Dal PhDer

So I have used this thread as my go to "what do I need to help me" ... and I am going to be honest...I used Mendeley a few years ago and thought it blew- like... most useless program EVER....but I decided that I would try it out again since many of you recommended it.... oh.my.....I LOVE IT!! Seriously!! Annotations, access to any of my computers (PC at home, Mac laptop, PC at work)...seriously....I want to marry this program!!! MARRY! Please guys- keep the recommendations coming!

I think there is two main ways to approach a supervisor/topic. 1) You go in with a detailed question/hypothesis and outline why you want to work with this individual and what you can bring 2) You go in saying you have similar interests with the professor and you're interested in working with them (they either help you develop a research project, help you develop a project as an offset of one of theirs, or give you a project that they have) To be honest, for a masters, I think it's easier to go with #2. #2 doesn't always happen for students, but I think working on a project that has already its foundations is a lot easier for students- especially if the data is already collected. Mind you, this is often discipline dependent. Students who can piggy onto their advisor's work are often more likely of getting funded (as the project is probably already funded and has money for students), on a timeline that gets the students in and out quickly, and has resources (e.g., co-pi's, other RAs) to help guide them along. The downside is that it might not be really what you're interested in- but for 2 years, and a quick path through your MA, to me it's worth it. If it were a PhD, I would most certainly recommend students to sit down and think about what they're interested in, and work off that- as it's 4+ years and your career that you're working on. I think you have the right attitude- I would read some of their work, and even papers they haven't written but are in their same interest area. When you go meet, it doesn't hurt to have a list of your interests, some things/questions you have for potential projects, and an understanding of what they have done and will be doing in the future!

I think the best thing for you to do is what ladyling has suggested. Meet with her and say that you're interested in working with her, and have looked at her reviews of your current work/performance, and would like to know how you can improve so that she would consider working with you. All you can do is go chat with her, show you accept her remakes and want to learn how to improve the things she commented on. Showing that you can take feedback and learn from it, and are motivated and excited to work with her are all positives!

I am a straight female in a city/university/department that I would say is pretty open and non-judgemental about most things...so my experience/opinion might not be what you need. I do think in some respects, you can't separate your professional and private life. At this point in your graduate school, you're going to meet people that you will connect with by sharing your personal details with...because you want to and will make friends. However, I truly believe that your relationship status and sexual preference doesn't need to come into play with your degree, committee and/or supervisor. When I started my PhD I went through a horrible break of a 6 year relationship with my partner. Even though it was a huge life changing and dark point in my personal life, I never discussed it with my supervisor/committee, or brought that into my school work. So for me, I would say that there is no reason to bring it up or into your relationship with your advisor/committee. I don't see the point or the necessity...them know who you date or whom you perfer to date has no relevance to your degree. With that said, I don't think you should hide it from them, as it is who you are .... I just have never (to this point) been in a situation where I had to discuss that detail with my supervisor.....but maybe it's because I am now single and have been since I started my PhD!

Drama is a part of life- whether it's at school, your job or with your friends....I don't think it's possible to avoid it if you have human contact. It's best to start to learn how to interact with people who like drama/gossip, because you can be around it but not engage in it. In fact, you're probably the type of person that these people need- someone grounded enough to show them that there's more interesting things to discuss than personal lives.

Sorry to hear your friend won't be coming back...that really sucks. It always helps to have a wing 'person' to help you get through tough times...perhaps you'll click with someone in the incoming cohort!!

Hi There, Even though you have no research experience on your side, you sound like you have a lot of motivation and determination (and interest)- which will work in your favour. Here's some advice: 1) Your step towards reading her articles is really great!! It's not uncommon to not understand certain things in articles. What are you having problems with? Is it a content? A specific theory? Methodology? Statistical analysis? Whenever I come to a bump in an article that I don't understand, I normally just look towards the internet and surf around until I get a better understanding. Normally your UG doesn't go into a whole lot of detail around methods and stats- these are really things you will be learning during your masters. When I did my MA, myself and 1 or 2 other students actually had experience doing research- so you won't be alone. My suggestion to get through the articles is to try and teach yourself a little bit of the information! 2) Email the prof that you want to work with and say that you're interested in gaining more experience with research, specifically in her area (I might make reference to one of the articles you read if it's in line with what you want to do), and mention that you would like to chat with her about the potential to volunteer for them. (Some students would say don't upfront offer your time/work for free, but I have before just to show (1) that I am really interested in working with them and (2) to get a foot in the door. 100% of the time it turned into a paid position after I showed them I was a 'keeper'. 3) I might also be upfront with the advisor and say 'I am really interested in your work. I have this idea for a research thesis ____, I think your background/expertise could add _____ to the project. And I would really like to discuss the opportunity to work with you.'. If it's a thesis based program (or option for that track), then professors in the department will be use to students asking for this type of guidance. Go to them wit a strong idea/question and demonstrate to them that you know their background and what their contributions could be, and you'll impress them!

8-10hr each day?? I envy your motivation! So, I'mma tell you my problem. I can go on vacation and/or take days off...but I often have a nagging feeling in the back of my head when I do...and this feeling is from the guilt I have about not doing work. How I combat this is that I say, 'I will do XX hours of work on Saturday, so I can take Friday night and Sunday off'. If I do the work, then I am completely free of that nagging feeling! I would suggest that you say you will spend 1 day a week doing work- I would not do it at home, but in the library of your school if you can, or a coffee shop. Take yourself out of your comfort zone and place of relaxation, and put in a solid days work. Then when you are done, you can feel completely relaxed and satisfied that you accomplished something!

Hi there, The student/supervisor situation is always difficult, and decisions must be made with consideration to the present and future of your career. I think a lot of us have dealt with difficult situations where we have to balance the issues currently at hand with progress and supervisor, and the potential benefits of LOR and future work. I would suggest your first steps are (1) talking to your department of graduate coordinator about the expectations that your supervisor should be meeting, and whether he is upholding his responsibilities as your supervisor; and (2) I might try and find a mentor or someone on my committee/department that could provide you with some guidance without stepping in as a co-supervisor. My opinion, not experience/knowledge, is that since you are so far along (or so it seems from your post), it is unlikely that another individual would step in. They might feel uncomfortable taking on a student so late in their degree because they don't want to burn a bridge with your current supervisor and/or they might not feel comfortable with providing guidance so far into your progress. I would also make a list of what you want your surprivisor to help you with. If it's providing comments and feedback with writing, I might seek out other students and/or your school's writing center to help you. If it is content specific, maybe ask another person in your department of a committee member. If you go into this with specific things you want your advisor to address/help with, it will make it easier for you to get results. Good luck!

hold up...watch my little pony? please. more details. as for the arrival of sept...the only difference for me is the coffee line will be unbearably longer.

I took 2 years off between my undergrad and MA, and began my PhD when I was (.....I just had to figure out how old I was!!! ...) 26. Honestly, I think there's pros and cons for being younger or older when starting your graduate school degree. I've seen a lot of people (35+) in graduate programs through my school (I've interacted with them during cross listed courses), and they ALWAYS have a really great grip on time management, writing/communication skills, and topic clarity. I think when you choose to go back after being away for awhile, you go back with a goal, purpose and topic (not that younger students don't, but I think an 'older' student has a different mindset). As far as working and school. When I did my MA I clocked full-time hours at my previous job. I was fortunate enough to be doing my degree via my work, and was able to collect my data through that position. I also have the flexibility of time, so managing my course schedule and work wasn't as difficult. Working and grad school is certainly possible, and I think it goes a lot more smoothly if you have a job that is within the academics- as your boss will be aware of your school stresses and time, and this work often allows you to clock whatever hours you want, as long as the work is done. Another thing you should be aware about is if you're being funded. A lot of time it's a 'no no' for funded students to have full or part-time jobs. I would check with your advisor and/or department if you're looking for work and are also getting funding for your degree!

Hmm...I don't have experience with this, but I do have a few questions that might help you think about your situation. I come from an interdisciplinary program, so I have a program of study that combines very different disciplines. The idea is that while my project may be able to rest within one area of study, but incorporating a different perspective, my project will gain more. I am thinking that perhaps - maybe - you could do something like this with your situation. Is it possible that you could frame your new topic of study to combine aspects of your current discipline into political science? I have heard some strange pairings (political science and theatre; nursing and political science; biology and history). I think that perhaps if you consider this route, you might find yourself - given the appropriate thought, direction and project - really wowing and coming up with a new and innovative perspective. Also, are you thinking of changing directly without taking any time off? My understanding is this will probably require you to reapply to the department and wait to see if you get accepted. Even though it's the same school, it will be a different program with potentially different criteria for their PhD...and if it's completely different, you might have to do a whole other degree to be able to get in. Leading into that, even though you may have been a successful candidate for your current program, your vastly different background (I get that implication for above) may make you ineligible. I might ask yourself why you want to go this new route, and if there is a way to achieve a happy spot without having to change programs. In the end I always advocate on the decision that will make you the happiest- it might not be the easiest or shortest route- but in the long run, if it gets you to where you want to be in the future, it's probably the best choice.

I couldn't agree more. In the end, I think it comes down to this and whether or not the advisor is good at what they do. Being good encompasses a range of qualities: being able to effectively get a student through their degree, being able to adapt to students' personalities and learning styles, being open for seeing your mistakes and learning from them, and encouraging a peer-peer communication between advisor and student- these are just some of the qualities. I also think that it comes down to personal preference too...some students may love the way one professors is, while another might not.

Hi there! I think it's always fantastic to see someone go back to school and have the passion for learning and change. I think professional who return to school have a real advantage in some areas - such as time management, organization, presenting, even writing concisely. I am sure you know that working a regular job can be a lot different than the demands of graduate school. So I think anyone's first step towards this choice, is to ask themselves some questions and really contemplate about where they want to go. For some, graduate works or doesn't work because of it's structure, time commitment, dedications, and the sacrifices that come with it. Having done your Masters, I am sure you know what grad school is like...however, if you're thinking of going into a PhD, you should know that it's a lot different than a Masters. It's a 4-5 year commitment, and will require a lot of time, hard work, tears, and sanity! [but totally worth it!]. On top of that (and not to be rude), because you've been our of the academic scene for a bit and are also (as it sounds), thinking of changing backgrounds, you will probably have to put in above normal work to teach yourself (or take extra courses) the current theories, methods, background, etc. of the discipline you're currently in or switch too. I think the biggest questions you should ask yourself is this- what don't I like about my current career? What do I want to change about it? What would a Master's do for this change, and where would it take me after I graduate? What would a PhD do for my career, and where would it take me after I graduate? What type of job do you want and in what setting? I would say for most programs/disciplines, Masters and PhD take you on different paths....Masters will get you in and out quicker, you'll be able to apply to a wide range of jobs that are more 'applied' but also research positions....A PhD will sometimes, depending on the field, limit your potential opportunities. PhDs are normally research focused, and will take you into a research driven career. Depending on your background - I come from Health Sciences/Social Sciences- you can get policy, government, NGO, private and academic jobs with both Masters and PhD...but for some PhDs within their field, they are limited to primarily academic and/or private jobs. I would sit down and look at the jobs/careers you are interested in and talk to people. Ask them how they got to where they are, thinking about the area of work you're interested in and where the future of that area will be once you've graduated. Knowing your opportunities post-degree will help you focus your desire/goals, and will leave you in a good spot after you're done! Good luck! It sounds like this is an exciting time for you!

I am my advisor's first PhD student, and I think like any student/advisor relationship- there's pros and cons. One plus I have found is that because my advisor is so young and working towards TT, they're involved in a lot of projects, networking, conferences, etc. - lots of CV building activities. These activities gives his students a chance to participate in activitites outside their research project and gain skills that they might not have if they didn't have these opportunities. However, because they are so busy with TT, I have found that there is sometimes little time/opportunitites to meet, and/or quite a delay in feedback- so sometimes there's a delay in my progress because they're just too busy. Another negative, as mentioned above, is that new advisors don't have experience with advising and will make mistakes and might not have the best skills to help you throughout your degree. I have personally found that lack of experience has been a huge negative, but I think that this is also a bit dependent on personality, relationship, and ego of the professor. If a new professor acknowledges that they are new and will need to learn HOW to advise and compensates for this in other ways (e.g., more involved, more feedback, more dialogue, etc) then this lack of experience probably won't be as negative to your PhD journey. I think the best advice here (and one I wish I had done from the start) is to have a co-supervisor or mentor on your committee- one who is more experienced and willing to help you and your advisor through this process. If you can do this, I think it would be a positive for you and your supervisor- because it must be hard to learn how to supervisor and take on your first PhD student solo.

It seems like it might also be dependent on the student/advisor relationship. I do think that a positive is that it would make you work hard to impress them!

That is a difficult situation. It's frustrating when you are sacrifacing your time, energy, and expectations...it is beyond frustrating and I can't even imagine how hard it must be, when you do this, but also feel you've sacrifaced your family. It's unfortunate that your situation is so common in graduate school, that we go into opportunitites with a percieved notion of how they will be, and they often disappoint or do not live up to the goals you expected to achieve. I am sorry that it's so frustrating. This is a difficult process and there's a lot that students have to give up to achieve their dreams of graduating, I can't imagine how difficult it must be that one of those things is time with a child.

There is certainly a lot of back story and- i sadly admit - a history of tension between my advisor and myself. I don't always agree with the way he handles himself with his students (my labmates) and myself. Knowing this history, and his personality...for me, I think it is better to back off. I have been mulling this over a lot lately, and the majority of the stress comes from knowing his personality, demeaner, and his reactions to students who question him. I think this has been a really great learning experience, and certainly in the future I will (1) get clear and written details on authorship, duties, and expectations; and (2) limit my outside collaborations with him. Being within an interdisiciplinary program, I think I am at an advantage as my project is only slightly inline with his expertise and background...this gives me the opportunity to find potential collaborations with outside faculty that might meet my interests a bit better. And honestly, he's so hot and cold and in and out that when it comes to submitting it to the journal, he might say "No, this is yours" and change it.

No no! it wasn't too harsh! I really appreciate the feedback and advice. I really do think about it, and use it! I think in these situations, where it's a student/advisor relationship and a situation where the student is worried/concerned, it's best to get multiple perspectives and opinions. I really don't want to do something that is heated or irrational just because i am upset or scared of confrontation! SO I appreciate the push and suggestions

My suggestion is to take the situation for what it is. You are in your last weeks, why quit now? I would stick it out and at least keep on good standings with the professor. If your PI is getting you to do things you're not comfortable with, perhaps approach the situation by saying: Oh that sounds exciting! I have never done _______ before, but I think it would be a great experience. I will try to figure it out on my own, but perhaps you could sit down with me/send me literature/etc to help me out. Frame it in a way that you're letting her know you don't have the experience/tools to complete the task, but you're excited to learn it and will do your best (with her guidance/aid) to get the job done. As for the poster- ok...I am going to be blunt about this...if it's a university conference/symposium I wouldn't be worried about having results or a finished project to report on. These things are typically pretty laid back, and is really just a chance for people to network and gain experience with presenting their work. Especially with a poster, you're going to be fine...and the reality is- you're only going to be able to present on what you have. I like to say : It is what it is. My impression of this internship is that the value and goal is not the poster and it's presentation, it's working with a PI and gaining the LOR, it's developing the skills, and having that intern experience as something you can put on applications/CV. Edit: I think what we're all trying to say is that this opportunity should be looked at in broader terms...you shouldn't focus on the benefits/outcome as just being the data and poster...there are many other dynamics going on in this internship, and you should consider the longterm consequences of pulling out.

I didn't think of it like this- that's a very good point. I guess I am struggling to figure out if it's worth a battle and potentially getting on his bad side. I do agree with you Fuzzy, this might be his way of testing me and my abilities to handle a situation where there might be potential confrontation. I guess I went into this whole thing thinking that 'oh gee, I would like to have the publication, it would help me out...but in the long run I would like to be on my advisor's good side.' ...perhaps pushing it a bit more will get me in better standing with him. I certainly have taken a step back on the paper and it's progress...I wanted to wait and make sure my next move of handing it off was done in the best possible manner. Perhaps the most mature/professional approach would be to send the edited version to him and within that email say something along the lines of: "During our last meeting we discussed authorship. I am a bit unsure of where your final stance is, but I would like to further discuss this with you and the others. I have worked on this with the understanding and goal of it being a substantial contribution to my CV as a first author publication." I am sure you know my personality by now, but I try and avoid conflict or coming off as overly abrasive or confrontational. I am going to try and make a culture shift in academia...where hugs and cookies is the norm, rather than aloof and discouraging behaviours!

Thank you guys for the feedback and comments. I find it really difficult approach my advisor (based on our personality differences) and, as you have said, stand up for myself. I do think this is a learning opportunity, and every encounter I have with him is certainly adding another layer to my tough shell! If I am honest, and it would be good to get your opinion, is when I resubmit the paper with the edits included- I was just going to change the authorship to how I originally had it (me first!). It might be a bit passive agressive, but if he commented on it again, I was going to stress to him that I took on this project with the understanding that I would be first author. And then bring up (from my previous documented meeting notes), that he also feels that I need more first author publications to be competitive. I am lucky I have saved all my meeting notes and send them to him after every meeting. I think if I give it a bit of time, I can go back into the ring for one more try and battle it out. I even think he might respect me a bit if I push him on the topic.

I have to agree with the above posts. I think you should look at the project in a different light. Be happy that the PI has the confidence and respect in/for you to ask you to take on such a position. Also, see this as an opportunity to learn a lot. There are many benefits to working on a research project, geting results and presenting them are one of these benefits- but are not the end all and be all. My experience working on projects is that they can be planned to be on a specific timeline, but 90% of the time they deviate from it and take longer. It doesn't mean you haven't done anything, it's just the fact that in real life, things often don't go on schedule. You still have time to do data collection and analysis and have a good paper. You can present pelimanry data, with more of a focus on the background/objectives/methods. Poster presentations are very flexible and will give you the opportunity to candidately chat about the limitations that the project is currently facing, and the future directions that it will be going. A 10 week internship is a short period of time. But you should really look at the fact that the PI is putting a lot on your plate as something exciting and positive. Take the reins and go head on with it. You're in graduate school and will have to teach yourself a lot more than a software- so use this experience as a learning opportunity to develop your skills as a self-educator.

I might try using some kind of thought/mind mapping technique/software. I have found that this is a really great way to organize data, themes, thoughts, objectives, literature...it will get you thinking about how your themes and data relate to each other, how they organize under the themes, and how you can present them in a coherent and succinct way.

I have to agree with Fuzzy on this one. I think you should REALLY research and consider your opitions outside of a PhD. A lot of times once you get a PhD, you are exhempted from a lot of really good positions. PhD are really for those individuals that want to do independent research- you will be required to secure your own funding, produce manuscripts constantly, present present present...and if you're looking at an academic position- you will be loaded with teaching responsibilities. I would ask yourself: Where do you want to be for the rest of your career? What are you interested in doing? What environment do you want to work in? You can do a lot of significant work without a PhD...I almost think you are apt to have more opportunity to work on projects that are going to contribute more if you don't do academics...if you go into a government or private research position, you will most likely be working with more money, in better facilities, and on projects that are going to have a lot of impact (depending on who you're working for and your field). Have you talked to both academic professionals and individuals working in NGOs and perhaps government funded positions? I would talk to them, ask them about their education past, what they're doing, and how they differ between the other positions.