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 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:

Previous fieldnotes

April 10, 2025

i'm not dead, just seasonal

March 12, 2025

don't say the "P" word

February 25, 2025

your career is a knife fight

February 18, 2025

the real cost of perfectionism

February 11, 2025

phds, we have a problem

January 28, 2025

the futility of 5 year plans

January 21, 2025

is my soul worth $75 an hour?

December 31, 2024

my worst mistakes of 2024

December 25, 2024

the night I ended my career

December 17, 2024

why I almost quit (twice)