Archive · 18 Jan 2026
Ex-Google Engineer Quits for PhD
Joslyn Orgill was a data engineer at Google, earning a lot of money.
She loved her job but felt her work wasn't very visible.
She also saw many layoffs and job struggles in the tech industry, which made her worried about her future.
She remembered how much she enjoyed teaching at her university and decided to quit her job to study for a Ph.D.
in Computer Science.
She wants to become a professor and help more people, especially those who are often left out, to feel confident about using technology.
She and her husband had to make some tough financial choices, like renting out their home, but she is happy with her decision.
She advises others to think about how much money they are willing to give up for a job they love and to have a good support system.
Joslyn Orgill, a 30-year-old former Google data engineer, quit her six-figure job to pursue a Ph.D. in Computer Science with a focus on education.
She felt her work at Google was largely unseen and was concerned about job security in the tech industry.
Orgill had a strong passion for teaching, having enjoyed her experience as an adjunct professor at Brigham Young University.
She enrolled in a Ph.D. program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, which typically takes four to six years to complete.
Leaving her lucrative salary meant making significant financial adjustments, including renting out their home in Austin.
- Who
- Joslyn Orgill, a former Google data engineer
- What
- Quit her job to pursue a Ph.D. in Computer Science with a focus on education
- When
- Resigned in August and enrolled in the Ph.D. program
- Where
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Why
- To pursue a more meaningful career in teaching and to help expand participation in the tech world, especially for underrepresented groups
- Name
- Joslyn Orgill
- Age
- 30
- Previous Job
- Data Engineer at Google
- Education
- Integrated bachelor’s and master’s program in information systems at Brigham Young University
- Current Pursuit
- Ph.D. in Computer Science with a focus on education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Program Duration
- 4 to 6 years
- Financial Support
- 3 years of funding and a modest monthly stipend from the university
- Housing Situation
- Renting out their home in Austin to friends