Research ideas stolen/dismissed

[kltessa]

Hi!

I'm having issues that are severely threatening my chances of graduating this fall. I'm a visiting MSc thesis student from Europe working in an US lab, and am being mentored by a PhD student (well, he recently defended but anyway). My research is a derivative/continuation of his.

My problem is, he has now twice executed experiments that we'd discussed and decided to include in my thesis. The first one, at least, was relevant to his PhD and included in his dissertation. I didn't get the technique right, and he did it before I could. But him doing it meant my first research aim was redundant, so I moved to the second one, for which there were two experiments planned.

And when I went to him to discuss some things he needs to train me on to do it...he told me he's done the first of the two experiments....which, in this case, DOES NOT fit within his thesis, and was not included in his dissertation. When I suggested I then move on to the next experiment in that line of research, he told me he thought the question wasn't interesting. If it wasn't interesting, why did he do it, then? Especially considering the hypothesis has been validated, which was the desirable outcome.

At this point, I have absolutely no data because my first aim was rendered redundant by the guy who supposedly is mentoring me, and he dismissed the second one now that he's done it himself, even though he didn't think it was 'uninteresting' when we first planned out my research proposal. These are ideas we came up with while discussing, so I cannot call them 100% mine, but they WERE explicitly meant to be part of my research, not his. The PI doesn't seem to have any issue with it.

I have been asked to come up with an ENTIRELY NEW research plan now (my report is due in 10 weeks! this is ridiculous). So I have - multiple ideas, even, but my mentor didn't think any of them were interesting/feasible in my remaining time. 

Now, what I'm wondering, is whether or not I should discuss ideas with the PI directly before involving my mentor. I know it's borderline paranoid reasoning, but I cannot see any reason he would investigate research questions that a) I was meant to do myself and b ) suddenly deem them uninteresting once he's done with them, OTHER than just stealing from my project?

If I can get my idea(s) approved by the PI before my mentor hears about them, then I have a chance of actually getting my own data for my ideas, which is all I need....I don't even need a huge amount of data, because if my literature review, discussion, and future perspectives sections are solid, I should have a decent chance of getting my thesis approved.

Any advice welcome! I'm in a very tough spot and have very limited time. If working 15hrs a day could solve the problem I'd do it, but I'm not even being given the OK to start experimenting because of this!

[kimmibeans]

I would talk to your PI about this, because it is a problem. Don't go in shouting "He stole my research!" But do explain that your mentor is not doing his job. It sounds like your mentor is not doing any actual mentoring, so it is best to talk to your PI and explain the situation, especially that he is doing the aims of your research project without you and expects you to come up with a new project because he did half of yours. The PI will probably then either talk to him or give you a different mentor if possible. To make a long story short, this is a serious problem and you NEED to tell your PI before it is too late for you to fix anything.

[Cookie]

On 6/2/2016 at 4:14 AM, kltessa said:

1. I didn't get the technique right, and he did it before I could. But him doing it meant my first research aim was redundant, so I moved to the second one, for which there were two experiments planned.

2. he told me he's done the first of the two experiments....which, in this case, DOES NOT fit within his thesis, and was not included in his dissertation. When I suggested I then move on to the next experiment in that line of research, he told me he thought the question wasn't interesting. If it wasn't interesting, why did he do it, then? Especially considering the hypothesis has been validated, which was the desirable outcome.

Your accusations are absolutely ridiculous:

1. The project ideas came up in your discussions with him, so they weren't totally yours. So it is not stealing. Also, you couldn't do it right so why are you blaming him?

2. Maybe after completing the first experiment, the result led to an obvious/uninteresting answer to the second problem. PEOPLE CAN CHANGE THEIR MINDS, TOO. I don't think he can stop you from performing the second one if you want to.

PS: Sorry if it seems like I'm yelling, but you sound like some brats I have to deal with in my own lab

 

Edited September 5, 2016 by Cookie