There are so many different kinds of grad school programs, it makes giving grad school survival advice a tricky thing. So Adam Ruben takes a tongue-in-cheek approach that’s light on the actual, practical advice, and heavy on the humor. The result is a very funny, entertaining read and a light-hearted gift choice for the new college grad headed for grad school.
January 29, 2013
Tennessee Journalist: Comedian, Molecular Biologist to Give Grad School Comedy Show
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville previews my February 2013 performance.
January 16, 2013
Brain Burps about Books: New York Times Article Makes Grad School Rap Book Trailer Go Viral
Video interview on Katie Davis‘s “Brain Burps about Books” video podcast.
January 2, 2013
USA Today College: 5 Silly Reasons for Going to Grad School
My book, Surviving Your Stupid, Stupid Decision to Go to Grad School, is referenced in #5 (“To suffer”).
December 28, 2012
Science Careers 2012: The Year’s Best Stories
For the second straight year, three of the year’s most popular articles were in Adam Ruben’s “Experimental Error” series.
December 1, 2012
The Last Word (SCRABBLE® Newsletter): Phonies, Kids, and a Prize-winning SCRABBLE® Story
A video inspired by a SCRABBLE® story from Washington, D.C., SCRABBLE® club member Adam Ruben won the first contest sponsored by a D.C. storytelling organization called SpeakeasyDC involving the quick production of a movie based on a story. (See pp. 40-41)
November 15, 2012
Washington Post: “Better Said Than Done” Storytelling Workshop in Fairfax
Ruben, a stand-up comedian and a molecular biologist, told a story about trying to find the right Christmas presents for his hard-to-please ex-girlfriends. The story begins with humor but turns poignant when Ruben realizes the right woman is one who doesn’t care what the present is, as long as it’s meaningful.
November 9, 2012
Washington Post Going Out Guide: Dr. Science’s Science Time Science-va-ganza!
This quirky middle school science demonstration gone wrong is hilarious, has a great message, and is a lot of fun. Kids in the audience were laughing just as hard as adults. Don’t miss it!
November 7, 2012
Washington Post: Future Montgomery Workforce Experiments with Science, Medicine
Adam Ruben, a scientist with Sanaria of Rockville, demonstrates to Forest Oak Middle Schools students how a balloon dipped in liquid nitrogen becomes small and wrinkled because of the cooling, then quickly expands again as it warms up.
November 1, 2012
Huffington Post DC Top 5 for November 1
HuffPo names “Dr. Science’s Science Time Science-va-ganza!” one of the top 5 picks for 11/1/12.
October 12, 2012
Compel to Tell: Storytelling Workshop in Fairfax
Northern Virginia Magazine says you should attend Better Said Than Done‘s storytelling workshop, which I’m co-teaching.
October 4, 2012
Better Said Than Done: Spotlight on Adam Ruben
Over the next month, as preparation for our first storytelling workshop, “Spotlight on You” on October 13th, we will be featuring the four Better Said Than Done storytelling teachers. And now, introducing, Adam Ruben!
July 29, 2012
Mocovox Review: Dr. Science’s Science Time Science-va-ganza!
It is hard to explain adequately, but this is one of the funniest shows I have seen all year – and the word got out because the final performances all sold out early. There is a theme to “Dr. Science” about how science is always about asking new questions. The theme I took out of the show was that when you have three talented comic actors on stage, literally anything can happen.
July 28, 2012
July 26, 2012
USA Today: 15 Essential Things to Do before Starting Grad School
Apparently reading my book, Surviving Your Stupid, Stupid Decision to Go to Grad School, is #15.
July 21, 2012
DC Theatre Scene Review: Dr. Science’s Science Time Science-va-ganza!
The worst thing about Dr. Science’s Science Time Science-va-ganza! is that it’s only an hour long.
July 19, 2012
Dr. Science’s Science Time Science-va-ganza! Is One of Maryland Theatre Guide‘s Top 5 Shows of the Week
Last year, Adam Ruben made me laugh out loud during his one man show called Please Don’t Beat Me Up: Stories and Artifacts from Adolescence at the Capital Fringe. This year he is back with his usual geeky humor!
July 15, 2012
DC Metro Theater Arts Review: Dr. Science’s Science Time Science-va-ganza!
Dr. Science’s Science Time Science-va-ganza may well be the funniest production I have ever experienced at CapFringe.
July 12, 2012
ScoutMob Calls Dr. Science’s Science Time Science-va-ganza! One of 10 Shows Not To Miss
Remember how awesome Mr. Wizard was? Well, the dudes behind this show are taking that inspiration and turning it up to 11. Brace yourselves. Lots of dry ice is involved.
Huffington Post Names Dr. Science’s Science Time Science-va-ganza! One of Its Top 10 Fringe Festival Picks
Story tellers Adam Ruben and Chuck Na produce and star in this parody of science demonstrations. Baking soda volcanoes, dry ice and everything that made science class fun entertains until something goes wrong.
July 9, 2012
DC Metro Theater Arts Previews Dr. Science’s Science Time Science-va-ganza!
I became a scientist partially because I was lied to. And you all know the liar I’m talking about–the guy in the lab coat who comes to your class in third grade, dips a rose in liquid nitrogen, and smashes it with a hammer. “THAT’s science?” the kids say. “I love science!”
July 2, 2012
Topical Storm
365DC‘s streaming video podcast featuring me, Chuck Na, and Jason Pittman discussing our upcoming show in the 2012 Capital Fringe Festival, Dr. Science’s Science Time Science-va-ganza!
July 1, 2012
Maine Sun Journal: Scientist-Funnyman Bringing “Horrors of Puberty” to Celebration Barn
Central and Western Maine’s news source previews my one-man show, coming to the Islesboro Community Center on 7/6/12 and Celebration Barn in South Paris on 7/7/12.
June 14, 2012
Inside Acting: LIVE from Studio BOH: Adam Ruben and DMV Actors
Interview on William Powell’s Inside Acting Blog Talk Radio program.
May 25, 2012
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Podcast
In this interview for the AAAS podcast, I discuss my latest “Experimental Error” column in Science.
May 4, 2012
SpeakeasyDC Storycast: “Man of Letters”
SpeakeasyDC’s podcast features my story, “Man of Letters,” about an ill-gotten victory in a Scrabble tournament.
February 24, 2012
Puberty Take Two Reviews Mortified DC Show
Adam’s reading was by far the most hilarious. He grew an odd pre-teen obsession with his guinea pig, who was then featured in all of his art projects, videos for school and fun, and research papers for class.
February 7, 2012
Berkeley Science Review: Adam Ruben Finds Humor in the Lives of Grad Students
Ruben was able to tap into the universal experiences of graduate students to garner laughs from an audience all too familiar with being “exhausted, overworked, under-appreciated, and buried in shit.”
December 31, 2011
Maryland Theatre Guide‘s Staff Picks Their Favorites of 2011
Please Don’t Beat Me Up: Stories and Artifacts from Adolescence was nominated for Favorite Solo Performance!
December 30, 2011
Science Careers 2011: The Year’s Best Stories
Three of our four most popular were in Adam Ruben’s “Experimental Error” series.
November 1, 2011
Brandywine Review: High Schools Plan Anti-Bullying Activities
Page 7: Adam Ruben, a molecular biologist and comedian who graduated from Concord in 1997, was doing a stand-up show called “Please Don’t Beat Me Up!” in Wilmington when he was contacted by Concord to come back to his old school to speak to the 9th grade class.
October 26, 2011
Hanging off the Wire: Stupid Stupid Decision
I never went to Grad School, but I can appreciate the humor in this book. It is very funny and I laughed out loud several times.
Baltimore Bibliophile Review on Charm City Current
Surviving Your Stupid, Stupid Decision to Go to Grad School is a hilarious look at the downs and downs of being a terminal student. About 6 people in the world have any idea what you’re researching, and only 2 of them care.
October 12, 2011
CNN.com: “‘Please Don’t Beat Me Up’ Nerd Rails against Bullying Advice”
Adam J. Ruben, a comedian, writer and scientist, has been called a nerd for most of his life. Does he fit the bill? Probably.
September 27, 2011
Questia Blog: Is It Time to Pursue a Terminal Degree?
Adam Ruben, Ph.D. has the perfect antidote for the stressed doctoral candidate—humor. Ruben, the author of “Surviving Your Stupid, Stupid Decision to Go to Grad School,” travels to various graduate schools and conferences talking to grad students about their experiences.
September 25, 2011
Delaware 28′s Tim Qualls Show
Starts at 16:20.
August 24, 2011
Spark: Fringe Wilmington: Adam Ruben, Human Target
The 2011 Fringe Wilmington Festival runs Sept. 21-25, and we’re chatting with some of the artists, starting with Adam Ruben and his one-man show.
August 16, 2011
Gather the Jews: GTJ Featured Entertainer Opens at DC Improv
I had the pleasure of attending Adam’s one-man show, Please Don’t Beat Me Up, at the Capital Fringe Festival in July. Hilarious, insightful, and even sometimes poignant, Adam’s stand-up involves reclaiming awkward childhood and teen moments by turning them into comedy. Likewise, Adam’s book, Surviving Your Stupid, Stupid Decision to Go to Grad School, is unequivocally one of the funniest books I’ve ever read.
August 5, 2011
We Love DC: Comedy in DC: Adam Ruben
I met up with Adam Ruben who is a local comic and author of the book Surviving Your Stupid, Stupid Decision to go to Grad School on an extremely sizzling Sunday over at Teaism in Dupont Circle.
July 22, 2011
“The Grad Student Rap” video featured in the NY Times (“Dissing the Doctorate”)
Featured in the NY Times and available on iTunes.
July 21, 2011
Maryland Theatre Guide review of Please Don’t Beat Me Up
This play is so polished, funny, and truthful that I could easily see Adam Ruben performing this off-Broadway or live on HBO! Or maybe there is a spot for him on Saturday Night Live!? Lorne Michaels, are you listening?
July 18, 2011
Washington City Paper review of Please Don’t Beat Me Up
In his one-man show Please Don’t Beat Me Up: Stories and Artifacts from Adolescence, “comedian, writer, scientist” Adam Ruben is finally getting the laughs he strived for as a child. With tales of pre-teen bed-wetting, third-grade love affairs, and emo-esque diary entries, this self-proclaimed nerd paints a pathetically detailed picture of “dorkdom.”
July 10, 2011
Washington Post review of Please Don’t Beat Me Up
The young Ruben’s verbal precociousness and detailed strategy for How to Get That Girl are really endearing. He also has the complex mathematical chart he used to calculate his odds of edging out two rivals. You don’t see that every day.
July 8, 2011
DC Theatre Scene review of Please Don’t Beat Me Up
Witty, smart (he’s a molecular biologist) and friendly, he doesn’t hide the man he has grown up to be or how that man derived from the awkward boy he was. While many one-man shows feature portrayals of multiple caricatures, Ruben is unique in his introspective, almost cathartic focus. It feels honest as he ridicules his kid self. Ruben tries to connect to the audience as if he’s holding a one-on-one conversation with them, a one-way swap of old, hilarious stories. And the approach works.
DCist: Capital Fringe Review: Please Don’t Beat Me Up
It’s easy to laugh with and empathize with Ruben. If you ever feared the four-person relay at field day, made an earnest list of what you need to assemble a robot (a VCR, one flashlight, four screws), extensively deliberated over a crush and read into fate assigned you the roles of hydrogen and oxygen atoms, respectively in science class, you’ll find laughs here. Most people will be able to see parts of themselves, recalling embarrassing moments of childhood through his eyes.
July 1, 2011
Washington Post Going Out Guide: Get to Know a Capital Fringe Show
A preview of my one-man show in the 2011 Capital Fringe Festival.
June 29, 2011
Gather the Jews: Featured DC Entertainer: Adam Ruben
Adam Ruben – molecular biologist, stand up comedian, and author of Surviving Your Stupid, Stupid Decision To Go To Grad School – speaks with Gather the Jews about getting into comedy and his upcoming one-man show at the Capital Fringe Festival.
Including “exclusive video content”:
April 1, 2011
Mitzpeh: From College to Comedy
Adam Ruben earned his undergraduate degree in molecular biology at Princeton University, before receiving his Ph.D in molecular biology at Johns Hopkins University.
February 23, 2011
January 31, 2011
Pharyngula: Any Grad Students out There?
If there are any grad students reading the procrastinative thread…GET BACK TO WORK. Don’t watch this video.
January 20, 2011
UCSB GradPost: “I Make Dozens of Dollars”
He has a humorous way of providing tips and prospective in the book, but if you’re not sure if he really has a lock on the grad school experience, check out this promotional rap he created.
January 19, 2011
Washington Post‘s The Web Hostess: Online Manners, Memes, and Must-See Video
I don’t think this counts for the manners or memes categories, but I’d highly recommend the “Grad Student Rap” as a must-see video, at least for anyone who is irresistibly and unfortunately drawn to higher education.
January 18, 2011
Dr. Helen’s blog: Surviving Your Stupid, Stupid Decision to Go to Grad School
I found this book Surviving Your Stupid, Stupid Decision to Go to Grad School
January 17, 2011
100 Reasons NOT to Go to Graduate School
Reasons 42 and 43.
December 23, 2010
Book Review on The University of Washington MCB Transcript
As my General Exam looms on the distressingly not-so-distant horizon, this book seemed perfect for me based on the title alone. I learned on the news tonight that the average salary for an RN is $66,000 a year. What WAS I thinking?
October 18, 2010
Interview on Unconventional Wisdom Radio with Larry Shiller
1400 WSTC 1350 WNLK, Fairfield County, CT. Interview starts at 27:05 and ends at 33:06.
October 16, 2010
September 22, 2010
USA Today: With no jobs, grads “gamble” on education
I asked Adam Ruben, a Ph.D.-holding molecular biologist and author of Surviving Your Stupid, Stupid Decision to go to Grad School, whether grad school was a good idea if the alternative was waitressing. “I know people who have gotten graduate degrees and then end up waitressing,” he told me, only this time with 5-figures of loans. “Even the degree doesn’t save you all the time.”
August 9, 2010
Newmark’s Door: Surviving Your Stupid, Stupid Decision to Go to Grad School
I haven’t read it, but based on the nasty, funny, extremely non-PC table of contents, I’d like to.
August 6, 2010
Mike Kara Radio Program: Eye on the Nation
Three-part radio interview.
August 5, 2010
Boston Globe: For many graduate students, home is where the food is
There’s a certain amount of humility that comes with being 30 years old and a graduate student. The stipend is paltry, the housing less than prime. And the prestige? Well, it’s hard to impress most folks on an income of less than $25,000.
July 15, 2010
Brazen Careerist Book Review: Surviving Your Stupid, Stupid Decision to Go to Grad School
After finishing his PhD in molecular biology, Adam Ruben wrote a book titled, Surviving Your Stupid Stupid Decision to go to Grad School. His goal in writing the book is to warn students considering applying for their MA or PhD, as well as to be a form of a support for those who have already embarked on what he implies is a long, incredibly challenging and frustrating, journey.
July 14, 2010
CTY Alumni News
Proving once again that CTYers excel in bringing together seemingly disparate interests, Adam Ruben combines his experience as a science graduate student and his passion for standup comedy in his first book, Surviving Your Stupid, Stupid Decision to Go to Grad School.
July 8, 2010
TalentEgg Book Review: Surviving Your Stupid, Stupid Decision to Go to Grad School
If you are thinking about going to grad school, this book is an excellent read: it covers a lot of things you should consider if you are going to spend the next year or couple of years doing graduate work.
June 23, 2010
GradShare Book Review: Surviving Your Stupid, Stupid Decision to Go to Grad School
Now that summer is here, it’s a great time for a little grad school friendly reading and Surviving Your Stupid, Stupid Decision To Go To Grad School by Adam Ruben (PhD!) is an entertaining look at the world of higher education. Best of all, it’s easy to read in small chunks so your chances of finishing it before your dissertation are good.
June 2, 2010
Princeton Alumni Weekly: Graduate-student humor
Adam Ruben ’01, a molecular biology major who developed a standup comedy act while earning his Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins, was back on campus May 6 to promote his new book, Surviving Your Stupid, Stupid Decision to Go to Grad School.
June 1, 2010
Heroes of Newerth Forums (for some reason)
Read the book “Surviving Your STUPID STUPID Decision to go to Grad School” by Adam Ruben. lols will ensue.
May 2, 2010
Chronicle of Higher Education: Recent ‘Humor’ on Higher Ed
Chapter titles like “Stop? Drop? Enroll?” and “Let My Pupil Go” characterize this Ph.D.-turned-standup-comedian’s cleverly caustic account of graduate school.
April 23, 2010
Post Academic Interview, Part 2
Today’s questions focus on what happens after the program, specifically on how Ruben got his book published and on why he decided not to become a professor after earning his degree.
April 22, 2010
Post Academic Interview, Part 1
Adam Ruben earned a PhD in molecular biology from Johns Hopkins University while enjoying a side career as a stand-up comic. The outcome of his career is not just his dissertation, but also the book “Surviving Your Stupid Stupid Decision to Go to Grad School.” Adam took the time to answer our many questions. Read on for advice on the proper care and feeding of advisors, including how to handle professors when they are in a party mood.
April 8, 2010
Inside Higher Education interview (“Grad School Survival Guide”)
While most doctoral programs have some sort of orientation, the focus on such matters as required courses, time to degree and dissertation goals may diminish opportunities to consider really important matters — such as how to wander into a colloquium at which food is served, timing your entrance so you don’t need to listen to the talk.
July 13, 2009
January 26, 2009
The JHU Gazette: So, This Blue Jay Walks Into a Bar…
Popular Intersession course teaches students the art of stand-up.
July 1, 2006
Johns Hopkins Arts & Sciences Magazine: For Stand-Up Comics, It’s Academic
Ruben is a fifth-year biology graduate student who, for the last two years, has taught an Intersession course titled The Stand-Up Comic in Society. Think of it as sort of a thinking person’s stand-up comedy boot camp.
February 1, 2006
Johns Hopkins Magazine: The Big Question: Can Funny Be Taught?
Adam Ruben, a fifth-year graduate biology student and a stand-up comedian, teaches the intersession course, The Stand-Up Comic in Society.
December 3, 2004
Johns Hopkins News-Letter: In a Somber City, Working for Each Laugh
Grad student and funnyman Adam Ruben is out to do biology by day, comedy by night.
