I'd give it a try! My colleague and I (both new postdocs) recently attended the PhD Christmas activity, and the others seemed happy enough to have us there - some were preparing for their viva and so we were filling them in on what to expect. I don't think there's that many worlds apart between a PhD student and a postdoc. Funnily enough, my PI recently said that she had stopped going to our campus student sports facilities, as she found herself in the cramped swimming pool surrounded by her students who she then had to see again later in the day for lectures - I guess that's different!

Re leaving early (which I know much more about, oops!)... isn't one of the perks of academia to sort of be your own boss when it comes to that sort of thing - as long as the work gets done? It is for me anyway. That said, it might be worth coming in 9 to 5 for the first week or so, get to know everyone etc, and then have a word with the PI to see if they would be happy for you to work from home sometimes and/or be a little flexible about when you arrive / leave. This is what I recently did incidentally, when I started my new job a month ago, and so I'm finally working at home again and using my energy on the work instead of the stress of getting into the office and all that is associated with it - yay!!

Hope the last few weeks at the current job goes well and things go smoothly settling in the new one!

They obviously think that only minor corrections are needed. You'll do it!! Congratulations on passing your viva :-)

I paid about 70 quid I think for three soft backs. Some of my peers had supervisors who paid for them out of their funding. By that point, I was beyond caring!

I think there are advantages but also some disadvantages of doing a PhD in the US as compared to the UK. But I don't see what it has to do with the potential mis-match between student and lab / supervisor. That can happen anywhere.

Massive congratulations. So glad you didn't give up the fight!

Thanks Jamie-Wizard :) It can indeed, I remember your earlier posts.

Seems like you got back luck. It's not to late - you're only in the first year - you could try and change your lab/supervisor. Either that or I guess you need to adjust - that is, see how other people are getting the support and input they need (e.g., is it coming through more senior PhD students or postdocs) and if that can work for you.

So cool that you now have a postdoc!!! I remember your thread from a few months ago when you were considering going for one. Congrats and I hope it is a rewarding experience!

I think all you can do here is communicate. Communicate with the prospective employers that the reference is on its way - there just seems to be some admin related hold up. And keep chasing HR!!!

Congratulations on job offer!!!!

Can you speak directly with someone in HR tomorrow and try and find out what the hold up is?

It sounds one of those horrible situations where you feel like you're just wasting away and know that there are better opportunities out there - if only you can get one. When I first read your post I thought you were funded, and I was going to say well stick it out anyway as there is nothing to stop you doing a second PhD somewhere else, or you can get a good postdoc and just put the rubbish PhD experience behind you. But if you are self-funding then really the best idea might be to consider your other options. Maybe there are some ways in which you could build up your application to try and get accepted on a better programme / in a department / lab that meets your expectations. If you have specific places in mind, maybe you could arrange to visit and speak to other students there to get a feel of the place etc and maybe meet some potential supervisors or make contact.