Steve Asztalos
STEM graduate admissions and career advisor in Oakland, California
| Hourly rate range | $160 to $275 an hour |
|---|---|
| Focus areas | |
| Works with | Students and Professionals |
| Also coaches | Career coach |
| Based in | Oakland, California, United States |
| Credentials | PhD in Nuclear Physics, UC Berkeley; MS in Counseling, San Francisco State University; Professional Member, Independent Educational Consultants Association |
| Practice | Academically Speaking |
Steve Asztalos is an independent educational consultant who advises people applying to STEM master's and PhD programs. He also guides STEM professionals through career decisions and big transitions. He holds a PhD in Nuclear Physics from UC Berkeley and did postdoctoral research at MIT. He founded Academically Speaking in 2013 and works from Oakland, California. He earned an MS in Counseling in 2025 and works part-time as a Career Navigator at Ohlone College.
What Steve helps with
Steve helps people apply to STEM graduate programs and make career choices. He also works with STEM professionals who want a new direction.
- Applying to STEM master's programs
- Applying to STEM PhD programs
- Career direction for STEM graduate students and postdocs
- Career transitions for established STEM professionals
- Rethinking working style, priorities and preferences after a poor job fit
Who Steve works with
Steve works with aspiring graduate students who are considering or applying to STEM master's or PhD programs. He also works with STEM graduate students, PhDs, postdocs and established professionals who are weighing their next direction or a major career transition.
Background and qualifications
Steve earned a PhD in Nuclear Physics at UC Berkeley in 1998. He then did postdoctoral research at MIT on astrophysical dark matter. At Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory he worked on high-energy physics and homeland security problems. He has also done university teaching and industrial research on radiation-detector development. He currently teaches physics, astronomy and engineering at California State University, East Bay. In 2025 he earned an MS in Counseling from San Francisco State University. He works part-time as a Career Navigator at the Ohlone College Career Center.
Steve Asztalos pricing
Programs and services
- Graduate admissions advising
- Career advising
- Free 15-minute consultation
Steve Asztalos reviews
The CoachVouch take
A nuclear physicist with lab and research experience who now advises on STEM graduate admissions and careers.
Best for STEM students and professionals applying to graduate programs or planning a career change.
Common questions
How much does Steve Asztalos charge?
Coaching with Steve runs $160 to $275 an hour. Message Steve from this page for an exact quote.
What does Steve Asztalos help with?
Steve Asztalos helps with applying to STEM master's programs, applying to STEM PhD programs, career direction for STEM graduate students and postdocs and career transitions for established STEM professionals.
Is Steve Asztalos certified?
Steve Asztalos lists: PhD in Nuclear Physics, UC Berkeley; MS in Counseling, San Francisco State University; Professional Member, Independent Educational Consultants Association.
Does Steve Asztalos only work with STEM clients?
His work centers on STEM. He advises on STEM master's and PhD admissions and on careers for STEM professionals.
How do I contact Steve Asztalos?
Send Steve a message from this page. It's free and takes a minute.
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Last updated September 2026. Request a correction.