What comes after academia?

This isn't the end. It's just the next chapter—one that you get to write.

I want a job in industry
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Fieldnotes is my weekly(ish) 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.

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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. I was right.

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, designed exclusively to help PhDs start careers in industry.

Are you ready to write your next chapter?
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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.

Ready to leave academia?

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