Have you ever assumed the only careers open to a PhD are staying in academia or doing more R&D in industry?

In this episode of PostPhDirections, I sit down with Alexei Kazarine, a biophysical chemistry PhD who took a road most scientists don’t even know exists — the commercial side of science. A week after defending his thesis, he left the lab for good and went straight into technical sales, selling the same kind of imaging software he’d used in his own research. Three years in, he was promoted to lead the very team that first hired him, and today he coaches STEM PhDs on launching and scaling six-figure technical sales careers. He’s seen this transition from both chairs — as the PhD who jumped, and as the manager who hires them.

Alexei’s story is a powerful reminder that leaving the bench doesn’t mean giving up meaningful, high-impact science — and that your PhD already qualifies you for far more than you think.

We talk about:

• Why the biggest opportunity for PhDs is hidden in plain sight — and how most people knock on the wrong door
• The myths that stop scientists from even considering sales (“it’s selling out,” “it’s not real science,” “it’s only for extroverts”) — and why they’re wrong
• How a commercial role let Alexei reach hundreds of researchers a year, when his papers reached maybe 10 to 15
• Why, in most jobs your salary is a ceiling — but in sales it’s a floor
• Why PhDs are already “two-thirds of the way there,” and what the missing third really takes
• What makes a PhD stand out from the hiring manager’s chair — and why your job search is really just prospecting
• Why technical sales may be one of the most AI-proof careers a scientist can pick in 2026

If you’re a PhD who loves the science but has never seen yourself as a “sales person,” this conversation will change how you see your own value.

Learn more about Alma.me and our Job Accelerator Program: ⁠https://www.alma.me⁠Follow Elena on LinkedIn (⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-hoffer-/⁠), Instagram (⁠https://www.instagram.com/elenahoffer_phd⁠), and TikTok (@eli_the_scientist)

Connect with Alexei Kazarine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexei-kazarine/
Read his free newsletter, “Technically Sales”: https://alexeikazarine.substack.com

If you found this helpful, share it with a fellow researcher who’s convinced their only options are academia or R&D — and please leave us a review. It’s the easiest way to help other PhDs find this podcast. 💙