How to approach this publication issue?

[MoJingly]

Last year, I worked for Professor A. Back in 2009 I finished gathering all of the stuff we needed for the write-up. Professor A just had to submit the proposal in order to write and publish. Professor A keeps scheduling time in his calendar to do this, and I keep hearing "next week, next month, no wait, next month." I have offered to help on this issue, but my offer is always denied. This has been over a year. Professor A has told me he is aware how much a publication will help my resume.

Furthermore, it's a cool article! AND Professor A is the editor of the journal we would publish in...

I have my first interview in a few weeks. I'm not going to have a publication by then, but I certainly WOULD if it were up to me. I'm obviously not going to say in an interview, "the reason this isn't published is my PI's fault." I'm not even planning on mentioning it. But if I'm asked what's become of that research project, what's the best way to approach it? "The review process has been slow, but the paper is ready to be composed"? Do I approach it as a team effort, or gently put responsibility on the PI (in a way that doesn't seem like pointing fingers)?

This is also serving as a rant to the fact that scientific research is SLOWER THAN MOLASSES. (I'm learning to become more patient).

[nvseal]

It's a bit of sticky situation (molasses pun intended), but if it is mentioned, I think you should definitely say something about it (no point in throwing away your research right). You could say something along the lines "It is in the works, but my PI is understandably quite busy right about now so we have had to push it back on our schedules." That's just the first thing to come to mind, you'd have to tell me whether or not such a statement is accurate enough to say and be truthful. Just my two cents.

[MoJingly]

You could say something along the lines "It is in the works, but my PI is understandably quite busy right about now so we have had to push it back on our schedules." That's just the first thing to come to mind, you'd have to tell me whether or not such a statement is accurate enough to say and be truthful. Just my two cents.

That is completely the truth. The PI is probably the busiest person I've ever known: he's practicing, editing, directing, teaching. It's exhausting to even think about. Thanks for the input.

[psygrad81]

I had a similar situation with a professor. It took over a year and a half after our project was complete to send in the publication. I simply referred to the publication as in progress for submission. Luckily, I had other more recent projects in the works that I focused on in my applications. I have to say, the scientific process can be slow and frustrating, but not all PIs work like this. I am currently collaborating with two other researchers who are great! In 6 months we ran a study, analyzed data, presented at a conference, and sent in a manuscript which is under review. Better still, we are halfway through the follow up study 4 weeks after the submission. I think this is how it generally works for the most part, but also depends on the problem being investigated. I, myself, am coming from a university not well-renowned for research and the professors have a large teaching load. But the institutions you are most likely applying to for PhD programs probably don't function like that - -hopefully! I'm sorry for your frustration, because I know exactly how it feels!

[psygrad81]

I also wanted to ask: are you first author on the paper? That might make a difference in how you approach the issue.

[MoJingly]

I had a similar situation with a professor. It took over a year and a half after our project was complete to send in the publication. I simply referred to the publication as in progress for submission. Luckily, I had other more recent projects in the works that I focused on in my applications. I have to say, the scientific process can be slow and frustrating, but not all PIs work like this. I am currently collaborating with two other researchers who are great! In 6 months we ran a study, analyzed data, presented at a conference, and sent in a manuscript which is under review. Better still, we are halfway through the follow up study 4 weeks after the submission. I think this is how it generally works for the most part, but also depends on the problem being investigated. I, myself, am coming from a university not well-renowned for research and the professors have a large teaching load. But the institutions you are most likely applying to for PhD programs probably don't function like that - -hopefully! I'm sorry for your frustration, because I know exactly how it feels!

This is so good to hear. I'm glad that there are some institutions that work a little faster. I'm currently working on a second research project at the same institution (but under a different PI), and it seems to be moving slow too... maybe I've just had bad luck. Regardless, I'm still learning a lot, but wouldn't mind a little pep in the process.

And yes, I would have been (...will be...) the first author.

[psygrad81]

Hi again. Is it possible, since you are first author, to take the reins on the project and finish the ms so it can get submitted? What point are you at in the writing process? Is it written and you are waiting for feedback from pre-submission reviewers, or is it still in the writing phase? Do you have any other advisors that can offer guidance on the issue? I guess at this point, grad apps are submitted so it's not really going to matter, but I felt in my case that it was better to put "under review" on my CV rather than just "in progress for submission".

[TMP]

Agreed. Say it's "under review" or "works in the progress." Since you are the first author, sound assertive that you've done your part and are waiting for the editor's feedback. Sound responsible.