sep 21, 2026

ResearchRabbit gives researchers a different way to explore scientific literature by visualising the connections between papers, citations and authors. 🐇🔎

Jul 15, 2026

SciSpace has become much more than a tool for chatting with PDFs. In this episode of the PhD Toolkit, we put it through a real research workflow to find out whether it actually deserves a place in your research toolkit.

May 25, 2026

Learn how to apply the core ideas from Deep Work by Cal Newport to your life as a PhD student, postdoc, or early-career researcher. In this episode, we break down what Deep Work actually is, why shallow work can take over your best energy, and how to use the four Deep Work methods: monastic, bimodal, rhythmic, and journalistic. If you want to protect more focused time for writing, reading, analysis, or research thinking, this episode will help you choose the Deep Work method that fits your academic life best.

May 7, 2026

AI is already being used in academic research, and some of it is going very wrong.

See all episodes →