End of An Academic Dream

End of An Academic Dream

From Scholarly Communication by New Books Network

May 21, 2026 · 47 min

About this episode

This episode explores the impact of academic precarity on career trajectories and identity.

Why do we build our sense of self around our academic work? What does it mean to pivot away from campus jobs to the alt-ac world? How does increasing academic fragility affect our opportunities both on campus and after graduation? In this episode we explore how the precarity of the academic job market changes our career trajectories, and the new paths we forge. Guest: Dr. Fidan Cheikosman is the author of The End of an Academic Dream. She has a Ph.D. in comparative literature from the University of Edinburgh. She is a neuroscience editor with Springer Nature. Host: Dr. Christina Gessler is a writing coach and developmental editor for academics. She is the producer and show host of the Academic Life podcast. Playlist for listeners: Chasing Chickens Is Grad School For Me? The Entrepreneurial Scholar Decoding The Academic Job Market Making a "Junk Drawer" CV Pursuing Life Abroad Hope for the Humanities PhD A Field Guide to Grad School Managing Your Mental Health During Your PhD Leaving Academia The Emotional Arc of Turning A Dissertation Into A Book Contingent Faculty and the Remaking of Higher Education The Burnout Workbook Graduate School Myths and Misconceptions Understanding…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Christina Gessler

Guest: Dr. Fidan Cheikosman

Topics covered

  • academic identity
  • career transition
  • academic job market
  • precarity
  • alt-ac careers
  • graduate education

Keywords

  • academic work
  • career paths
  • job market
  • PhD
  • higher education
  • academic fragility
  • alt-ac
  • neuroscience

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Springer Nature, New Books Network

Books & works: The End of an Academic Dream

Places: University of Edinburgh

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