Jennifer Polk
@fromphdtolife.com
I live in Toronto and, since 2013, have helped professors, postdocs, & other PhDs who are ready to leave academia get meaningful, fulfilling jobs elsewhere. Ask me about my PhD Career Clarity Program!
Find me elsewhere online at https://fromphdtolife.com.
Find me elsewhere online at https://fromphdtolife.com.
Pinned
Jennifer Polk
@fromphdtolife.com
· Nov 13
Free Training for PhDs - From PhD to Life
FREE TRAINING How to Get a Great Job Outside Academia (even if you have no idea what you want to do next or why anyone would hire you) A free training for professors, postdocs, and other overworked, u...
fromphdtolife.com
"How do I get started finding a job outside academia?"
Learn my answer, including how to avoid common missteps, in this free video resource, available to watch anytime.
fromphdtolife.com/phd-job-sear...
Learn my answer, including how to avoid common missteps, in this free video resource, available to watch anytime.
fromphdtolife.com/phd-job-sear...
Reposted by Jennifer Polk
Choosing supervisors, managing mental health and surviving academic culture: things our readers wish they'd known before starting their PhDs
go.nature.com/4oUfOCM
go.nature.com/4oUfOCM
27 things we wish we’d known when we started our PhDs
Nature’s survey of PhD candidates reveals hard-won wisdom on choosing supervisors, managing mental health and surviving academic culture.
go.nature.com
December 26, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Choosing supervisors, managing mental health and surviving academic culture: things our readers wish they'd known before starting their PhDs
go.nature.com/4oUfOCM
go.nature.com/4oUfOCM
Okay, I've watched it. ❤️
December 26, 2025 at 6:16 AM
Okay, I've watched it. ❤️
Reposted by Jennifer Polk
Many get sick while traveling.
One major reason is they don’t realize mass transit is high risk because airline CEOs lied about viral spread early in the pandemic and lobbied the CDC to lower precautions.
To make the most of your holiday, take precautions like wearing a mask when you travel!
One major reason is they don’t realize mass transit is high risk because airline CEOs lied about viral spread early in the pandemic and lobbied the CDC to lower precautions.
To make the most of your holiday, take precautions like wearing a mask when you travel!
December 23, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Many get sick while traveling.
One major reason is they don’t realize mass transit is high risk because airline CEOs lied about viral spread early in the pandemic and lobbied the CDC to lower precautions.
To make the most of your holiday, take precautions like wearing a mask when you travel!
One major reason is they don’t realize mass transit is high risk because airline CEOs lied about viral spread early in the pandemic and lobbied the CDC to lower precautions.
To make the most of your holiday, take precautions like wearing a mask when you travel!
Travel chaos due to understaffing and all I can think of is how nobody wears respirators and everyone repeatedly gets infected by airborne viruses.
December 23, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Travel chaos due to understaffing and all I can think of is how nobody wears respirators and everyone repeatedly gets infected by airborne viruses.
Heated Rivalry is extremely compelling TV. And I say that as someone who isn't interested in either sex or romance (for myself) #AceAro. People can appreciate art and relate to characters even when key elements of the latter's lives don't match their own personal experiences.
December 22, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Heated Rivalry is extremely compelling TV. And I say that as someone who isn't interested in either sex or romance (for myself) #AceAro. People can appreciate art and relate to characters even when key elements of the latter's lives don't match their own personal experiences.
Reposted by Jennifer Polk
The United Nations has taken notice of domestic protest repression on U.S. campuses.
U.N. Experts Blast U.S. Universities for Human Rights Violations Against Gaza Protesters
The U.N. experts wrote blistering letters to the leaders of five American universities about their crackdowns on Gaza protests.
interc.pt
December 21, 2025 at 5:05 PM
The United Nations has taken notice of domestic protest repression on U.S. campuses.
Reposted by Jennifer Polk
I think this post nails the actual problem, for researchers at least—AI hallucinations would simply not be a problem in academic work if we’d not normalized citation-as-signaling rather than actual engagement—you can only cite a fake paper if you’re not in the habit of reading the papers you cite
Do not cite an academic paper unless you’ve read it
AI Is Inventing Academic Papers That Don't Exist -- And They're Being Cited in Real Journals
Academic articles from authors using large language model are creating an ecosystem of fake research that threatens human knowledge itself.
www.rollingstone.com
December 19, 2025 at 7:01 PM
I think this post nails the actual problem, for researchers at least—AI hallucinations would simply not be a problem in academic work if we’d not normalized citation-as-signaling rather than actual engagement—you can only cite a fake paper if you’re not in the habit of reading the papers you cite
Reposted by Jennifer Polk
While we're rightly concerned about citing invented AI publications, wider issues underpinning it need consideration
- poor training on how to find, read, appraise, synthesise literature
- prioritising journals over other sources
- pressure to rush search/review process
- competition
- metrification
- poor training on how to find, read, appraise, synthesise literature
- prioritising journals over other sources
- pressure to rush search/review process
- competition
- metrification
I’m sorry, but it is disgraceful to be an academic who uses this technology to conduct research. It should be prohibited in all of our scholarly institutions, including universities and journals.
December 20, 2025 at 3:57 PM
While we're rightly concerned about citing invented AI publications, wider issues underpinning it need consideration
- poor training on how to find, read, appraise, synthesise literature
- prioritising journals over other sources
- pressure to rush search/review process
- competition
- metrification
- poor training on how to find, read, appraise, synthesise literature
- prioritising journals over other sources
- pressure to rush search/review process
- competition
- metrification
"Economists had predicted challenging times ahead as Canada pivots strategies on exports such as oil, potash, and softwood lumber, yet all of those have been eclipsed by a 6-episode series..."
Canadian economy rallies as #1 export now Heated Rivalry
www.thebeaverton.com/2025/12/cana...
Canadian economy rallies as #1 export now Heated Rivalry
www.thebeaverton.com/2025/12/cana...
Canadian economy rallies as #1 export now Heated Rivalry
OTTAWA - Canada's economy, which has spent the year reeling due to American tariffs, is finishing the year strong thanks to the country's new chief export, the gay hockey-romance drama Heated Rivalry.
www.thebeaverton.com
December 20, 2025 at 1:02 AM
"Economists had predicted challenging times ahead as Canada pivots strategies on exports such as oil, potash, and softwood lumber, yet all of those have been eclipsed by a 6-episode series..."
Canadian economy rallies as #1 export now Heated Rivalry
www.thebeaverton.com/2025/12/cana...
Canadian economy rallies as #1 export now Heated Rivalry
www.thebeaverton.com/2025/12/cana...
My free Wednesday morning co-working sessions are done for 2025. We start again on 14 Jan! Sign up here: fromphdtolife.com/services/co-...
Co-Working Sessions - From PhD to Life
Join me for weekly 90-minute co-working sessions Wednesdays at 10am ET on Zoom. These are free and all are welcome. Register once here and remember to add this recurring meeting to your calendar so yo...
fromphdtolife.com
December 19, 2025 at 9:43 PM
My free Wednesday morning co-working sessions are done for 2025. We start again on 14 Jan! Sign up here: fromphdtolife.com/services/co-...
Lol but fair. I've bought a lot of #TooGoodToGo surprise bags this year.
December 19, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Lol but fair. I've bought a lot of #TooGoodToGo surprise bags this year.
The way some of you feel about genAI is the way I feel about folks - especially leaders in health, medicine, and science - not masking or advocating for clean air.
December 19, 2025 at 3:35 PM
The way some of you feel about genAI is the way I feel about folks - especially leaders in health, medicine, and science - not masking or advocating for clean air.
This was a great convo about figuring out what you want to do after a career as an academic, how to get started, how being online (social media, podcasting, videos) can help, and related topics. @acadiaediting.bsky.social @jenvanalstyne.bsky.social
youtu.be/AVyM_C-6YQQ?...
youtu.be/AVyM_C-6YQQ?...
Ways Your Story Changes When You Leave Academia with Dr. Paulina Cossette and Dr. Jen Polk
YouTube video by The Social Academic from Jennifer van Alstyne
youtu.be
December 19, 2025 at 3:01 PM
This was a great convo about figuring out what you want to do after a career as an academic, how to get started, how being online (social media, podcasting, videos) can help, and related topics. @acadiaediting.bsky.social @jenvanalstyne.bsky.social
youtu.be/AVyM_C-6YQQ?...
youtu.be/AVyM_C-6YQQ?...
Reposted by Jennifer Polk
Gaza PhD student and family evacuated to UK after foreign office U-turn
Gaza PhD student and family evacuated to UK after foreign office U-turn
Manar al-Houbi’s family had been denied entry despite a scholarship covering their living costs, but other students remain stranded
www.theguardian.com
December 19, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Gaza PhD student and family evacuated to UK after foreign office U-turn
Reposted by Jennifer Polk
If any journalist wants to talk to a trans man with a PhD in Human Genomics who was trained in labs that studied the evolution of sex, I'm right here
Or just keep platforming Republicans who have a 5th grade understanding of biology so they get more trans people killed, sure 🤷🏻♂️
Or just keep platforming Republicans who have a 5th grade understanding of biology so they get more trans people killed, sure 🤷🏻♂️
December 18, 2025 at 5:27 PM
If any journalist wants to talk to a trans man with a PhD in Human Genomics who was trained in labs that studied the evolution of sex, I'm right here
Or just keep platforming Republicans who have a 5th grade understanding of biology so they get more trans people killed, sure 🤷🏻♂️
Or just keep platforming Republicans who have a 5th grade understanding of biology so they get more trans people killed, sure 🤷🏻♂️
Reposted by Jennifer Polk
In academia but thinking about leaving? I chat with Dr. Jen Polk @fromphdtolife.com and Dr. Paulina Cossette @acadiaediting.bsky.social in this episode of The Social Academic.
How does sharing your story change over time? Perspectives from coaches who help folks with jobs and starting a business.
How does sharing your story change over time? Perspectives from coaches who help folks with jobs and starting a business.
December 19, 2025 at 12:21 AM
In academia but thinking about leaving? I chat with Dr. Jen Polk @fromphdtolife.com and Dr. Paulina Cossette @acadiaediting.bsky.social in this episode of The Social Academic.
How does sharing your story change over time? Perspectives from coaches who help folks with jobs and starting a business.
How does sharing your story change over time? Perspectives from coaches who help folks with jobs and starting a business.
Reposted by Jennifer Polk
Reposted by Jennifer Polk
so we’re really doing this academic hiring discourse? after everything we’ve learned, we’ve got to listen “reverse racism prevented me from getting the job I deserved” all over again?
December 18, 2025 at 11:44 PM
so we’re really doing this academic hiring discourse? after everything we’ve learned, we’ve got to listen “reverse racism prevented me from getting the job I deserved” all over again?
Reposted by Jennifer Polk
I am sure that the dude that wrote a very widely circulated anti-trans diatribe in 2018… and then proceeded to do a ton of media about the diatribe… was not interviewed for jobs in 2020 because he was a white guy
Another incredible case of white racial grievance about the academic job market.
He reveals at the end that he wouldn’t provide the necessary application materials!
He reveals at the end that he wouldn’t provide the necessary application materials!
December 18, 2025 at 11:26 PM
I am sure that the dude that wrote a very widely circulated anti-trans diatribe in 2018… and then proceeded to do a ton of media about the diatribe… was not interviewed for jobs in 2020 because he was a white guy
Reposted by Jennifer Polk
Looking to beat back the winter blues in the new year? I have room in my online drawing course: Manitoba Wildflowers in Colour. We will use watercolour and coloured pencils to bring a lovely bouquet of wildflowers to live on the page. You can register here: www.mcnallyrobinson.com/classes
December 18, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Looking to beat back the winter blues in the new year? I have room in my online drawing course: Manitoba Wildflowers in Colour. We will use watercolour and coloured pencils to bring a lovely bouquet of wildflowers to live on the page. You can register here: www.mcnallyrobinson.com/classes
If you're going to go to the trouble & annoyance of wearing a mask to protect yourself from airborne viruses, please get yourself some *respirators.* N95, KN94, etc. Ignore messaging from health depts that show medical/surgical masks; opt instead for ones that will actually protect you really well.
December 18, 2025 at 7:36 PM
If you're going to go to the trouble & annoyance of wearing a mask to protect yourself from airborne viruses, please get yourself some *respirators.* N95, KN94, etc. Ignore messaging from health depts that show medical/surgical masks; opt instead for ones that will actually protect you really well.
Weaknesses that are actually strengths:
- "you're bad at planning" >>> adaptability and flexibility
- "I'm too humble" >>> open-minded learner-leader
- "you nitpick everything" >>> attn to detail when the stakes are high
- "ask too many questions" >>> perspective taking, curiosity, love of learning
- "you're bad at planning" >>> adaptability and flexibility
- "I'm too humble" >>> open-minded learner-leader
- "you nitpick everything" >>> attn to detail when the stakes are high
- "ask too many questions" >>> perspective taking, curiosity, love of learning
December 18, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Weaknesses that are actually strengths:
- "you're bad at planning" >>> adaptability and flexibility
- "I'm too humble" >>> open-minded learner-leader
- "you nitpick everything" >>> attn to detail when the stakes are high
- "ask too many questions" >>> perspective taking, curiosity, love of learning
- "you're bad at planning" >>> adaptability and flexibility
- "I'm too humble" >>> open-minded learner-leader
- "you nitpick everything" >>> attn to detail when the stakes are high
- "ask too many questions" >>> perspective taking, curiosity, love of learning
If you know you want a different job but aren't yet sure what you want to do next, start by reflecting on what you most enjoy and appreciate about your current and past work experiences, what elements engage and energize you, and make you feel successful. Take 10 minutes to reflect and make notes.
December 18, 2025 at 11:51 AM
If you know you want a different job but aren't yet sure what you want to do next, start by reflecting on what you most enjoy and appreciate about your current and past work experiences, what elements engage and energize you, and make you feel successful. Take 10 minutes to reflect and make notes.
"Women have fallen in love with the man-on-man hockey romance Heated Rivalry, and they say the hit Canadian show offers a refreshing reprieve from romantic TV tropes."
(I love it.)
www.cbc.ca/news/enterta...
(I love it.)
www.cbc.ca/news/enterta...
Why are women so into the man-on-man romance in Heated Rivalry? | CBC News
A romance between two male hockey player characters is melting hearts and netting rave reviews — and seems to be especially connecting with women. Crave's hit show Heated Rivalry, based on a book by N...
www.cbc.ca
December 18, 2025 at 11:10 AM
"Women have fallen in love with the man-on-man hockey romance Heated Rivalry, and they say the hit Canadian show offers a refreshing reprieve from romantic TV tropes."
(I love it.)
www.cbc.ca/news/enterta...
(I love it.)
www.cbc.ca/news/enterta...
Reposted by Jennifer Polk
Telling the truth about Palestine will still get you fired.
“On the issues where academic freedom and institutional integrity are most under attack and where genuine resistance matters most, Harvard has increasingly simply capitulated to power.”
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
“On the issues where academic freedom and institutional integrity are most under attack and where genuine resistance matters most, Harvard has increasingly simply capitulated to power.”
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
A Harvard scholar’s ouster exposes a crisis of institutional integrity | Eric Reinhart
The dismissal of a a renowned health leader who refused to ignore Palestine highlights false claims of universality in human rights, global health and academia
www.theguardian.com
December 17, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Telling the truth about Palestine will still get you fired.
“On the issues where academic freedom and institutional integrity are most under attack and where genuine resistance matters most, Harvard has increasingly simply capitulated to power.”
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
“On the issues where academic freedom and institutional integrity are most under attack and where genuine resistance matters most, Harvard has increasingly simply capitulated to power.”
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...