so the folk what? A PhD is a doctorate, she still had to do a dissertation. Frankly I think anyone who is not a medical doctor ought not refer to themselves as a doctor even if they have a doctorate in “science”—you didn’t say science of what, earth science, Scientology?
it’s like insisting everybody put Esquire on an attorney’s name, presumptuous and preposterous and real Americans eschew pompous titles, it is much better to be low key