For what psychiatric symptoms? For what conditions?

Most of the robust and psychometrically valid measures normally require a trained rater (either psychiatrist, psychologist or other mental health specialist from a clinical background). Thats why inventories like the SCID cannot be validly administered by just anyone.

MScs and MAs are usually taught degrees where you have regular lectures and are expected to learn a body of knowledge in addition to doing a small research project. MEds are qualifications for education and can be vocational or around developing pedagological skills.

MPhils and MRes are research degrees that don't normally have taught components. They normally are about half the size of PhDs but have a larger research component than an MSc/MA. The difference between the two is slight, but MPhils are now usually awarded to PhD students that decide not to upgrade, whereas MRes students usually sign on to do a finite piece of research for a shorter amount of time and start out with the intention of doing a Masters level research degree.

I include "strugglers". An important distinction which I think encompasses all of those that are doing okay, but do feel the constant pressure (to publish, teach increased numbers or to justify not being cut as dead wood). Can you show me a single academic (non star) that doesnt have to put effort to keep their head above water?

Its odd, but I am not really defeatist. Its strangly validating in a darwinian way that I must be pretty good at what I do or I would have been canned.

But its not really a valid comparison.

If researchers didn't do research, not much really would change. Sure we may not have that much scientific progression, but we wouldn't really miss it (as we have never had it).However, if the bus driver doesnt work lots of people would miss him....

The comparison about time and effort invested doesnt really fly either. Orchestra musicians put in just as much (if not more effort) and most are on even worse salaries than post docs. The nature of research (as in music, sports, acting and other highly competitive, but ultimately non-essential careers) is that there is a sprinkling of stars who make it big, and a huge underclass of strugglers and could-have-beens.

A PhD is NOT an investment, and should never be regarded as one. Its probably more like an expensive status symbol such as a Porsche. The letters after your name may impress some and it makes you more noticeable, but its more about the experience.

True, but if I look at the current world, with its high divorce rate and broken up families, not many people have those luxuries.



Isn't this the same of happiness? Or Love? If we boil it down we do what we do because it serves a need deep within us.

People do PhDs for a myriad of reasons. Some because they feel they want to show others that once doubted their abilities. Others believe they will become great thinkers. Some to mitigate against their own insecurities. The list is endless. There must be something in this line of work that keeps us both here, I guess its finding out what.

" What is it for? I cannot but help get the picture of a line of gerbils in cages on exercise wheels, all racing each other as it were, but in reality they are just running on a wheel that remains in place..."

I guess this is the inevitable endpoint of all life in an advanced capitalist society. We all run so that a few people higher in the pyramid get to live the lifestyle they want. We all run so perhaps maybe one day we too could be like them, if we are lucky.

We are all gerbils on wheels. Some may make up stories and say that they are different, but essentially we make our own wheels to run on. From Prime Minister to burger flipper we all just run.

"But why deal in such a highly stressed enviroment? To what end? What are the rewards?"

The rewards are international recognition, Intellectual freedom, and the chance to discover something that is important to you. I guess theres also a certain kudos to make it here.

Its not for everyone. No one gets rich here, and any gratification is delayed, but thats not hard for anyone that takes 3+ years and writes a book just to get a bit of paper.

In my moments of introspection I realise that this lifestyle has made me meaner and more aggressive. I used to care what others thought and had the world view of "If you are nice to others, good things will happen to you". It didn't get me too far. Then I used to be very pessimistic, and that didn't help either.

Now I walk a thin line between being cautious and being brutal if necessary. I do what I have to do, and make sure that I am not falling behind. If I can help others than I will (if they deserve it).I don't suffer fools gladly and don't have time for the weepy and anxious (Hey, its my ex thats the clinical psychologist, I am the academic one).

In answer to the original question the reason is because academia is a highly pressurised environment where only the tough survive and the warlike thrive.

There is an old African proverb my supervisor taught me "when the watering hole gets smaller, the animals get meaner" and as well all know there are more animals around and there is less water (funding) all the time.

Nope. 25k is actually quite a reasonable post doc salary (especially if its your first). I would be quite happy to take that straight from a PhD, because if you don't there are plenty that will. I personally think its the lack of sercurity which is the real killer and thats why ONLY 22% of PhDs stay in academia (check prospects.ac.uk).

Lecturer salaries aren't much better than that and never go very high (unless you make professor and that is getting rarer and rarer). I also think it will reduce in the future (like it has in the states) with more Part time adjunct lecturers teaching odd courses and a just a few core staff members that are totally overworked.

So, she basically goes for the jugular. (How dare I exclude her/ Who do I think I am/ I just arrived and am already...). I stare her down and reply "Unless you don't want to go next year, I would suggest you calm down". She flushes red and storms out saying "you havent heard the end of this".

According to Sabrina (almost hero-worshiping me since the whole Katy debacle) Ms UC was muttering dark things in the canteen, but it looks like I need to keep an eye on things.

Anyone out there got some pointers around this kind of thing?

Life goes on, research is done but a break from the Katie saga is welcome.

Miss Ultra competitive (sorry thats DOCTOR ultra-competitive to you)rocked up to my office yesterday morning in a state of absolute fury.

The PI has basically gone back to his visiting professorship and has left me in charge. As a result I have to sign off any major expenditures and deal with budgeting issues. This means allocating cash for who goes on conferences. The way I am working it is that people who havent gone recently get priority, AND Phders get a shot at funds IF they have secured some funding from other sources (e.g. awards etc). One of my new suggestions to encourage the PhDers. However, this means that there isnt enough to let Miss UC go along this time (she went last year).

Good luck, but unless you are already a member of staff you will be classed as a student (like undergrads and masters etc), and thus not be eligible for statutory pay (but you should be able to claim child benefit etc).

Your job as a PhD student is to "produce an original piece of work that contributes to your field". It doesn't have to be devised by you, but you have to produce it (i.e. understand it, do the work and write it up).

Thats all.

If you think about it almost all modern scientific work is based on the "standing on the shoulders of giants" premise. We all follow on the groundwork of someone else (unless you count ancient philosophers or a renaissance era experimenters who had to do things from scratch).

She gave a great analogy that academic life was like one of those pyramid scams, that only make a few people at the top rich, but everyone below just loses money. The quick ones cut their losses, but the saps "hang in there". Some people make money, but most lose it. However, the pyramid still stands because there is always a fresh rung of optimistic players that come in from below that keep the whole game going.

I disagreed. I used to be negative but now I reckon you "make your own luck". I told her about my recent adventures and how I was now the PI's right hand man, and what I had been upto since then . Unlike people on here she took it quite sadly and said " I was turning into my old supervisor".

Never had thought of it like that....