ScienceGiraffe

gradcafe is the only forum that i read, i apologize first for posting a not academic related question here. Here is the situation, i was driving out of state and my car broke down. it was a sunday and not many shops were open. i towed my car to a shop that was open that day and rent a car and drove home. the next day, the shop called me and told me i needed a clutch replacement, i was sort of expecting that and the price was ok so i gave the green light for them to fix it. and the bad part begin...two days later, they called me and said they found something else wrong and would cost me another $500. i felt like that was really a scam, my car is 5 years old and less than 50k miles. but they already have my car, they took it apart for the clutch and i am 5 hours away. they could easily "make" a problem on my car if i don't agree to fix that 2nd problem. i could've towed the car to a second shop for an inspection, but towing is not cheap and again the first shop can still mess something up on my car. Even though it's just an isolated event in my life and i will get over it soon. but i really just feel powerless in this situation... so what could i have done in the situation? Thanks guy!

that is a tough situation. you mentioned several problems and i would say most of them are amendable except "you don't like your research". for that along, i would say you should switch group. just a side note, i love graphene and semiconductor stuff. perhaps if you take a general solid state class to get a better background, you can grow to like the subject.

Thanks for the good reply TakeruK. I am most certainly not trying to win any discussion over the senior graduate student. that was a poor choice of words. I would very much like myself to be wrong. for a lack of better words, i want to "look out" for the senior student. unfortunately the mistake will change the results of the paper. it's like "if pH=7, results will be this". however, the pH meter was actually not calibrated and reading 2 pH off. it will make the results not as dazzling as it claimed. And props to anyone who has the courage to own up to your mistake, that is really the right way to do it. but am i really going to do that to her while she is half way out the door?

Thank you for the respond guys, but please allow me to think couple steps ahead here: i will ask the senior graduate student about why she picked reference 1 instead of reference 2 in the most casual way possible. we will have a small civilized discussion about it, and then in a 90% odd, i will win the discussion. then there will be a silent awkward momemnt because she realized she needs to publish correction for her papers now. once i bring it up, the PI will eventually have to hear about it. he may not go as far as to stop the senior graduate student's graduation plan (i hope not). but his recommendation letter for her postdoc will probably reflect this in some way. also deep down, the senior graduate student hates my gut now.... i am more than happy to accept i was wrong, but it's a very cut and dried mistake. once you see it, you will know reference 2 is right. if you don't see it, it's an honest human mistake. i hold intellectual integrity high on my priority list, it has been bothering me very much for not speaking up. it's just once i said it...i can't unsaid it. the ramification is not small for the senior student (her graduation plan, her postdoc, her chance of academic career)...so let me ask this instead, if i find an error on YOUR paper, what would you like me to do?

So, I am a second year student in science. I am taking over a project from a senior student who is graduating this year. over the course of learning and training on the particular setup for this project, i noticed one of the testing parameters was set wrong. the parameter could be based on reference 1 or reference 2. the senior graduate student picked the wrong reference to set the parameter for the test. I would very much like to give the senior graduate student the benefit of the doubt - maybe she was right to pick the reference that she did, however, i am 90% convinced that is not the case. for argument sake though, let's just assume i was right and she was wrong. will you bring this up to the senior student and the PI? before you all jump on me saying that i must speak up, there are couple papers publish with this. it won't disprove anything, however, the performance will not be as good as it claims. Also the senior student is pretty much half way out the door and she is generally a very nice person. i hate to tarnish her work... i hope i am wrong as well...but for a situation like this, what would you do?

so...a lot of of universities publish their professors' salary. assistant professor in physical science major, which is what i study, makes about 70k to 80k a year. i assume top tier schools will pay better. but still...a BS graduate with a good engineering degree could make that. does an assistant professor really just make that much? is there an error in the reporting? are there hidden sources of income for professors that i am not aware of?

Imagine this, on next Tuesday, 04/01, you wake up and find the following email: "Congratulation! you have been awarded the NSF GRFP!.......just kidding, April Fool!" : ]

what happen to finding a new advisor? this is not going to work for 4 or 5 years. If you do switch professor, you may have to drop your NSF application this year. But i think your sanity for 4 to 5 years is way way way more important than just extra stipent. If you work hard and publish good papers, it will bring your more fame than any NSF fellows...i think finding a new advisor is your 1st piority right now, more important than finishing your NSF application.

I have to say i agree with couple people above me: I would wait it out at the same school instead of transfering: 1. you said you just started grad school, give it couple more months, you will find a group of friends that fit you. it's a bit too soon to take such drastic action. 2. I am athiest and i personally found people with religion are very friendly. I have lived in both east and west coast. 3. Pick up a hobby while you are searching your friend group...i recommend running and tennis 4. In case you still want to transfer school...yea...tell your PI first! Best!

me sad....oh well...

since i haven't seen any annoucement for the deadline...the deadline won't be pushed back then? : (

Let me join the fun! Thanks everybody! http://db.tt/noAnKIEq

i am going to grad school this fall with a recommendation written by my boss. with that said, i want to say it's very dependent on your situation. i was a good friend with my boss, so i just straight up tell him that i am going to grad school next year. because my boss knows exactly when i will be leaving, we have time to hire replacement and train him. i am still in contact with my boss and he said i am welcome to come back to work for him when i graduate. my personal view is: as long as your boss is a reasonable human being, you should be straight and honest with him. if your company is big enough, i am sure you are not the first person that to do this, and won't be the last. so your boss should have the professional courtesy to write you a good recommendation letter. so yea...that is just my opinion. you really have to make the decision base on your interaction with your boss.

for your moving...sell everything big and only take the essential. I was able to move from west coast to east coast with everything in my car. driving took me almost a week. but with the money i got from selling stuff, i cover pretty much my gas and hotel. so that may be an option you can consider...

I run experiments every day...i can feel your pain. If i were you, i will find the person in the lab that can do the tests that you want to do. If he/she is friendly enough, ask him/her to stand behind you like a hawk while you run the tests. If he/she is not friendly enough, offer to buy him/her lunch in return, or even pay him/her cash by the hour. If the test is good, then you got it. if the test is not good, hopefully not, then you need to find another more capable person. For 6, 7 months with no results, i think your issues need that kind of attention. Since you said it's simple procdures, i am assuming someone in your lab will know it well and done it thousands of times. unfortunately if you are the first person that does it, you probably need the PI or a more senior grad student to work side by side with you on it until you are independent. Good luck