Duke Graduate School

“Duke’s Music Department was my haven, a place where I could get away from the stresses of my more public life and focus on what I love about music, which is intimate and personal.”

Max Brzezinski is Marketing Director for Carolina Soul Records and author of the forthcoming book Vinyl Age: The Carolina Soul Guide to Record Collecting. His job calls on the theoretical acumen and the research skills he developed in his English PhD program as he communicates his passion for recorded music. He shares advice for how to successfully complete a PhD in a way that will help you stay happy and find a job you love.

"Don't be afraid. It can be hard to jump into industry because you're really educated, but not super experienced. You just have to have confidence in the fact that you can go and do a fantastic job, and that will speak for itself. Go get experience. People in industry will recognize when you are working hard and doing well."

"To quote a Google philosophy, 'Focus on the user and all else will follow.' Committing yourself to the work you care about will make you happy, deciding whether to stay in academia or move to industry will then be a simple choice."

"Talk to smart and accomplished people who have done something that you value. The reality is, it’s likely that people have done the thing that you’re trying to do and they are eager to share what they know. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel."

Dr. Jiaoti Huang worked hard as a student in China to pursue his dream of becoming a physician and professor in the US, where he has been able to contribute meaningfully to his students, his patients, and his field. Read his compelling story and his advice for international students today.