About

Sage Advice Consulting was created to fill a critical gap in science training: the part where you learn how to actually build a career.

Graduate programs are fantastic at teaching technical skills, but when it comes to communication, negotiation, networking, mentorship, and navigating a career outside academia—most early-career scientists are left to figure it out alone. That’s where Sage Advice steps in.

We design detailed, down-to-earth PDF guides to help you level up your professional development. Whether you’re planning to transition into a startup, land your first job in industry, or just want to become a more effective communicator or team leader, these guides are here to help.

Who is this advice for:

Sage Advice is especially tailored for graduate students, postdocs, and early-career scientists—with a special soft spot for folks in plant science and agtech. If you're exploring careers in industry or startups and want advice that's practical, honest, and rooted in experience, you're in the right place.

Who’s behind this:

Hi, I’m Dr. Rishi R. Masalia—a scientist, startup builder, and award-winning science communicator based in St. Louis, MO. I've spent my career working across academia, nonprofits, and agtech companies, and I’ve sat on hiring panels, built teams, raised funding, and mentored scientists at all stages.

Through all of that, I saw a pattern: brilliant people were being held back not by their science—but by the lack of training in how to talk about it, lead with it, and grow because of it. Sage Advice is my way of changing that.

If you're curious about my background or want to see the experience behind Sage Advice Science, feel free to connect with me directly on LinkedIn: Dr. Rishi R. Masalia. I believe in being transparent about the journey that brought me here—and I’m always happy to share how my path in plant science and professional development has shaped the advice I give.

“When in doubt, seek some Sage Advice.”