======= Date Modified 26 Sep 2011 09:38:49 =======
You're gay? So what? This is the 21st Century. That's my simple answer. It's just not a real issue. It's part of who you are.

If someone does make an issue of it, then it's they who need to be educated on acceptance. It's their problem, not yours. I wouldn't make a big song and dance about it, perhaps telling just your closest friends and family. Other people, it's none of their business.

PhDs are stressful anyway and especially write-up. Might you not be merging the two issues and making a mountain out of a molehill? It seems the real issue is the stress you're under with your PhD. If you've accepted your own sexuality, why is that a big stresser anymore?

If you think it would become a big issue and make things worse as you go into the hardest part of your PhD, then wait until it's over and sort things then. I'll mirror what other's have said that that's what you need to be focussing on.


All the best,


Ian (Mackem_Beefy)

======= Date Modified 21 Sep 2011 16:18:17 =======
Your brother's mood swings (assuming no substances are involved) suggest developing manic depression (bipolar disorder being the modern name) at first glance. Have any of your family sought help for him?

Has he ever threatened to turn violent? If so, the situation needs to be sorted sooner rather than later.

I have no true perception of what is actually happening, so things might not be as bad as that. 'Unhappiness' may be he's in a situation he doesn't want to be in. He may not want to be at Uni. He may have personal problems he might not wish to talk about - men are notoriously bad at opening up.

A specialist would be the best person for him to talk to, before he harms himself or anyone else.

I know you say you can't afford to move out, but doing so short term until a solution begins to be worked on may be the best option. Putting some distance between you and him may take some heat out of the situation.

======= Date Modified 21 Sep 2011 13:29:56 =======
You might want to check also the national Libraries in Scotland or Wales, where some Universities in those countries prefer to put their theses.

If a thesis should be on Ethos, you will need to request it once you have logged in.  If the thesis is from a participating University, you should get it within 30 days for free if it's not immediately available for download (assuming you've opted to download).  If not, you may still get it, but have to stump up for digitisation costs.  For example, a thesis from Cranfield will cost you £40.85.

Other theses may not be available due to the former student as copyright owner deciding not to make the thesis publicly available or made a take down request to the British Library (copyright, non-disclosure for a limited period, or simply because it's their 'private' work).  In these cases, you might try contacting the library of the Uni. where they did the PhD.  They will either tell you it's not available or if you're lucky provide the hardbound copy on short term loan, or allow you to go to that Uni. by appointment to view it.

I see opting not to make a thesis available as pointless to be honest, as that means there's alot of original information just going to gather dust.  Copyright can be protected (establishing ownership) by publishing the main findings to journal.

Universities close ranks. You've just learn't the hard way.

If you've original material, it's probably just as well to keep some cards close to your chest.

======= Date Modified 15 Sep 2011 09:33:29 =======
Theoretically a lot less stressful.  The employment side certainly should be.  It depends on the post-doc, however.

1) If EPSRC / ESRC or similar, then they will look for sufficient output over the (normally) two years of the project to justify them putting out a grant for it (and in many cases renewing the grant.  If you manage to bung out say 3 papers a year of good original content, that keeps them happy. ERDF funding is fairly similar.

2) If you have an industrial sponsor (sometimes in combination with a funding body), then they will scrutinise your work to varying degrees.  Regular reports will be expected and whilst papers may be expected, this may be watered down due to commercial confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements.

3) The third factor, as with PhD, are the people you're working with and the general atmosphere around the department. Therefore as with PhD, choosing the right place and project for post-doc is important. No change there from PhD!!!

-----
As your average journal paper is a snappier affair compared to the good old thesis in terms of size and quantity of data, then stress levels should be much lower than during the latter stages of PhD.  It's easier to set yourself goals as you can now break down your work into individual studies rather than a single large volume.

Most post-docs are in the same boat as you in that they've just come off PhD and are just relieved the thing is out the way.  It's common for many to use the post-doc period as a quiet year (in the case of women) / quiet couple of years (in the case of men) to get their heads together and decide what exactly their next plans are.  For some reason, women seem to recover more rapidly than men.

However, a few do remain stress heads and I had difficulties in my second post-doc due partially to one girl remaining in stress head mode as she'd clearly never had that pause after the end of her PhD (the personality of the group head was the other problem - but I digress).  You'll also find a fair few who've entered post-doc as a continued source of finance whilst still writing up their PhDs (i.e. me with my first post-doc); it's inevitable these people will be less productive as they're also still in stress mode.

-----

But, there is also the personal side.

You've found already that the wind down period from PhD isn't a sudden stop.  It took me ten days after handing in my hard bound copies to feel like a normal person again and on reaching that point, it is a sudden bump.  All of a sudden you'll ask "What now?"  That is one reason I mention the quiet few years issue above, as all of a sudden the PhD is just not there anymore.

That quiet period is useful in more than one way.  As well as taking a time out to decide where you're own life is going (academia, lecturing, research or back to the real world), it's also a chance to sort out your personal life.  PhDs can be extremely damaging to personal relationships, for example, as there's this other demanding, needy thing overshadowing you life and relationships.  Once all done, it's no longer there but the personal damage can take months if not longer to repair as simply put, all you've been is this shadow slaving in the background rather a real flesh and blood person.

As said elsewhere, you need time to heal and the time needed can vary from person to person.

I mention the issue of relationships on my blog (though at a PhD level) at http://www.wearthesis.talktalk.net

Ian (Mackem_Beefy)

Don't make the thesis all there is or you'll go stir crazy. The odd distraction does help.

Ian (Mackem_Beefy)

======= Date Modified 12 Sep 2011 16:03:13 =======

======= Date Modified 12 Sep 2011 15:04:49 =======

ATAS is the Academic Technology Improvement Scheme. It seems to be a vetting system for students coming from outside the United Kingdom with regard to terrorism.

https://www.atas.fco.gov.uk/public/welcome.aspx

The website does not display properly on my PC, however, from the FAQs:

Missing academia as I got to play with kit I never dreamed of. This was me from bog standard comp playing with kit worth up to £100,000 a piece and and genrating technical data at nona-scale level.

The real world is not giving the same satisfaction. I have a functional job, I go to work, I go home, I feel as I have achieved nothing. However, one thing in favour of my current situation is I'm not having to worry about contract renewal every two to three years. Pensions and other finances can thus be planned long term.

I would love to do that stuff again, however, I'd want some sort of job and pensions security to go with it.

Ian (Mackem_Beefy)

To add to this (I've slightly edited my initial post as I typoed slightly), it would help if a brief remark on expected dress code was put in conference literature. Some conferences in the far east do specify dress codes (smart casual for the actual conference, jacket and tie for the conference dinner, etc.), to the point where at one conference in Singapore I was aware of they were handing out jackets and ties to male attendees to the conference dinner who needed or forgot them.

In the west the level of formality has decreased as time has gone on, though as I said this can vary depending on field and size of event.

I've seen similar on here before and to be quite frank, I'd just pay the resubmission fee and move on. Do as Delta and Corinne have said.

In principle, you've a case. However, you've no supervisor currently at the Uni. to fight your corner and it's you against the bureacracy of the University. Arguing your case may just cause difficulties over the award of your PhD and appealing against the fee could significantly delay it.

You external examiner's remarks about your supervision difficulties to me seem spot on. Weaknesses in a thesis can lead to a difficult viva.

Ian (Mackem_Beefy)