What comes after academia?

I'm working on my next chapter.

Update: August 2025

A hand-drawn logo for "Fieldnotes" featuring organic, sketch-like lettering in dark green with a textured, watercolor effect. The letter "F" is stylized as a sunflower with an orange center and yellow petals, while the "o" is represented by a snail with a pink spiral shell. Below the main text, "ashley ruba phd" is written in a casual, handwritten font. The entire logo has a white outline, giving it a sticker-like appearance. The design evokes themes of nature, curiosity, and exploration.

Fieldnotes is my newsletter, filled with honest reflections and actionable advice on navigating life after academia.

How do you get to the other side? Is the grass actually greener there? Subscribe below, and I'll tell you the truth:

My story probably sounds like yours.

A portrait of a person with short, dark brown hair, wearing a blue button-up shirt with a white floral pattern. They have a confident expression with a subtle smile and slightly raised eyebrows. Their earrings are large, gold-colored, and shaped like sunflowers. The background is softly lit with a warm, golden glow, complementing the earthy tones of their outfit. The lighting casts gentle shadows on their face, highlighting their features.

Hi there, I'm Ashley :)

For over a decade, I worked to become a professor. I had it all: 15 first-author publications, multiple dissertation awards, and a prestigious post-doctoral fellowship.

Then, in 2022, I quit.

I was tired of being an overworked, underpaid, and unappreciated post-doc without career security. I wasn't sure what came after academia, but I knew it had to be better than this.

Over the past 3 years, I've conducted usability research in consulting, healthcare, and consumer technology, at some of the biggest companies in the world. I even started a company of my own.

I'm still exploring. Still growing.

Stay turned for my next chapter.‍

A logo displaying the word "Science" in bold, black serif font on a white background. The design is simple and clean, resembling the branding style of academic or scientific publications.A logo displaying the word "nature" in lowercase, black serif font on a transparent background. The typography is elegant and well-spaced, giving it a professional and scholarly appearance, similar to branding used in academic or scientific publications.A logo featuring the bold, white capital letters "IHE" inside a rounded gray square. The letters are in a modern, blocky font with a slightly condensed appearance. The background outside the square is transparent, giving the logo a clean and minimalist look.A logo featuring the words "THE CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION" in bold, uppercase serif font. The text is black on a transparent background, giving it a formal and authoritative appearance, similar to branding used for academic and educational publications.A black and white CNN logo featuring the well-known, bold, stylized lettering. The letters "CNN" are interconnected with smooth, continuous lines, creating a sleek and recognizable design. This logo represents Cable News Network (CNN), a major international news organization.A U.S. News & World Report logo featuring bold, uppercase white text on a dark gray rectangular background. The words "U.S. News" are prominently displayed in large font, while "& World Report" appears in a smaller font above "News." The design is clean and professional, representing the well-known American media company that provides rankings, news, and analysis on various topics, including education, health, and politics.A black and white BBC logo featuring three bold, uppercase letters "B", "B", and "C" inside individual black squares. The font is simple, modern, and sans-serif, giving it a clean and professional appearance. The design is minimalistic and highly recognizable, representing the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), a major international public service broadcaster.A black and white National Geographic logo featuring the brand name "National Geographic" in bold, uppercase sans-serif font. The design is simple and modern, representing National Geographic, a globally recognized organization known for its work in science, exploration, wildlife, and storytelling.A black and white WSJ logo featuring the bold, uppercase serif letters "WSJ" in a classic and elegant typeface. The design is minimalistic and professional, representing The Wall Street Journal, a globally recognized financial and business news publication. A black and white American Psychological Association (APA) logo featuring a circular emblem with horizontal lines and a stylized Greek letter Psi (Ψ) in the center, symbolizing psychology. To the right of the emblem, the words "AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION" are written in bold, uppercase sans-serif font. The design is clean, professional, and widely recognized as the official branding of the APA, a leading organization in the field of psychology.