Starship

Hi Everyone, I'm just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on this. I've been approached by my advisor to assist with two research projects. Only on one project would I be co-author. This particular faculty member has an RA (I am not his RA) who works 20 hrs a week for him. I've spoken with said RA and he is not currently writing any papers with this faculty member, only doing "a little bit" of "research" here or there. If this faculty member has a full-time RA, why is he not using his RA for these projects? Don't get me wrong, I would MUCH rather be the one working on these projects than his RA, but isn't the RA normally given first priority? I feel paranoid thinking that I'm getting all of the crappy busy work that the professor doesn't want to do, which is probably the case, but I can't help but think that the RA is being "saved" for something better and will be asked to work on more prestigious projects. Has anyone else experienced this? - Starship

@bechkafish has there been any resolution? When was your conference and what happened? I'm coming upon a similar situation. I thought I would be able to attend a conference but my financial situation has changed drastically and I just can't anymore. Regardless of the rooming situation, I won't be able to pay for food myself even! I feel embarrassed and don't know the proper way to handle the situation. What did you do?

@The Wayfarer, I was also recently offered to stay in the same hotel room by my advisor. Although we are both females, I am extremely uncomfortable with this. Doesn't this cross boundaries in multiple ways? We also have not had much face to face contact being that she has been out of the state for the past two semesters (since I started graduate school). I'm struggling with a way to politely say no without hurting feelings or burning bridges. Have you found a solution yet? What was your outcome?

Thank you all for your responses! @med latte the proposal was due at the end of September and I just found out a few days ago that it was accepted I'm very excited but still nervous! I'll heed your advice and just practice, practice, practice!

Hi Everyone! This is my first post here on grad cafe and I'm hoping you can help! This is my first semester in a doctoral program and my adviser asked me to submit a proposal to SERA (Southwest Educational Research Association) and provided me with a topic as well. My concern is that I'm already incredibly nervous about public speaking (especially in front of other doctoral candidates in my department) and the conference is 3.5 months away! Has anyone experienced this and/or does anyone have any advise for me? Other than stumbling my way through it, I'm not sure if there any an other tips and tricks to help me be better prepared for the presentation/public speaking. Help! Also, has anyone had experience with this specific conference? I have no idea what to expect with regards to how the forum will be set up, how many people I'll be presenting to, if I am expected to memorize my whole paper or just from the paper....