Haha, I'm a big fan of the 'I need this by Thursday' (or whatever day) statement. I appreciate it probably means by the end of the working day i.e. around 5pm, but I have occasionally left it to 11pm and then argued that it was still on time! I wouldn't recommend this approach as it does tend to piss people off, but I think you're fine to leave it to the end of the 'working day'! Best, KB

Hey! To be honest, right now post-docs are so hard to get that if this one suits you, you like the institution and the project, the people you will be working with etc, then I would go for it. You can still make sure that you go away to conferences and meet other researchers and collaborate with them on stuff (including writing papers)- being at the same institution doesn't have to mean sticking to the same thing all the time. I am actively attempting to get funding to carry on for a post-doc at the same uni I'm at now because I genuinely believe that I'm in the best place to do my research. However, I have reassurance from my supervisor that I will actively be working with researchers from other unis so that all my papers aren't just me first author and my supervisor second, as all my PhD ones are. Of course you can still look elsewhere, but I wouldn't dismiss this postdoc straight off just because it's at the same institution. To be honest, I have had this conversation with some researchers at my institution, and many have said that it can look good to stay at the same place because it is obvious that they value your work- why else would they allocate funding or a post-doc to you? Good luck with your decision! KB

Hey Max! Every supervisor is different, so I guess you have to judge it by his/her usual standards! My sup has everything marked and returned within about 48 hours of handing it in, but I think she's pretty unique with respect to this- some of my pals have to wait for a couple of months for feedback on things. I would try to establish if there is any kind pf problem before you get openly p***ed off though- there's nothing worse than being arsey with someone just to find out that they've had an emergency operation or one of their parents has just died or something! So maybe ring up and make enquiries as to whether he/she is around, and if they are perhaps try to catch them on the phone? Best, KB

Hey Dan - maybe presevere with the internet dating for a while. I was mortified to find that my friend had joined me up to an internet dating site, but after a few duff dates, I found the guy I have now just got engaged to. Online, he didn't look like the typical kind of guy I would go for, but he appeared in a dream I had one night (fully clothed I might add- nothing intimate lol!) and I decided that I had to meet him after that, in case it was fate or something. Turned out, it was! But I know what you mean- although I wasn't going to go as far as signing up to an internet dating site, I was beginning to wonder where my future husband would come from, because I guess you just meet fewer people when you get a little older. I would keep up with it for a while, and maybe shoot for people that might normally not be your type. And stay positive :) KB

Hey there! I think it's quite natural to have some doubts about your project- I think most people do at some point. I wouldn't worry too much about what your fellow PhD-ers are saying though. I have 'friends' who are really competitive and love to talk down other people's work and insinuate that it's useless etc, but I think these people are just a tad insecure about their own work or maybe even jealous because they think you have a better deal or something. At the end of the day, your supervisors wouldn't be supporting a project that's not worth their time or energy, so I don't think you have anything to worry about. But when you say other people's projects are 'better', how do you mean? More useful? More interesting? As long as you're happy with what you're doing, try not to compare it to what others are doing and remember, the grass is always greener. I've got friends who are doing cool projects too, but things often look rosy from the outside and when I speak to them, they always like the look of some other project or are cursing their own! Don't let others talk you down, but if you really are concerned then why not speak to your supervisors about it? You are early enough in to have an influence on what you're doing and how you're doing it, so if you want to change something, then go for it! Best, KB

Hey! It depends on the subject, so I would check with a few universities first. For my subject (clinical psychology) an MSc is esential, and is a requirement for entry onto a PhD. However, for other subjects there is no need for a masters- with straight sciences such as biology it's much easier to get a fully funded PhD without a masters. I have quite a few friends on fully funded PhDs in Biology with a 2.1 BSc and no MSc. In my psych department there are around 80 PhD students and I don't know of anyone without an MSc! So check it out with the universities you are applying to to be sure. Best, KB

Hey Natassia! Good to hear from you and congrats on your fab masters result- sounds like you've had such a tough year so it's great that you've come out with such a good result! Of course your supervisors will want you, you're the perfect candidate! I think even though starting a PhD is a big deal to most people some supervisors don't pick up on that and don't realise how nervous you are. I remember when I started my PhD my supervisor wasn't in that morning and I had no idea what to do and I couldn't even get into my office- then it was a week or two until I had a proper meeting with her so I was just reading vaguely relevant articles and re-reading my proposal etc! But she has been a (mostly) fab supervisor, so don't let a slow start worry you! Best of luck with things! KB

Congrats AQ, really chuffed for you! Have a fab weekend celebrating! Best, KB

Hey Cakeman! I think I remember a similar thread on here not so long ago. For me, I just love research. I love working with my patient group (people with Alzheimer's) and I like to think that even when I've been dead for 100 years, hopefully someone, somewhere will be accessing my papers and I will have left my mark, however tiny, on the world. My subject has a lot of personal meaning for me as well. My grandad will most likely die from Alzheimer's disease in the coming months (he has suffered for 10 years or so but we have been told he doesn't have long left now). My other grandad also died with dementia. I have spent plenty of my life in the hands of the mental health system with bipolar and I would just love to see some improvement in the treatment of mental health problems, whether it's dementia, bipolar, or anything else. I'm not naive enough to think I can make some huge change, but even to contribute to the tiniest change would mean something to me. And I like the research lifestyle as well- I love writing papers, love conferences, and my PhD has given me so much confidence that I just want to keep going. I also want my family to be proud of me- they stuck by me when I was really poorly years back and I want to do well as a thank-you to them.

But I don't think it matters what your motivation is- everyone does PhDs for different reasons and I don't think we can judge any of them to be 'better' reasons than others....some people just love research, some folks just want to be called 'Dr' and for some it has other meanings. Anyway, it would be boring if we were all the same! Best, KB

Hey, I'm up for this! My deadline isn't until September but I've got quite a bit to do and could use a bit of motivation. I've almost finished testing my participants, just got one more left to do. My data is all entered but not analysed. I have written 4 papers which will be chapters, but have another 4 results chapters to write that I haven't started, and the introduction and discussion which I haven't started either. I'm clinical psychology, so looking at around 80-100k word limit! I think I can finish on time but it's so hard to tell until I sit down and start writing. I also will be going abroad for conferences and a holiday at least 3 times this year so I have a few distractions as well! Good luck everyone :) KB

Actually 4Matt, I kind of agree with some of what you said below- again, in the context of personal experiences and professionally (I have an NHS research contract). I have had some absolutely awful experiences with the NHS and to be honest, my most recent experience with the NHS makes me embarrassed to be associated with them. I know that there is a lot of good work in the NHS but there is also a lot of discrimination and politics that have actually swayed me from my original ambition to become a clinical psychologist and work for them, to a decision to remain in research and have as little to do with them as possible. But back to the main subject, I once used the samaritans email service and found it very helpful- if you just need to hear a kind few words and a bit of unbiased advice then they are very useful and tend to be quick in replying. Hope you're starting to feel better Ev. Best, KB

Hey Ev, glad you've had the courage to get help and that you are beginning to feel more hopeful about recovery. Depression is a horrible thing, and not easily understood by those who have never experienced it. I've suffered terribly with it as part of my bipolar disorder and it's worse than any physical pain I have ever experienced (and I have had a few broken bones in my life!). It's hard to ask for help but as you say, it's so important to look after ourselves. Really hope your mood picks up soon, best, KB

Hey! Chuff- I don't see that as being controversial at all. I completely understand- someone's career may well be affected by having kids, and possibly for that reason not fulfill their 'potential' career-wise. And who's to say what will happen- some people manage to balance it all and others don't quite so well. I was just miffed that that was her first response instead of even pretending to be pleased for me! It wouldn't have hurt her to say congrats....well clearly it would have done apparently! I am really serious about my career and she knows that- I'm disappointed that she thinks I would let it slip just because I have a man in my life! For info, she is around 50, single, and doesn't do children! Best, KB

Haha, yeah, the three weeks thing is a long story! My boyf was going to propose to me on holiday in 3 weeks time, but he let it slip and I guessed what was going on, and we just ended up laughing about it and I said he should carry out his plan and propose on holiday and I would pretend to be surprised! (I sort of felt guilty for sussing him out!). So we agreed he'll propose on holiday and we went to choose the ring together yesterday (he was nervous about choosing it on his own) but it won't be ready for two weeks as they need to order it then change its size. So it ties in pretty well with the holiday anyway! But it's killing me, practically being engaged but not quite there, I'm dying to tell everyone but I can't! As for my sup, I kind of expected a miserable response but it really grates on me that she couldn't even pretend to be happy for me! I'm not prepared to sacrifice the possibility of being happily married with children just to get a bit further on in my career, although my career is still really important to me. I think she sort of thought I was like her- a pure career girl- and now she's realised I'm not she's disappointed. Oh well, at least I got some congrats on here- thanks guys! Best, KB

Now my sup is known for being a bit of a grump, but at the end of supervision today I informed her that I will be getting engaged to my boyfriend next month (we bought the ring together yesterday- am so excited!!). Her reaction was one of complete disgust. She ranted on about why did I have to be so traditional and boring and what a waste of time it all was, and refused point blank to congratulate me (to be fair, we aren't actually engaged yet- we've got 3 weeks to wait!). This was followed by an interrogation about when we're planning to have children. Then about an hour later she came looking for me and sat me down and said that if I was happy then so was she, but she was worried for my career if I get married and have a family because it's a sexist world and she's a feminist. I said that perhaps I was being naive but that I very much wanted both a career and kids, and that was that. Why is it so hard for her to be pleased for me? I know she's not interested in marriage or children but I am! Grrrr, what a misery! KB