I agree with Ann - contact the university about your supervisor.
Can't imagine another university would accept you at this stage in your thesis.

Hiya, thanks. I thought it was necessary to transcribe each interview tape. Now, I know a bit more, whether they need to be transcribed depends on your methodology.

I am in second years of my PhD in dundee

Wanna know about the Scholarship for my PHD on MIS (Managemanet Information System) if there any in this earth. Any one can reach me through [email protected]

Do what's best for you, don't worry about hurting her feelings (you say 'she's very kind') - this is WORK, feelings shouldn't come into it, try and distance yourself emotionally. One essential thing - lots of students usually means lots of money. Make sure your supervisor has some! If she doesn't, this will make life very hard - I wouldn't take the project on. Is one supervisor young and the other older?

I'm sure there are lots of students out there who would give ANYTHING to have an enthusiastic supervisor and lots of fellow students, but you might enjoy the control and freedom you're likely to have if you're in a smaller lab. It might be lonely though. It's more worrying that you say the supervisor isn't an expert in her field - this doesn't mean she's not capable, but I guess things will be harder.

It's nice to see my message still attracting replies...I absolutely agree that I shouldn't be making the new student suffer, and in reality I would never do this - I'm very good at 'grinning and bearing it'. I can see how I might come across as being a bit nasty BUT this is still a real issue for me.

ANN: I will be trying to get the student to read for as long as possible(!), but this won't take a year :(

TEAM and BOREDPOSTDOC: I know team work is important in science (and lots of other areas), but I really hate it! Any career advice? I always have the biggest sense of achievement / satisfaction / pride when I've done something on my own. Finally, I will try and discuss things with my supervisor. At the minute I'm of the opinion that I can deal with teamwork, sharing, (what feels like losing half of my PhD), but I won't do it voluntarily.

MR D: biologists, chemists, physicists would ideally spend most of their time in the lab, but apparatus breaks down, we have to wait for chemicals to arrive etc so there is time for reading too. I always feel guilty if I'm not doing an experiment in the lab when I could be. Am I right? We only read when we have to? Thanks for all the replies.

I have worked in industry and now is working on my PhD. In my experience, I would still prefer to go for a PhD than working in an industry. I think the important point is that the topic should be interested enough to give us the motivation to work for 3-4 years.

the first is great -just make sure you make the most of it. The problem is it gets progressively worse as the time goes on..

I have a choice of two PhD's. One is with a large group with an enthusiastic supervisor, and lots of current PhD students. The second project is in a very small lab, with my supervisor not being really an expert in the field I will be working on if i were to choose her lab. She is very kind, but has had few past PhD students. Both projects are as interesting as each other. What shall I do?

I am aPhD student at Makerere University and would like to join the group of singles

Do lots of PhD students carry out lab work then? and what does it actually involve?

In terms of an interview...What does FAO stand for?

I am asking the same question from myself over and over. doing a PhD was my goal in life but I dont want to scacrifice my personal life to it? Can a married PhD student give me some advice on whether take a PhD or try and find a job?

Hi Nick, it sounds like you are having a tough time. What's going on with your supervisor?! Why is she/he refusing to read it? Is there anyone else who can help you through these last few stages? Have you spoken to another academic at your university about your supervisory problems?