Overview of HazyJane on PostgraduateForum.com

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Signup date: 30 May 2008 at 11:23am

Last login: 13 Jul 2017 at 12:15pm

Post count: 1964

HazyJane 1964 posts
11 years ago

It can vary hugely. It took over a month for them to get back to me about an interview for the PhD I was accepted on. The wheels move slowly in academia. However, if you are successful they often get back to you quite quickly after the interview.

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HazyJane 1964 posts
11 years ago

Hi onoshi

What is your field/discipline? And what country/countries are you looking to do a PhD in?

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HazyJane 1964 posts
11 years ago

Quote From incognito:

Don't know what your field is but in my field NOBODY can proceed to a PhD without getting a Masters and a grade close to Distinction or a Distinction (high merit).

In laboratory based biomedical sciences (as is the OP's field) it was certainly the case a few years ago that all you needed to get onto a PhD was a BSc with a 2.1. The only reason anyone did an MSc first was if you'd got less than a 2.1 or if you wanted to specialise a bit/change sub-field. As such, I came across PIs who had a suspicious attitude of MScs (not sure that they were the best PIs though!)

I suspect that has changed as the credit crunch encouraged more people to try to stay on and do PhDs. My guess (and it is a guess) is that getting a first might give you more edge over having an MSc (unless at distinction grade). But really what reassures supervisors is research experience, so if I was making an application now I would really emphasise that over courses etc. Solo, you say you 'only' have six months research experience, but that's a reasonable amount. I wonder if you're not selling it enough on your CV/applications. Do you have an ex-supervisor who you could get to take a look at your CV and make sure it's coming across right\?

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HazyJane 1964 posts
11 years ago

Quote From Khadijah:
I
Should i start MPHILL or is there any other way of having sufficient research background,which can lead me to PHD?

You could apply for a research technician/research assistant job in a university or similar organisation.

You mention that you did an MBA - do you also intend to carry out research in the business field, or do you have another field in mind?

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HazyJane 1964 posts
11 years ago

Quote From Gail:
Hi,
Or it is really common not to have supervisor as the marker?

I think that probably varies between unis and departments. Obviously here it can't be binding.

I don't think the uni are at fault for getting someone else to mark your dissertation. If it has been double marked to a marking scheme then the result *should* be fairly consistent. What is of more concern is that your supervisor left before the dissertation was complete. Were you given alternative supervision after that? How close to the deadline did that occur and did your supervisor maintain contact even though he was no longer at the uni?

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HazyJane 1964 posts
11 years ago

As well as getting yourself a regular job, also look out for casual/ad hoc work around your uni. Sometimes there are opportunities for students to pick up paid work helping run conferences, or doing public engagement/schools outreach activities. The latter would particularly look good on your CV if you want to go down the museums route.

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HazyJane 1964 posts
11 years ago

Quote From moon:

HazyJane sorry to hear about your situation as well, but its good you find a new PhD, which I am thinking to do next if I did not get a job in science. How did you find good references? I am now left alone as I appealed.

When I was considering leaving my PhD I was also wanted to move into a slightly different field. So I approached someone in that field with whom I'd done a short project with before, explained my situation and asked for advice. They had an RA post coming up, encouraged me to apply and I got it. As far as references go, the new PI understood my situation, and the old PI was probably grateful I didn't make a complaint about the department so probably gave me a good/neutral reference to get shot of me.

As far as doing another PhD goes... I'd encourage you to take a break from the process to reflect on what went well and what didn't from your first experience. Also to take some time to heal from the experience. I only returned to doing a PhD 2.5 years later when I'd put some of the 'hurts' behind me. There's no point in rushing into it.

As other posters mention, the term 'Postgrad Researcher' is absolutely fine outside of academia, but may raise questions within. It didn't affect my application for the RA post, the RA PI then wrote me a good reference for my MSc, and when I applied for the current PhD in the interview I was asked "Talk us through your CV". I did so, honestly but tactfully, and it wasn't considered a problem. If I'd been staying in the same field, however, it may have been more of an issue.

If you want to stay in academia, I would recommend that you approach any existing contacts you have initially, as they will know you and be more likely to give you a shot than a complete stranger.

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HazyJane 1964 posts
11 years ago

Indeed, socioeconomic factors have an influencial role in determining diagnosis and treatment across a whole host of disease. Still not quite sure why the 'breast cancer is more important than prostate cancer' angle though. They're both important, both at the individual and population level. And breast cancer awareness campaigns have been going for far longer than men's health/cancer campaigns.

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HazyJane 1964 posts
11 years ago

If there's no answer from two emails, then try to either call or find contact details of a departmental administrator, and ask what's the best way to contact Prof X, explaining the forthcoming deadline etc.

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HazyJane 1964 posts
11 years ago

Hi moon

Sorry to hear of your situation. I think it would be good to try for the MPhil if you can stand the idea.

I left a PhD two years in and walked away with nothing. I have since been an RA, done and MSc and am now doing a new PhD. On my CV I put the first PhD period down as 'Postgraduate Researcher'. I feel that's the most accurate and honest answer. It doesn't seem right to say 'Research Assistant' as I was not employed in a role of that title. If people ask I explain, but it's becoming more and more in the past now.

To be honest, if you're applying for jobs outside of academia, people might not even question it, as long as you show you were occupied doing something during that period.

Good luck with your interview.

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HazyJane 1964 posts
11 years ago

Hi jmarrella. Welcome to the forum.

It would help people to advise you if we knew (i) which country you are studying in and (ii) what your field is? There are some sources of funding which are only available in certain regions or academic disciplines.

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HazyJane 1964 posts
11 years ago

It's ok, I wasn't suggesting you weren't trying (you clearly are!). I just wondered whether there were any other avenues that you hadn't yet considered.

I hope that one of the above bears some fruit soon for you.

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HazyJane 1964 posts
11 years ago

Quote From JanineG:

Quote From HazyJane:

Quote From JanineG:
Job market has changed. I came back home from the interview to see the Email about that other job. I haven't had a job in a lab for 3 years now :((

Hi Janine

Have you ever considered approaching a scientific temping/employment agency? They may be able to get you work opportunities that might otherwise not come up on your radar. Even if they were not 100% what you wanted to do, or they were only short term, it might get you reconnected with the lab world and open up other opportunities. Plus it means someone else would be doing the leg work for you.

Just a thought, anyway.

I have already registered for a few and nothing is coming up. I'm blocked either by this degree carry on or the experience side of things.

Did you register online, or have you actually spoken to someone? If the former, might be worth chasing someone up and speaking to someone in person to see whether there are any prospects or whether you need to tailor your CV differently for their market.

I wonder whether it might be worth going along to a general temping/employment agency, to see whether they could find you something. It might not be a science job, but it might be that there is a general job in a science area that might help you get your foot in the door/make contacts.

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HazyJane 1964 posts
11 years ago

Quote From metabanalysis:
It's probably a good cause, but isn’t breast cancer a bigger issue?

What a strange response. Why does it have to be a competition? Neither are rare diseases (and even if they were, that doesn't mean there shouldn't be research/awareness campaigns into them).

Regarding the psychology point, there are issues around health-seeking behaviours that are pertinent to cancer diagnosis and survival. e.g. some men are less likely to seek help on detecting symptoms because of anxiety or the perception that they should just carry on and not worry about it. There are lots of ways psychological factors can affect both men and women with regard to making healthy life choices and seeking medical help when needed. Not to mention how people deal with diagnosis and treatment.

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HazyJane 1964 posts
11 years ago

Quote From JanineG:
Job market has changed. I came back home from the interview to see the Email about that other job. I haven't had a job in a lab for 3 years now :((

Hi Janine

Have you ever considered approaching a scientific temping/employment agency? They may be able to get you work opportunities that might otherwise not come up on your radar. Even if they were not 100% what you wanted to do, or they were only short term, it might get you reconnected with the lab world and open up other opportunities. Plus it means someone else would be doing the leg work for you.

Just a thought, anyway.

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