Hi All,
I am in a weird situation. I am currently working full-time for the provincial government in my city. I have started my PHD program last year and my current supervisor allowed me to do this as he does not have to pay me anything. I got a scholarship to cover my tuition fee and my work salary is for my family expense and house mortgage . Unfortunately, my current supervisor got an offer from another university and moved on. He is currently on a sabbatical leave for a year so I will have to find a new supervisor in the next few months and my current one will become my co-supervisor.
I took two courses last term and both got A+. Both are interested in supervising me but I will focus on the professor that I would like to be his student. I did a directed studies course with him last term and he is one of my thesis committee members. He is a very well-known professor in his area and has a lot of funding. He has more than 3 postdocs and more than 10 PHD and Master students. I have been collaborated with a few students in his lab so we have a good relationship. After the course, we have had a few meetings (me, him, his postdoc, and his other collaborated profs) to discuss further work about my course project. He also booked an appointment with my current supervisor which will be in town next month to discuss my PHD plan.
My problem is this professor already knew that I am currently working full-time as he asked and I told him . My fear is that he will ask me to stop working and focus on studying as funding is not a problem for him. For my current job, I just work one hour a day and spent most of my time for studying so I don't really want to quit working and lose all of its benefits (medical, salary, pension, and more). If he asks me to stop working, I am not really sure what I will do. I enjoy studying but with a family, a young son, and a mortgage), it is not a realistic to do that.
Please advise
Thanks.