Well it would be an interesting thought, the first marriage through this website. Think of the deal with OK or Hello! you could get. Wouldn't have to worry about not getting your stipend in on time or self-funding your studies... Genius idea I say !

Well, that's been my experience. I think I am in a particularly bad situation though. I recently vowed never to e-mail my supervisor again because I just got stressed waiting on replies that never came (so the supervisor won the battle!). In fact, I avoid asking for help at all possible costs. If you don't think you can do that, I'd advise always talking to your supervisor in person - makes it much more difficult (but not impossible) for them to ignore you.

Just because I was lucky enough to get a position as a PhD student isn’t going to change that.

As part of my degree I did a research project. Surely the mark achieved in that is an indication of the candidates ability to do literature reviews etc. I got a first and out of all my marks the one for my research project was the highest. I resent the implication that because I got a first I will be less focused as I have less to prove. The reason I got a first in my undergraduate degree was because I am focused, worked really hard and let nothing get in the way of my goal!

I know a load of people who got graduate positions at a VERY VERY big pharma company (I think we all know which one I mean) and they were all starting on 24K (£). I guess starting with a PhD would bump it up to at least 29K? This was a couple of years ago so must have gone up a bit by now.

Why is everyone trying to find a couple on here to marry off????!?!?!

Meditation.

Mina, can I ask, are you in the UK or elsewhere in the world?

Your current supervisor was annoyed because he will not get any credit when you pass -your new supervisor will. I wanted to change depts however my current supervisor was unhappy so my new supervisor changed his mind (didn't want to rock the boat) so I ended up staying where I was. It depends on your new supervisor, you need to contact them and press your case. Show them how much work you have completed -your new supervisor will need to know that you can work independently and are not changing because things have gone wrong. Good luck

When my supervisor is here is door is always open. Being based at a university with many campuses at various hospitals he is often travelling around London. But as I said, there are not many people here as they are all away at conferences/holidays until the start of November (when I have to take time off for a stay in hospital!)

we need a USA forum!

I had a BA in Psych, and wanted to do a Neuroscience phd which is a bit of a stretch when you don't have a science background. So, after undergrad I found a "research assistant" low-paying position in a behavioral neuroscience (sort of an in-between lab) and busted my ass to learn everything.

That got me a serious reference, money to live on, and eventually several Ph.D. program interviews!

One last thing- If you don't feel it's too much of an imposition, phone a couple of the profs who have turned you down and ask how you could have made yourself a better candidate.

My PhD program pays a $22K stipend, which is very high, I hear. We are at a medical school/research university, so there are no teaching assistantships, either. Just a straight up stipend. I feel lucky. And it's just a state school!

0.2g of street Heroin IV does it for me. Find your vice and enjoy it!

I am unhappy in my field of research and approached my supervisor to ask if I could transfer to a different research group at the University, which would mean getting a new supervisor. To say his reaction was bad is an understatement, he basically told me to f**k off, and said that if my prospective supervisor approached him he would give me a bad reference. I feel I have been the model student, hard working and dedicated. Can he do this? What can I do about it? Anyone else been in a similar situation?