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Gradish31

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  1. I'm a PhD student in a bad environment. To be frank I'm not sure where to start but I need some ideas on how to make progress or influence some change. I'm at a middle-tier institution. My PI is new and has funding, and that's how I'm funded. I think because of that he's liked by the university. While he makes a good impression with faculty, behind the curtain its a whole different story. He plays mind games with people, tries to pit people against one another, its awful. None of us know what to do because we're invested so heavily already. At one point or another he's threatened to fire everybody (individually). Some people actually have left, and one person's salary was permanently cut, even when other personnel were subsequently hired. I guess the point is that you know that he's willing to make threats and carry them out. So for this reason its really difficult to tell him that you're unable to do something, even as you're doing one task he has you stop in the middle and start something completely different. Then you'll hear complaints about why the first item isn't complete, and how that's your fault. Vacations, no matter how short, are always met with some type of punishment. Usually something passive-aggressive. For example you'll come back and find that new work on your project had been carried out by somebody else, or that your funding for a conference has been cut. Of course I'm highlighting the bad, and there are stretches where things feel a little more even. But the mood/atmosphere changes so quickly and inexplicably, we're all always on edge. I have learned a great deal in the time that I've been working under this PI, and I'm not in a position in my program where I can jump ship and start under somebody else. Things are ok as long as I always say "yes" to whatever he wants. However, that often means huge sacrifices and unrealistic goals even when the data isn't critical. In some respects you get treated poorly for taking a few days off over a holiday, but in another respect you're exploited for staying and he takes your life over. So I'm looking for advice. I'm really not sure what my options are, I think I could be successful here but I have to seek a little bit more control over my education and even my life, and threats have got to end. Any thoughts are appreciated...
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