Name: Aditi Paul (she/her)
PhD: Communication Studies, Michigan State University, 2015
What was your main area of research?
I studied the intersection of technology and interpersonal communication with a focus on online dating.
What is your current job?
I am the Founder of Dr. Paul & Company in the New York City Metropolitan Area, New York.
I provide a peer and expert mentorship network to educate immigrants and help them qualify for talent based pathways to permanent residency in the United States.
I love the autonomy I have.
How did you find this position? What were the career steps you took to get to where you are now?
I created it myself :)
PhD graduate ➡️ tenure track assistant professor ➡️ tenured associate professor ➡️ principal UX researcher ➡️ founder
Why did you decide to not pursue a career in academia?
I had filed a Title IX case against a senior professor who was predatorial. I did it when I was going up for tenure. This, coupled with the fact that my job visa sponsorship was also funded by the university, made it extremely difficult for me to persevere. At the end of the day, the professor was held culpable, but the justice provided was not even close to his egregious actions. That is why I left academia right after tenure. Add to the fact that the university was paying a salary that is a joke in NYC standards.
What advice do you have for someone getting their PhD and looking to pursue a career outside of academia?
Academia/PhD taught me the ability to learn independently and adapt. Those are the two skills that helped me the most in navigating all these career pivots.
Are there any components of your identity you would like to share, including how they have impacted your journey?
I am an immigrant woman from India, who got a PhD in the whitest of fields - Communication. Nothing that I've achieved has come easy. Every aspect of this journey was earned.