Hi there,

I know that the size of a PI's lab is probably contingent on several factors - like funding, experience, what the norm is in the department, field etc. But all those things held constant, could a very small lab be indicative of anything else - e.g., not a good PI to work with? I am curious because I've come across a PI/lab whose work I am really interested in, and I'm thinking I might like to join them if an opportunity arises. But I am kind of surprised at how few students/postdocs are in the lab (two or three at most), when the PI is super successful in terms of high quality published research, chapters, etc. Should I have warning bells or am I being paranoid?

I have good reason to be a bit paranoid / cautious after my PhD experience - so just thought I'd seek opinions on here to balance me out a bit, hopefully! I've decided that working with people I regard as decent is more important than anything else (when it comes to joining a lab).

A second question - is there a way to find out what a PI is like? Would postdocs / PhDs likely be honest if I asked them what it was like to work with such and such? There may be no definitive answer to these questions but I'd love to hear what people think / have experienced.

Thanks,
Tudor

Hi Lalalup

Could you rephrase the final question you ask, as I don't quite follow. Thanks!

Tudor

You're welcome and I hope it was a tiny but helpful. It sounds like you know what is going on (i.e,, that you are experiencing some mental ill health and that this is a temporary thing) and I think that this is the most important thing there is. You know what it is and that you are going to come out of it. I don't want to sound like I am undermining how crap you are feeling, so I hope this doesn't... but sometimes I have found it helpful to scrawl on big letters on my whiteboard, "it'll pass" - just to remind me that the low mood or whatever else I am experiencing is not a permanent thing - it will get better - and so it kind of stops that downward spiral of thoughts and behaviours. Maybe something like this could help you too.

I know what you mean about it still ticking over in your mind. All I can suggest is keeping up the strategies. Maybe writing in a journal now and then to get the stuff out of your head and on to the page? And then perhaps reframing the situation as well - document any achievements - no matter how small and insignificant it may seem to others? Just some ideas!

I know what you mean about ruts... sometimes again I think it's just a matter of waiting for that difficult time to pass, and then suddenly you realise, oh I'm not in that rut anymore! PhDs have a way of being sort of one rut after another though... so know that you are not alone in this! And, it will get better for sure.

In terms of the actual PhD work - how is it going? Are you in the literature reviewing stage? That can feel so overwhelming at the start. Will you have to do a summary / report thing at the end of the first year? That can be helpful in helping frame your ideas and making you feel less lost and like you do have some kind of plan!

Good luck!

I'm so sorry to hear what you are going through.

It is completely understandable that you would feel stressed after moving, especially having moved abroad... and starting a PhD on top of that plus all of life's other issues. I think all the stress you are experiencing is to be expected.

My only advice would be not to make any hasty decisions while not feeling so great. I totally agree with what you say about headspace and needing to be in a better one to know better how you really feel about the PhD versus the bad headspace. Oh and I suppose you've already thought of this, but do you have some strategies for dealing with certain things? Can be as simple as watching a movie to distract yourself when times are tough.

I hope others have some good thoughts to share with you.

Best
Tudor

Conditionally accepted today subject to two small changes! Grrrr and yayyy at the same time!! (Grr b/c how long will have to wait again to hear back....)

Haha! Good point! I vow not to check the website any more from this moment on but just to await *the email*. Will keep you posted! :D

Thanks for sharing J_W! That makes me feel grateful that mine hasn't taken quite SO long. But can you believe it - I am still waiting to hear! Grumble grumble!

Totally agree with Rewt! That famous professor wanted you as a post doc then so he will want you now - or be willing to recommend you. And that carries more weight than any personal statement or anything! I have a postdoc through knowing someone I met at a conference! Good luck Jamie! Your plans sound exciting!

From what you've shared, I can't think of a single reason to continue. I mean, the main thing is do you WANT to continue? The only incentive for continuing I can find in what you have said is...

Hey!

Just take an hour or so learn the basic background of where those equations come from. It may or may not come up, but you'd feel better if you had written up couple of a4 sheets with bullet points giving you more info on them. You can even bring those pieces of paper to the viva and refer to them if you need to (but more for reassurance). Your supervisor is probably just being a d*ck at this stage because he wants to be able to show off his student... how you perform in the viva reflects somewhat on the supervisor. So if you really know your stuff, then he looks good (not sure what the connection is personally).

If he is really stressing you out then don't check your emails from now till the viva. Prepare yourself and do your best. It's all you can do at this stage.

It helped me when I told myself that nothing I could do at this stage would probably change the outcome. Either the thesis is worthy of a PhD and I can defend it, or not. I am not sure if that helps everyone. Logically, your thesis IS good enough and you CAN defend it, otherwise your supervisor would not have approved it for submission. So believe in yourself, forget about him.

Looking forward to hearing a positive outcome in a few weeks!

Sorry to hear this. I think I would email again and ask directly so you can have closure and a proper explanation. That's your right and only basic courtesy (from them). Might be useful for future applications. Might be that they decided to advertise for another and you will still be made an offer. Just email to find out, I reckon.

There are other options. I'm just trying to find an old thread where people had shared ideas about getting PhD funding. It can take a while to get funding. I'll post the thread here if I can find it.

Good luck.

Off the top of my head, some pros and cons (just my opinion of course)...

+ ideally - you are free to do what you want to do and pursue what you want, how you want, while also learning new skills and acquiring more knowledge - with appropriate level of guidance from more experienced person (supervisor)
+ ideally - flexible, free, working from home etc - accountable to yourself
+ get to attend conferences, write papers etc - very rewarding

- can be tough financially
- can be an isolating experience, and things like imposters' syndrome can happen especially when things go wrong as they do from time to time in research
- a lot of the pros depend on your supervisors and/or the quality of your relationship with them; things can be very tricky if you don't get on well with your supervisors for whatever reason - I imagine that supervisory issues is the biggest reason for drop out, so pick your supervisors well and you are more than half way there already

Thanks Eng. It is so annoying... nearly 3 months and I literally changed a 5 or 10 words as requested in the revision. I don't think it is cos it's the holiday season. Just negligence. Grumble grumble grumble. :D OK, will be patient for 2 more weeks... let's see!

Hi everyone,
I'm getting impatient about a paper I submitted late last year. About 2 months ago, I submitted a revised version - with very minor revisions as requested by the Editor. She also said that the requested changes were so minor that she would not be sending it out for review again. Anyway, since then I heard nothing for 2 months. Then about 2 weeks ago I emailed the journal querying if there was some delay. The person who replied told me it was with the Editor, she had made her decision and I would be notified shortly. Still nothing Is this normal? And do I just need to be patient? It is so annoying! I have very few publications and just want this one to be in the bag. I hope it won't be rejected at this stage after the Editor's initial enthusiasm.
Any thoughts welcomed!