Business Owner Helps People Get Into Great PhD Programs

Name: Natalie Morse (she/her)

PhD: Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, 2018

What is your current job?

I am the Owner of FearlessGrad, based in South Carolina.

I own my own small business consulting and helping folks get into great PhD programs.

What is your favorite thing about your job?

I love that I get to create new things, lead my team, and do great work with our clients.

What is the most important skill you developed or experience you had during your PhD that now helps you in your current position?

How to keep going when things are uncertain

How did you build the skills necessary for your current role?

I recommend taking advantage of additional classes outside your department.

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

I created it.

PhD graduate ➡️ data science fellowship ➡️ R&D scientist fortune 500 ➡️ senior data scientist start up ➡️ start my own business

If someone is interested in a similar role, what would you recommend they start doing now to prepare?

Go get it!

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

I wanted more control on where I lived, and in academia you typically need to follow the job.

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

Network!

And for those interested, what was your main area of research?

I studied biogeochemical cycling, nutrient transport, urban stormwater management, and soil metagenomics.