@ Olivia. Most of the computers at uni are network logged (mine is). But due to the high number of PhDers,RAs and placement students, we have some stand alone machines (old disused ones with Win 98 with floppy disks/ CD burners) that don't require passwords, etc so people have something they can use in the lab.

I thought this was a good idea, but it does assume that you can trust your peers though.

I wish I was joking. I thought at first I was being set up as part of a reality TV show.

The main problem is that I can't conclusively prove Katy did anything. I was in the kitchenette and saw her clicking etc, but that is fairly circumstantial evidence. Hell, Katy could just turn around and say "Well, I saw Badhaircut delete things", which Sabrina is more likely to believe as Katy is her "friend". For what its worth, I think Sabrina will invest in a USB stick (she asked me if I had a spare), but its a little too late.

(However, I am glad to see others found this fairly disturbing, and its not just me and my cynical pessimism).

Looks like the rest of my thread didnt get posted...

Katy doesnt see me, and sits down at another PhDers computer. I am in the kitchenette, so I cant really see much, but she clicks and types furiously. By the time I bring back my cup of tea to my desk she is gone.

I dont think too much about it, but come lunchtime the PhDer who the computer belongs to(lets call her Sabrina) suddenly cries that the whole of her literature review is missing (no back ups either). Katy needless to say goes over to comfort her and says "I hate the computers here, they always crash"...

Guess my other thread got taken down. Shame.

Its 10am. The lab is quiet as I am the only one in. I love it on Friday mornings as the rest of the postdocs are always attending the academic seminar, the PhDers are usually doing their field work, so I get to potter around like an old man. Make some tea, check some data, embrace the tranquiliy to think. Its the real high point of my week.

Anyway, I am in the kitchenette, waiting for the quiet but woefully inefficient kettle to boil, when I feel a disturbance in the force. Its one of the PhDers, lets call her Katy.

I remember my first year as a PhD student as a golden age.

I spent most of the time in the canteen having really "deep" conversations with cute PhD students of the opposite gender (unfortunately was attatched at the time but never mind) and reading whatever took my fancy.

My supervisor at the time was quite happy to leave me to my own devices for the first year, and as it was mainly preliminary reading/proposal stuff it wasnt too taxing. I remember thinking at first "Surely I have to do something else", but it was all cool.

Think of it as a sort of deal where you get "12 months intrest free credit!" before they sting you with the 50% interest rate therafter (when all the stuff really kicks off).

Dear African.

I hear you want to buy a PhD.

You can buy my title off me for £14 billion pounds.

Best wishes

Badhaircut

Having seen how tricky qualitative methods like discourse analysis can be, the best thing I can suggest is make sure you have a clued up supervisor who knows the pitfalls and tricks to carry out the study properly.

If anyone else decides to do do this try offering him either a PhD project to research "efficacy and utility of chocolate fireguards" or "the behaviour and breeding habits of unicorns". Then ask him if a student stipend of £1.3 million pounds is enough for him, but stipulate that he has to wear a lime green silk cape at all times (university regulations).

Mean, but very funny.

For me it was having 3 years to really focus on something I loved. I was basically paid to investigate something I was fascinated by.

The politics were crap, as are the crappy employment prospects, but you HAVE to be in love with the subject or its going to be a miserable 3+ years.

It has gotten so bad that I had this horrific dream about it last night.

In my dream I walked into the lecture hall with a high powered rifle and a box of "Celebrations". I stood up on the dais and said:

"Okay! Here is how it is going to be. We are going to be DISCUSSING infant neural development today. I am going to ask a question. Whoever answers gets a sweet. Whoever, answers gets a sweet. If no one answers, I start going down the register with old faithful here..."

NB. In case the authorities are reading this. I have no intention of harming any of my students. I do not own a firearm. I cannot control the content of my dreams.

Either I must be the crappiest lecture ever or I have stepped into some twilight zone version of a lecture theatre. I give up halfway through, basically read through my notes, show some pretty slides and get the hell out of there.

Not sure if I want to go back...

Anyway, so I score my first gig teaching undergrads at a local university. Its temporary adjunct work, but it is paid okay if you work it out by the hour (not so great if you factor in prep time, but hey it beats Office Angels).

My lecture is 2nd year undergrad bio psych. Trying to make it interesting I factor in "discussion" points to try to get students to critically evaluate research.

Big mistake.

They want handouts, with EVERYTHING written out already. Any attempt at starting discussions are met with "Is this going to be on the exam?". The phrase "Any questions?" is met with blank stares. Also throughout the lecture, a back row parallel commentary about someone called Deano's birthday keeps going.

If you are 50k in you could probably walk away with an MPhil.

However, unless you have a clear idea of where you want to go next, I would suggest you talk over your options with someone you trust. Quitting may be the way forward, but from the way you describe it sounds like you are on a "down" at the moment.

(Unless your supervisor(s) are being right out abusive then I would leave asap).

As long as its even marginally different you will be fine in terms of originality. That another piece of similar piece of research exists is a testament to the fact that your research has considerable merit. I am sure it won't be too difficult to package your research as a "validation", "extension" or "additional exploration" of the topic.

I think its always going to be hard to find a mortgage on a stipend because a) its so low and b) its usually fixed term (3 years).

Out of curiosity, I am not sure what kind of mortgage amount you could get with the standard 12k stipend.