Congrats ... I didn't read the last post of yours! That is excellent news!!!

Hi, a lot of the time it is about getting your foot in the door and getting contacts especially in academia. I hate to say it and it is such a cliché but that is how it seems to work! A lot of the time they seem to have someone in mind for the job and are just interviewing because they have to. That is not always the case but this maybe the case at more prestigious unis that everybody applies to. Having said that, all is not lost as references are a key point - make sure you've got the best refs possible. They could be the key in giving you that edge! Is there any possibility that you can do any volunteer work in the area you want to move into as that always goes down well especially as you are going into a very competitive field. As for interviews I can sympathise with you there but I think preparation is vital. I think if you show that you’ve done the background reading that's a good start and ask questions even if it's just about the library resources. Good Luck, stick at and believe in yourself!!!

They seem to be changing all the time - now it's marketing online PhDs!!! I'm referring to the google ads in case anyone is wondering what I'm talking about!!!

Does anyone find it weird and slightly worrying (if not a lot) that there should be ads selling you "Great student essays" at a variety of prices to suit your budget on this site (of all sites?) So how much is a PhD worth? And one that will pass first time round without corrections!!! The Deluxe version!!!

That is assuming they are there!

It's to do with the competitive nature of the job market these days, having extra qualifications will get you higher up the ladder quicker. As there are many more graduates than previously it's a way to sort people out. It is pretty much essential if you want to get anywhere in academia but not so necessary outside of it. It certainly helps but as others have mentioned it depends on want you to get out of it as it is research training. And hard work as well especially if you don't know what you hope to gain out of it!

It is still possible to work your way up in a company/organisation/charity and gain experience that way. Sometimes it is only a Masters is needed. Maybe you could have a look on different sites aimed at final yr students/graduates such as www.prospects.ac.uk.

She sounds very unreasonable. Maybe she'll listen if you say you want a meeting with her to discuss issues that you feel are affecting your PhD? Is she the type that is likely to listen? Maybe have a meeting with another external person outwith dept? Maybe send her an e-mail or at least write all you want to discuss on a piece of paper and show it to her before so both of you can prepare what you want to say.

Is she just being difficult for the sake of it? Does she forget about things she says a week(s) after she says them once the dust has settled! Does she just like the sound of her own voice or want to stamp her authority? I can imagine it being weird working for wife and husband - are they playing you off one another?

Good luck and hope you get it sorted.

hehehe don't do it! Run as fast as you can to all potential PhD students unless you want your head checked!!!!

Or if you have mc2006's stipend, supervisors, uni etc.... How can you publish twice in your first year? Whose results are you using? And can I have some money please so I can also go to numerous conferences and buy myself numerous gadgets? Who is funding you apart from the fairy godmother?

Excellent scientific women website. What about Condoleezza Rice - the US Secretary of State, she's very feisty!

I forgot to say that it mostly requires LUCK and hope you don't run into any major problems!

I agree with all the others ... you can hope to finish in 3 yrs but this is not always very realistic ... it depends on many things - firstly if you do a lab based project this generally won't happen as things always take you think so always allow extra time for things to go wrong/change of plan etc... The nature of project is important - if it is very lab intensive allow extra time as one of the first things you learn is that there are many things outwith your control that you have to allow time for! Then there are postgrad training courses, presentations, reports etc which all take up time so you have to allow time for those as well. It requires good time management to finish on time!

hehe

Hang in there Zara! It's totally normal not to have results at this stage as it's the trial and error stage of testing what will/won't work! I know people who haven't really started on or know what they are doing 3 months in so you're ahead already!

It's a tough as you build yourself up to get a PhD and when you get one it's Woo Hoo!! Everything is rosy as you can't believe you're there. Then it's work time although it doesn't work out the way you plan it! Everything takes longer than you realise so you don't have much to show for it when your supervisor asks!! You come back down to earth with a big bump! So you either try to avoid your supervisor or try to prove you are not stupid and will get results! And also attempting to avoid using the word stressed incase it stresses you further! You do wonder why on earth we do this to ourselves? It'll be worth it in the end when we can see past all this!! Remember it's research training as opposed to knowing what to do!

Good luck & hope you get some bugs soon!

opps meant generally in developing countries abroad