I'm in the physical sciences and have just started my PhD program.
The PI whose group I'm currently rotating in is an Associate professor. He admitted himself that he writes all the papers in the lab. The students get 1st, 2nd & 3rd author according to who did the actual research - the process is transparent and fair enough - and they create & edit the supporting info.
According to the students the PI might occasionally solicite a first draft from the "first author" student, only to say "this is good"...and rewrite 90% of it into his own words anyway.
I have two questions.
1. Is this common practice in the physical sciences?
2. How worried should I be about this? (I mean, I know it's a symptom of a larger micro-managing problem - that's a topic for another day) If I continue on to a postdoctoral position, I would be expected to know how to write my own papers, yes?
