She Pivoted Careers After 20+ Years in Academia!

Name: Amy Lovell (she/her)

PhD: Astronomy, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 1999

What was your main area of research?

I carried out computational simulations of the atmospheres around comets, to characterize the motions and interactions of molecules as they leave the surface and escape into space. We looked at differences between neutral molecules and ionized molecules, sought to detect the influences of the solar wind, distance to the sun, and the level of productivity of the comet itself.

What is your current job?

I am a Senior Research Associate at Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance in Atlanta, Georgia.

As a researcher, I analyze data on energy, energy access, energy affordability, and energy policy.

My team makes presentations of data, in partnership with other organizations regionally and nationwide, that allow people to make informed decisions and connect to resources that improve energy efficiency and affordability.

Responsibilities vary by project, but the tasks are similar to academic research: writing my own code, cleaning data, using software packages, and writing summaries of findings.

I love working together with other people who are passionate about energy efficiency, clean energy, and energy affordability. I look forward to going to work, and I truly feel that the folks I work with are aligned with my goals and working towards the shared future I want to see.

How did you find this position? What were the career steps you took to get to where you are now?

The position was advertised, but I knew about the organization because a former student worked there and introduced me to the head of research several years before I decided to pivot.

PhD graduate ➡️ postdoc ➡️ assistant professor ➡️ associate professor ➡️ full professor (with lots of professional development, involvement in science policy, international collaboration, mentoring and engagement with marginalized populations, and networking even as a professor) ➡️ senior research associate

Why did you decide to not pursue a career in academia?

I did pursue a career in academia for more than 20 years!

I decided to do something new to improve the alignment between my work and my passion to fight the detrimental effects of climate change on people and our planet. It was hard to leave an institution and students I loved, but it was also an exciting and welcome change.

What advice do you have for someone getting their PhD and looking to pursue a career outside of academia?

I highly recommend working with a career coach to get good feedback on repackaging CV and resume as well as presenting skills in an interview! I found a wonderful coach through the career services department at my PhD institution, and appreciated working with someone who had a doctorate and worked with folks seeking doctoral level careers.
Networking is really important, and a good connection benefits both sides! Many of my connections were my former students, or connections of my professional colleagues, folks who had similar backgrounds and were working in areas I wanted to pivot into. That gave us a natural professional connection, and among those who pivot from academia, my experience is that they are eager to support other pivoters. I got a lot of useful connections through groups such as Women in Climate, Work on Climate, and Climate Drift. Look for groups and online communities that are relevant to your passions, and good things will happen.
It is natural for academic folks to respond strangely or even negatively to someone interested in careers outside academia. The base assumption is that a PhD is for an academic career, and this is not the whole story. A PhD is a foundation in learning and an approach to research, a journey that develops skills and expertise that are useful in whatever ways you want to have your impact in this world. Try not to listen to the naysayers or even those who are baffled, and if you can surround yourself with folks who support your decision and want you to be happy and productive in your work! Virtual communities have made this a little easier, if you don't have good access to this type of positive support in your own academic community.

Are there any components of your identity you would like to share, including how they have impacted your journey?

I identify as female, which is an identity highly underrepresented in physical sciences. This experience has helped me empathize with some of the challenges faced by my students and colleagues who have additional marginalized identities, and I think it made me a stronger and better-connected mentor.

My identity helped motivate me to become more involved with work in justice, diversity, equity, and belonging, both on campus and in my professional society. This work helped lay a foundation for getting involved in environmental justice and also motivated my career pivot.