Hi Applepie
Based on your further explanation about what is happening, I think that if at all possible, I would just ignore it... within reason ignore what she says and do what you think. She'll soon get the message! Some of it does sound like it is just her way of speaking and perhaps could just be ignored (busy-ness can make people direct - you just have to take it with a pinch of salt). Other parts (the bossiness about your work and schedule) sound like you are more independent than she thinks/knows/wants (she is a micromanager most likely), and I think the best thing to do there is to just be assertive. There are some good tips on dealing with micro-managers online (I had a similar problem once!!!)
Good luck today!

Hi applepie (love your nick!)

A few things... is this the "only" problem that you have with your supervisor? In other words, is her feedback and advice generally good and is she helping you develop into a competent researcher BUT her tone and style are annoying at best and critical and undermining at worse? If so, then rather than trying to change supervisors at this stage (especially as you say that changing supervisors is not an option) then it seems to me that you have four options.

1 - DEMAND to change supervisors (not really practical if it is as you have described)
2 - Do nothing and just continue like this... not good at all, demoralizing etc
3 - Try to be more assertive yourself and put her right when she is wrong (e.g., politely and calmly but firmly: "no, I did read the paper, as I said before")
4 - Raise the issue with her directly - in an assertive but more direct way than the above (depending on the country/culture, there is nothing wrong with being direct - often people end up respecting you more for it)

If you are looking for tips on being assertive, I'd suggest having a google about how to be assertive with managers and colleagues (sometimes the best advice is not PhD-specific). It may be that your supervisor just will not behave differently and you have to live with this. But at least you would know that you tried to address it...

Sorry if this isn't very helpful and good luck!

They can be crap to be honest. I know someone who has changed supervisor three times. She now has a decent one (and one where there is a mutual respect between them) and things are much better. Have you asked your new supervisor why she doesn't give advice when you ask for it? It does sound a pretty ridic situation. You're only 7 months in... if you need to make more changes with supervision, make them now. But also consider whether it is you who is being awkward here (I am not suggesting that it is - but it is always good to look in the mirror as well).

Good luck!

I get your point though - and I think we agree on this. Lol :)

No - of course not - who on earth would want to cite a paper they hadn't read that was crucial to understanding the science? :-0

Bravo!!!

Just an example of where you can cite scientific papers without having read them. It isn't just black and white - there are several grey areas.

Yay! Relieves some of the pressure doesn't it? Now go and enjoy yourself for 3 weeks : )

No... don't agree at all... I use a statistical software called R. We need to cite papers that reference particular packages in this software. To read them would be madness - they are about how they were developed, troubleshooting etc. We follow online tutorials as a guide to how to use functions within the packages - the paper citing part is simply to acknowledge who developed it.

Hope you are OK!

Hi there

Yes, I wouldn't worry yet. But you can always ring the admin team and annoy them (and hopefully get a bit of peace of mind that it is on its way or an idea of how long it is likely to take).

Congratulations!

I agree - if you can get it fully funded or free elsewhere then do that (unless you're very wealthy and/or strongly desire to study in the UK).

I think it would seem very strange to warn your supervisor and show them a photograph. I think the best thing you can do is to make a good impression on your supervisor (e.g., that you are hardworking, trustworthy, reliable etc). That way he/she will already have formed their good impression of you, and would be unlikely to be too influenced by hearing something otherwise from someone that they didn't know - that is if they DID happen to hear something bad.

Good luck!

I also cite lots of statistics papers that I've never read... I need to acknowledge them because they authored the approach or the program... but in most cases reading them would be a complete waste of time! : )