Why do you have email address as a compulsory field?

Hi burrahobbit,

what you are facing is common in researchers with little experience (and lots of perfectionism). I also faced similar issues when I was writing my first publication. I started reading endlessly without keeping notes and without proper focus. My supervisor was furious with me (insert very traumatic experience) because after 9 months I had made very little progress.

First of all, I started using the library and worked 9.00 to 19.00 and put myself in a routine . Then I changed the way I was working. I broke down the report in sections, subsections and paragraphs. Then, I inserted tables and figures. Finally, I wrote one bullet point per paragraph. Each paragraph should negotiate one topic and be no longer than 250 words. So if your introduction is 1000 words, then you need 4 paragraphs; think in advance what you want to include. My aim at the time was one paragraph per day... I felt desperate because of my slow progress. Little by little I managed to build a coherent report.

Hope this helps.

Hi,

I don't think that your PhD will suffer, especially if you make sure you arrange meetings with supervisors as often as needed. I agree, that possibly having a life while doing the PhD will keep you less stressed and more organised time-wise.

The only disadvantage I can see, is that in this way you will have less chances to be involved with what happens in your department, like teaching and marking which are useful experiences when it comes to job hunting. Moreover, the uni organises workshops on statistics, or other services you may need, and it will be harder to access them.

If you are funded, the supervisor might refuse to allow you to live more than certain miles away from the uni.

Good luck with the rest of your PhD

Even yourself wouldn't feel comfortable judging the work of one of your colleagues. What if it was really bad? Would you have the nerve to break the news? Probably not.

So, it is only fair that you are judged by the head of the department that is completely independent, and it is unlikely that the judgement would affect your relationship.

For similar reasons, my upgrade was attended and commended by almost every member of academic staff in the department (including the HoD). I didn't feel that they set the bar high, I perceived it as an honest interest in my work.

Good luck with your upgrade! You will be fine :)

It seems like you are on a right track.

Try to eliminate stress and insomnia (well, easier said than done)

and it might be worth taking writing courses. I also struggle with structuring information in a clear and comprehensive way. Writing down everything that is in my head, and then editing helps at times like this.

In my department you are allowed to work maximum of 20 hours per week.
Also ask permission from your supervisors.
(In my case it was like:
" I was offered a job..."
sup "NO"
*end of discussion*)
And yes, you should be honest. Employers run internet checks and your name will pop-up.

Hi echo,

I am also writing -up at the moment, hoping to submit something like a first draft in September.

I 've been increasingly feeling inadequate, lost confidence in my self, feel everything I write is idiotic and even a 5-year old would analyse my data better than me. My confidence is so low that it affects my progress, and I am doing everything else I can instead of writing. I have so much work that I need to start screaming. My supervisor asks me what kind of support I need, but I have received all the support anyone would ever need in their lives.

Oof, feel good writing down all these thoughts. Still there is a rational part in my empty head, and screams "shut up, sit down and just do the work". And this is the only advice I can give you.

I 've come to the conclusion that even if everything is perfect and goes according to plan, you will still get bruised and hurt by the experience to some extend.

It depends on the specific contract I assume.

In my department, people who quit repay only the part of the stipend they haven't worked for. So, say that you received 3000 pounds for 3 months of work, but you quit after one month, you need to give back 2000. Hope that makes sense.

Hey,

people have different priorities, so only you can take this decision for yourself.

For me, there wouldn't be an option. Having to survive on the very tight PhD stipend, (and also try to save some money in case I need to support myself for a few extra months), I would do anything to avoid London-rent AND commute. Moreover, I prefer working in the office and be part of the departmental life.

And saddest of all, even if you live in London, you will have very little time (and possibly money) to enjoy London life :(

You should definitely meet him and see the lab!

After all, employers select us as much as we select them!

Hi derose,

good to hear you are much happier now!

Doing a PhD (even if everything is perfect) is a massive tasks that sucks the life out of you (now I know). I spend a large part of my day alone, writing up is a solitary activity. I don't mind it, but I can understand why some people would find it unbearable, as it is depends on personality.

And everybody knows it, PhDs have ups and downs.... Money is not great and the prospect of work is limited.

The relationship with a supervisor can also make a difference, as it can be motivating or disastrous.

In any case, peace and love! All the best, and make the most out of your time :)

Hi,

my advice to every new PhD student starting to read for the background of their topic is the following:

1. use a bibliography program, like Mendeley (free) to organise your references
2. Divide references in categories
3. keep detailed notes of each paper in OneNote (Word)
4. Create an excel database of the results

I used an excel matrix with the following categories:

Author, Year | Sample (Number of responses) | Method | Results (mean, min, max) | comments

These tables (or graphs) can be put in your thesis

5. Compare papers quantitatively - Meta-analysis. What other researchers found? Why do some people disagree? Do the methods affect the results? Where is the gap?

I was very organised from the beginning, and writing all the way (since day one). I managed to publish a meta-analysis paper by the end of the first year. Of course, I had to edit again and again until the final version.

It takes A LOT of time, but lit review is one of the hardest chapters, and when you have results it is very easy to compare with previous research. You can critically analyse if you expected these results or not (so it will help you in your discussion too)

Good luck!

Most people here will say that you shall not just copy-paste parts from your viva in the paper. However, I copy-paste large parts from my PhD with no shame. I am aware that this is self-plagiarism, however, I cannot find a way to describe my methodology or write a general introductory paragraph without self-plagiarising!

Generally, the paper needs to be a shorter and denser version of the PhD. Yes, you can use your results, but because the paper is shorter it has to be focused on one specific finding.

Unfortunately, I cannot offer any specific advice on immunology. However, I also started a PhD in an area completely new to me two and a half years ago.

I read many many publications to get a grip on the topic. I also applied British standards and ISO recommended methods. There should be detailed technical documents on how to do things and advantages and disadvantages of different techniques. My supervisor also paid for my training in a lab and asked for some help from post-docs in other departments. I was running around like a headless chicken for a few weeks :)

Annoyingly enough there are no deadlines for the examiners to come back to you! That can be quite nerve recking.... The worst has passed so keep yourself busy with other stuff until then .