I think it's normally expected that there will be some dialogue between the student and supervisor regarding publications, but it's up to you to get the ball rolling if you feel that time is getting on. If you think you have publishable results then you prepare a plan or a draft and suggest a journal or two that you think are suitable. If you then get no input or feedback from your sup then there is something wrong. Encouragement from your supervisor is nice and probably the mark of a more involved academic, but ultimately it's your professional development which is at stake, so you should show some initiative.

This is all assuming you are to be the first author on the paper, by the way.

Unfortunately I can't help, but I can confirm that I also have this problem. It's blind to 2010 or 2011 for some reason. Only takes two seconds to fix, though.

Like presenting itself, it only gets easier the more you do it. Striking a balance between being humble and defensive is also important in my opinion. Though no-one likes a loudmouth, I've seen PhD students in discussions where they were technically correct back down in deference to a senior academic who knows less about their research than they do. This is completely understandable, but something I would be less likely to do now that I am near the end of my PhD. Obviously some comments are fair even if they sting a bit, or you may not be sure whether they are really correct or not. Employ some diplomacy and say that you will note and consider it in the future or something similar.

Finally, breathe. Don't freak out. No-one's going to eat you, or throw you out into the street. I know this is generic advice, but try and see the positive side. Be thankful that you have the opportunity to discuss your work with people who have an interest and are informed enough to make sensible comments.

A suit and tie. Maybe lose the tie if not presenting. I'd always personally dress smart, even if others don't.

Got 'em. PM me your e-mail address if you get the notion.

It's funny that this topic has come up now. I have just vacated my office of 3 and a half years this week. Crap little four person office with dodgy A/C and secondary light, but it's still very odd not going in there. I have been working in there pretty much full time any time I am not in the lab for more than three years.

I am now in what they call the hotdesking room, but which is more commonly known as 'the hole'. Grim grim grim grim.

I think taking them along to the viva is a good idea, and as long as you can discuss the content in a clear and expert manner then it shouldn't be a problem. However, I am saying this based on the assumption that your whole argument won't suffer without them being there in their proper form - if those images in particular are critical then you might have to bite the bullet. Also, it probably isn't the first thing you'll see when looking over your thesis that you think should be changed, and as I understand it very few people get through without any corrections at all.

Should probably drop in a post-post caveat that I am in a different discipline, haven't been through the viva process just yet and am more than likely at a different uni. But going on the limited info it would really depend to me on how much weight those images in particular carry.

4matt's reply is reasonable. I would only add that although there is an ennui and isolation that's seemingly specific to the PhD process, it's only as bad as you let it become. I always just try and remember how lucky I am to get paid (well, not anymore >_>) to engage in interesting, high level research with practically nobody on my back most of the time. It really isn't a bad life, even if it does get especially hard towards the end.

The whole 24/7 thing is bollocks, too. Obviously sometimes you have to work late or weekends but in my experience some students do so frequently because their time management during the 9-5 period is poor.

Is it sad that I'm really happy I've got new papers to read? Even if it means making revisions to my thesis <_< One of them appears to be a bit controversial :o

Thanks again, peeps!

You're both diamonds. PM sent, Ady.

Hi folks,

Usually this isn't a problem for me, but I don't have access to the following two papers. Sod's law they won't be as useful as the abstract suggests but I really really should look at them. If anyone who has access to download the PDFs could help me out I'd be mega grateful.

http://www.springerlink.com/content/l514461674r4x2l0/
http://www.springerlink.com/content/d105284016583175/

Cheers