6: I want to be your (scientific) motivation

7.5: White mage casts Raise // The squad returns this July!

What happened while I was gone?? Everyone seems mad. Academic Recovery Squad returns with full episodes next week July 15th-ish Got questions or stories about navigating surviving or exiting academia during the current crisis of knowledge and funding? We want to hear from you! Email us at arquadpod@gmail.com And/or hit us up on le social networks Threads/Instagram @arsquadpod Bluesky @arsquadpod.bsky.social

7: To buy or not to buy the deluxe edition of this paper, but this paper is a degree

Today's question: Why did you or did you not decide to go back to school? Subquestion - what's the value of field specific certifications?   Carlos and Carlita return to compare and contrast reasons why Carl and Carlita decided to get graduate degrees but Carlos did not. Carlos and Carlita also discuss non-degree certifications they can get in their fields (which don't really exist for Carl's version of biology) and Carl and Carlita compare funding as a bonus (e.g. 5th year, 4 + 1, Co-term) Master's student to how PhD students operate. Also explored: Carl doesn't understand non-English, non-east Asian linguistical marks; how old are your co-workers?   In addition to your regular episode responses/engagement we are also collecting vents, questions, and stories about the current academia situation regarding unprecedented uncertainties in funding and opportunities. If you want to share, hit us up at arsquadpod@gmail.com or on the socials: Threads/Instagram @arsquadpod; Blue Sky @arsquadpod.bsky.social   *Editors Note - the preamble of this episode was recorded on Monday 3/17, before the Trump administration announced the potential dismantling of the Department of Education and Columbia University partially caved to the administration's demands to change certain policies so they could maybe get their funding back. Yikes, stuff did get worse.

6: I want to be your (scientific) motivation

Today's Question: What's keeping you motivated right now (to do science/as a scientist)? Carl and Dan explore the drivers of their internal motivation, including what it means to be hyper focused in academia versus industry as well as some pros and cons about each working mode now that we've been there for a while. Also discussed: Carl gives another lesson on how the clarinet works, biohackers, and caffeine sensitivities. Got an inquiry for a some industry biologists trying to navigate the world and actively figuring it that out it's harder to detangle than a metabolomic pathway? Send it along to arsquadpod@gmail.com! Follow us on socials too! Threads/Instagram: @arsquadpod Blue Sky @arsquadpod.bsky.social

5: Three letters, PhD, say a lot - remind me again what that was?

Today's question: What does having a PhD mean to you? Carl and Zach talk at length about their grad school journeys and the definition of what having a PhD (in sciences) means we got certified for. Also in this episode, failing your qualifying exam can be a good thing, cellos are sexy, and whoever said not to think about money when deciding to go to grad school was lying to you. Got a burning question that your friendly internet postdoc can help you with? Send it along to arsquadpod@gmail.com! Follow us on socials too! Threads/Instagram: @arsquadpod Blue Sky @arsquadpod.bsky.social

4: Are you where past you thought you would be? (Law School Version)

Today's question - Are you doing now what you thought you would do with your (advanced) degree? How do you feel about that?   Carl and Jade tackle how Jade felt jaded about the law (as a lawyer/related practitioner of the law) but is now finding her footing after a couple of post-law school focus changes. Also covered in this episode: Extreme couponing is still a thing you can do but with apps, meeting your immigrant parents' expectations doesn't make your relationship with them less complicated, and how much it must have sucked trying to get a job before the internet age.   We've got folks from all types of school coming around! Have a question you want heard? Ask us anything at arsquadpod@gmail.com   Also follow us on socials!  Threads/Instagram @arsquadpod Blue Sky @arsquadpod.bsky.social