Hello all

I'm just wondering what is the best way of writing more efficiently...do you

1. Search for articles, then read all of them, then only start writing
2. Search, Read, Write at the same time

Do you format your writing nicely whilst you are writing? Do you write reference at the same time whist you are writing? Or do you leave all these after you have finish the main writing?

I often find formatting and writing reference during writing is interrupting the process, not sure if it's good to leave it at last minute.

Please share your experience!

Thanks Sft

You are speaking about my feeling deep down from my heart. I felt exactly as you described- I'm just my supervisor's tool.

I started off as a part-time R.A. for my supervisor. He felt the research progress is very slow so he pushed me to become a Full-Time student (so that he can apply for more funding). I was quite reluctant at first because I have no money on my own, I told him that probably is not a good idea as there is no way that I can afford on my own, he promised he will take care of the financial problems and tell me not to worry. I trusted his word so I enrolled to be a PhD student. I'm not sure what was the process of checking financial background when I enrolled as a fully funded student. He probably has submitted some kind funding confirmation proof to the university.

When he told me he runs out of funding and can no longer support me from summer, i wasn't happy about it as he promised he will take care of it before I started my PhD. However he said " I shouldn't complain" as he has helped me A LOT as my fees was 3x compared to home student. I don't know what else to say...

======= Date Modified 03 Apr 2011 20:54:12 =======
thanks folks, you have no idea how much your comments meant to me, have been miserable about this problem for quite a while and i really don't know what to do.

My supervisor employed me as a R.A to do this project, but he wanted me to enrol as a PhD student as well because that's easier for him to apply for research funding and for me to gain a qualification when the research is completed, hence I'm a "PhD student" and also his R.A. As his R.A, I'm also helping him with lab activities that is not related to my PhD. Have been doing this for him without "extra charge" because I'm really thankful to him that he is willing to fund my PhD.

I'm an overseas student hence my fees are 3x more than home students. There was point when I brought out the issue about my "underpaid - stipend" (£8,800K/annum) and sent him some information about standard stipend (which is £13,590), he was very angry about it. He mentioned he has been very kind to cover my fees (as it's 3x more than home fees) and I shouldn't demand anymore. When he mentioned that he is not able to support my stipend anymore from summer, I suggested I should work during evening and weekends to cover my living expenses, he said "this is not unacceptable". He claimed all researchers work during evenings and weekends, hence he will cut down my funding completely if he sees there is a drop in my research progress.

In my department, we need to do course work during our first year which is compulsory. Although department strongly encourages us to take up other skill training courses, but it's not "compulsory" hence he asked me not to do any of this because it will interrupt my research progress. I spoke to him that I feel these skill trainings are important as it would shape me to be a good researcher, he doesn't accept the idea and keep bringing up the issue that "I'm his R.A and he funded me", which I should obey everything that he said.

I'm not so sure if my department or Research Group is able to give me any help, I don't think they can control what he wants to do with his research funding? He does not demand that much from his other student because he did not fund that student. He has different rules for me and his other students (he only has two students): for example, he expects me to be at the department during office hour everyday, but his other student can come in anytime that he wants. He is much more stricter on me, I suppose that's because he has put quite a lot of money on me, so he needs to make sure I have good progress on my work. I know he has some problems with that student as well.

I don't think I'm able to talk to him about my financial problems or "working outside office hour" issue anymore, he has made it clear- No More Negotiation. I think he would seriously cut down my funding if I brought up the issue to him again. As I mentioned, I'm not sure if the department can do anything about it because it's his research funding. if I brought up the issue to the department, and things do not go well and he is not happy, I'm basically "game-over".

He was once my benefactor and I really appreciated everything that he has done for me in order for me to do research because I really really love it! But at the same time, I'm finding it hard to obey him completely and blindly.

I'm in big dilemma... :-(

p.s. I really hope he doesn't seem this post as well!

======= Date Modified 03 Apr 2011 20:54:37 =======
Thanks seven. Your comment really has helped me a lot.

I'm a second year and my supervisor sponsors my PhD.

I have brought up the issue to him especially department expects us to be a good researcher through skills trainings, however he said I'm also his 'employee', not just a PhD student, so I have to listen what he wants me to do. He wants me to do "research only" and nothing else.

My stipend is £8,800K/annum and it's likely that I will have to be fully responsible of my stipend starting from summer (he runs out of research funding). Hence I raised my concern to him that I would like to work during evenings and weekends so that I could cover my stipend from summer. He was very angry when I talked to him about this, and mentioned I shouldn't do any other jobs because that means my research progress would drop. If I refused to do that, he will stop my funding immediately. He suggested me to take a loan instead. But I really don't want to take up any loan to cover my study, I don't have confidence that I can pay it back later, PhD doesn't guarantee me a job.

"the Laws on maximum working hours and minimum breaks tend not to extend to us lowly PhDs!"- Is this really true? I thought I could get some help from the Laws but that doesn't seem to be the helpful at all?:-(

I really love my research and I really want to finish it if possible. But the financial problem has become a major obstacle of my PhD.

Dear colleagues

I'm currently a second year PhD student.
I have some concern about my PhD funding and I hope you are able to give me some advice.

My PhD fees is funded by a funding body and my stipend was sponsored by my supervisor. However, my supervisor can no longer support me as he does not have enough funding from his research account.

My situation is quite tricky as most of the scholarships are only eligible for new PhD student.

Can anyone give me some advice whether is there any funding body that I can apply for to support my stipend?

Please help.

Thanks.

Dear all

I have questions about journal submission. I don't have any experience on journal publication and I hope to get some help from here.

I would like to submit my MSc dissertation to a publication (Music Perception & Psychoacoustic), however both of the publishing houses that I'm interested to submit are in Canada and America. Both requires soft and hard copy.

I'm currently in UK and it's quite expensive for me to send hard copies to these countries, I already spend most of my money on Phd.
My current PhD supervisor doesn't seem to be helpful to give me guidance how to do this, the main reason is because my MSc project is different from my current PhD topic, and also he doesn't want me to spend time on other things except his or my current research. He's quite a controlled freak as I shouldn't do anything else other than my current research.

Anyway, I did well for my MSc research so I really hope to get it publish, but I'm so sure how to start.
I can't afford these two journal publishers, and I have yet to find one that is in England.

Can someone give me some guides how should I do this please.

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks

Hi

I have a question, could we publish our Masters Dissertation without supervisor?

My Masters dissertation was quite different from my current PhD topic therefore my current supervisor didn't really bother
about publishing my masters dissertation.

I did quite well for my Masters Dissertation so hoping I could publish that as well.

How can I publish it? where should I look for this info?

Thanks.

======= Date Modified 01 Apr 2011 16:01:46 =======
Dear all

I'm wondering whether have you got experience when your supervisors expect you to work during evening and weekend, and not to involve department's activities (such as teaching, skill training etc)?

I have been told I should concentrate on my research ONLY and he is not happy when I want to take up some teaching, marking and some researcher development activities.

Is this normal?