Name: Story Edison (she/her)
PhD: Sociology & Criminology, The Ohio State University, 2023
What was your main area of research?
I studied the role of social stratification, social networks, and mental health among incarcerated women. My research used mixed methods, though was often more quantitative.
What is your current job?
I am a Senior Data Analyst at PYMNTS, and I work remotely.
I serve as the product owner for all client projects that use original market research data. This includes managing a team of 4-7 analysts and writers and overseeing data quality from instrument construction through report publication. I am also in charge of crafting the overall narrative of each publication and selecting data most compelling for clients and readers (I work at a media company).
Being at a media company, I get to be very creative in the analysis I do. If you have a study idea that would make for a catchy headline, it's easy to get funding for a nationally-representative sample, which is a lot of fun for someone curious like me.
How did you find this position? What were the career steps you took to get to where you are now?
I found this job through LinkedIn.
PhD Graduate ➡️ senior research analyst
Why did you decide to not pursue a career in academia?
I realized I could make as much as my (famous and tenured) advisor within a year of graduating. I also did not enjoy the publish or perish nature of my field.
What advice do you have for someone getting their PhD and looking to pursue a career outside of academia?
You have more skills than you think. Each discipline renames stuff. Think you are not qualified because the job wants probit models and you only know logistic regression? I got news - they are the same thing. So just reword your skills in the language of the job posting.
I used LinkedIn a lot. Seeing it more as a social network platform than a job board is helpful, as you can build casual connections with people that can become careers down the road.
It's okay if your advisor doesn't support you leaving academia. They are paid in status and sometimes only care about how you can boost their own reputation. Do what is right for you, not what they think is right.
Are there any components of your identity you would like to share, including how they have impacted your journey?
I have a physical disability that limited me to remote work, which made it a bit more competitive and difficult to find a job, but in the end it worked out