S11E1: Pivoting from a PhD- navigating an alternative career path with Harsha

We are joined again by Harsha, to discuss the difficult reality of life in the sciences and how to pivot when the academia and funding the system fails. Harsha shares his learnings from his experience being asked to 'master out' of his PhD program, how he reconciled with academia, found a community to do impactful work, and how he views 'science for the sake of science’.

We discuss the short-term and long-term next steps, navigating the immigration system, building communities and using our knowledge for the good, and keeping the faith in science.

Recommendations

• Megh

• The Wire
• "The War on Science'", Youtube video by Shaun
• "OpenAI is huge in India. Its models are steeped in caste bias", MIT Technology Review

• Vatsal

• Lancet article: Estimating the effect of annual PM2·5 exposure on mortality in India: a difference-in-differences approach - The Lancet Planetary Health

• Harsha

• Braiding Sweetgrass Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer