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A potential second supervisor?
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Hello all,

My supervisor has suggested that we get a second supervisor on board in a few months time, but I am not so sure, can any with experinece of one and two supervisors shed some pros and cons of this? and what I should watch out for? Thanks.

IEEE Referencing queries
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Hello all, I have some very basic quesries regarding the use of the IEEE referencing systems (sorry...).

1) If you have two or more sentances where you cite from a paper do you need to add a [1] or what ever number, to all the sentances? What if you have a whole papagraph based on that one paper?

2) Am I right in saying that the reference label needs to be inserted before the end of the setance e.g.

Joe bloggs did this [2].

If so does this mean that [2] no longer applies to any other senstance?

Thanks, hope you are all doing well :-)

No Motivation, No Support, Ready to Quit - Help!
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Hi, you seem to have both postive and not so positive aspects to your situation. Although I have only started my PhD 3 months ago, I know what it feels like to burnt out, it happened to me about a year ago. What helped me was to firstly take some time off. Get yourself away even for a few days or week if you can. Get yourself a pen and some paper, write down everything your have on a prioritise and you might have to knock off some of the lowest priority items (harsh but it works out the best for you in the end).

Try to remember why you did the phD in the first place and you are half way through now, I agree with Satchi, find a way to get to the end, as you will see the finish line very soon. I hope that helps.

All the best

Reading Papers Advice
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Thanks everyone, realy helpful advice!

PhD Pass rate
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Hello all,

Does anyone have access to statistics about pass rates of PhD's and stats on drop outs, etc. Would be interesting to see.

Thanks

Reading Papers Advice
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Hello all,

I am doing an engineering PhD and I am currently doing a literature review. I am trying to keep positive! I am reading lots of papers and find some aspects difficult to understand, especially ones with maths involved. Any advice or words of wisdom on this?

Thanks

E-mailing work to your Supervisor
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======= Date Modified 24 44 2009 09:44:05 =======
Hello all,

I would like to get something of my chest... I started my PhD in Oct 2009. I would like to send some work to my supervisor who has not directly asked for it but I would like to share it with him to discuss it. When you carry out work and summerise the work (as you do in engineering and science), even if your supervisor has not asked for it do you send it to them anyway? I am just thinkning if I send all this work to my supervisor then he may expect it all the time (almost like setting the standard from myself)? Or is it just standard that when work has been set between me and my supervisor that it is expected for us to share that work and report it when we are done. I know thats how it worked in industry.

I am probably worry about nothing. Just thought I would talk/type it through. Ultimetely I want to benefit from sharing my work and talking it through with my supervisor for feedback and improvements.

Thanks

Sharing work with supervisors
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Thank you everyone for your posts. In response to

Quote From keenbean:

What is planting the doubt in your mind over this? KB


I guess I am new to PhD's and not sure how certain things are handled, for exmaple I always wondered how 5 or even more people can write one paper equally? etc. I am trying to find out how these things work, and this forum is brill for that.

Thanks again everyone :-)

Do I really want a PhD?
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======= Date Modified 23 Dec 2009 16:02:59 =======
Hi Marry,

I started my PhD in Oct 09 and what you describe is "better" than normal from what more experienced PhD students tell me. It does sound like you have a supportive structure around you to help you achieve you goals (uni, supervisor, etc), so thats brill!

The best piece advice I have had is "start writing", it really works! I was really confused a month ago, and this really helped me. Even if you start writing "I don't know what I am doing", this starts to get you thinking and using that wonderful brain you have that got you where you are now.

Also, I am still working through what area I am working on and what problems I will look to focus on and solve, so you are not alone on that one :-)

Take care and all the best

Sharing work with supervisors
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Hello all,

I would like some honest feedback about sharing work with supervisors. When you produce work (even work my supervisor has not directly asked for, how do you trust your supervisors not to pass your work onto others without your consent or use your work for other purposes. I guess this comes down to good old fashioned "trust". I really wouldn't want to start putting disclaimers on the work produced. I feel silly asking the question, but would like to gather the thoughts of others on this.

Thanks

Biomedical Engineering Community
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Hello all,

Is anyone out there doing a PhD on biomedical engineering? I am a mechanical engineering by background and I am researching orthopaedic devices, some of my keywords are, biomechanics, biomaterials, tribology and finite element analysis.

Kind Regards

New to the site - Learning experiences
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Hi everyone,

I have been looking for a site like this, where I find other PhD researchers around the world and share ideas. I am in my first years phD and started a month ago in the UK. A month has past already!

Is there anyone in there 2nd or 3rd year (or more) in there phD who would like to share some learning experiences i.e. what did you wish you knew when you started?

Thanks

PhDMechEng