From PhD to Scientist
ChiChi Xie, a Scientist at Calico Labs, shares how she went from a PhD in Neurosciences to leading discovery-driven research in industry.
👔 The Job 👔
As a Scientist at Calico Labs in South San Francisco, California, ChiChi works at the intersection of discovery biology and cutting-edge technology.
In her role, she:
Proposes and leads independent research projects
Designs and performs experiments
Analyzes data and presents findings
Best part of the job:
Access to very cool lab equipment - and the freedom to explore interesting biological questions with top-tier tools.
🛣️ The Path 🛣️
ChiChi had long known about Calico and admired the science coming out of the company. When she learned that a scientist she deeply respected was looking to grow their team, she applied directly.
Key steps in her career journey:
PhD Graduate ➡️ Scientist
🧠 The Decision 🧠
Toward the end of her PhD, ChiChi was feeling burnt out.
She wasn’t confident she could “make it” in academia and felt some external pressure to step off the academic track. At the time, leaving academia felt like the obvious choice - though with hindsight, she recognizes that burnout may have played a larger role in the decision than she realized.
Her experience is an important reminder: major career decisions made at moments of exhaustion deserve extra care and reflection.
💡 The Advice 💡
Burnout can masquerade as a career revelation.
If you’ve always imagined an academic path but suddenly want out in your final year, pause. Rest. Take time away if you can. Ask yourself what you enjoy and value when you’re not exhausted. (ChiChi recommends thinking it through somewhere far away - ideally on a tropical beach 🏝️)
Understand what this employer values.
Before preparing a job talk, ask hiring managers what they want to see. Some care deeply about technical overlap. Others want the big-picture science story. Tailor accordingly.
Network through people, not platforms.
Warm introductions matter. ChiChi found that reaching out to friends first — and asking for introductions — was far more effective than cold LinkedIn messages. Shared interests, overlapping expertise, or even hobbies create real connection.
🔑 The Takeaway 🔑
ChiChi’s story highlights something many PhDs experience but don’t talk about enough: burnout can shape career decisions in powerful ways.
Taking time to rest, asking honest questions about day-to-day work, and building genuine relationships can make all the difference in finding a role that truly fits - whether inside or outside academia.
🛠️ Resource of the Week 🛠️
Looking for help with your academic writing?
Check out Research Boost, an AI-powered writing assistant built by a clinical researcher, for clinical and academic researchers. It’s grounded in proven academic frameworks, requires no complicated prompting, and cites only vetted, peer-reviewed sources (never hallucinations).
Built to collaborate ethically, it helps you turn rough notes into structured, submission-ready manuscripts, one section at a time → in hours, not weeks.
It’s more than a writing tool. It’s your co-pilot for faster, credible publishing.