Hey Roro! I think that's fine...research is all about looking at different theories and models, seeing if they translate to other areas/fields etc. In a way, that's what I am doing...I do Clinical Psychology and am working with people with Alzheimer's. The model that I am structuring my research around is very well known in other fields, but has never been applied in this way before, or to this population. I suppose the way I am using it means that it it is more a theoretical framework than a model (i.e. I am not trying to prove it right or wrong, which would actually be impossible)- I am just using the framework as a structure, but the theoretical and practical implications of trying it out are quite far-reaching. Moreover, there is a huge gap in the field with respect to the area that I am trying to apply it to, especially with respect to empirical research. It might not work out too well, who knows...but either way, it would still be interesting! So yes, I would say borrow away! In one sense, we are all borrowing something as all of our research is based upon previous research...whether that's a model, a methodology or technique, existing data etc. Best of luck with it! KB

Hey Natassia. So sorry to hear that things are still so difficult for you. I know how you feel in that sometimes you just want to carry on without making a fuss and letting people know that you are struggling. In my undergrad years I lost two close relatives (grandparents) both in exam periods and my parents split up right before my finals, which was completely unexpected (fortunately they are now back together!). At the same time I became ill myself, partly due to the stress. But both times I just tried to carry on, I didn't want anyone to worry about me or think that they were the cause of problems with my work or my health. I didn't tell my tutor about the loss of my grandparents, but when I fell ill I did email him to let him know that I was unwell. I sat my finals in the sick bay, although I was reassured that I didn't have to take them, and that I would be awarded a first on the merit of my completed work anyway. In the end I got my first without having to rely on the mitigating circumstances. It sounds like you have a similar attitude to my own, and will struggle on anyway. But you really need to let your tutor know...just a simple email to let them know what is happening, and the effect it is having on you. You are not letting anyone down by doing this- they all know of your brilliant academic achievements at undergrad level and I'm sure they will be extremely supportive whilst you are having such a hard time. If you miss your distinction but come close then this will go in your favour. It's not cheating- nobody would be able to do their best work in your situation. And I hope you're also getting some support with this- maybe go talk to your uni counsellor or something? It's a lot to carry on your own, especially when you're trying to put a brave face on for everyone else. I really hope you manage to have a break over xmas. Best wishes to you and your family, KB.

Hey thanks for that- will def check it out! It does feel a bit overwhelming to be learning such a complex new skill whilst trying to fit everything else in... I need all the help I can get! Cheers, KB.

Hey Walminski! I know what you mean about mixed methods...I am trying to balance both and have just spent my weekend swotting up on how to do this qualitative analysis I am trying to do, with no past experience whatsoever! I do like my stats, and all of my previous research uses quantitative methods, but I have to say I am becoming more and more fascinated with my topic through trying to do a qualitative analysis and I am only just starting really- I feel as though I would have missed so much in my topic by just doing a quantitative analysis and reducing my participants and data to numbers, although the quantitative side is hugely valuable too. Anyway...it's one more string to our bow etc!! Good luck with it all! KB

Hi again Sk100...I can see your point. I had a couple of bereavements of close family members in my undergrad years, both during exam periods. I was informed that I didn't have to take the exams- I could sit them at the end of the year or they could just take my average mark and use that to project my overall mark, but I still sat them anyway. I just wanted to get them over and done with and have a clear path in front of me. I can't imagine what it must be like to lose a child, but I can understand why you would just want to get your viva over and done with. You sound like a strong person- best of luck whatever you decide to do. KB

Hey Walminski...I don't really think I can offer a solution but your post reminds me of problems I had in my undergrad degree. I had taken a year out after first year due to ill health (bipolar) and had had several courses of electro-convulsive therapy as a treatment for depression. Basically they run an electric current through your brain whilst you are under anaesthetic, and somehow this 're-sets' your brain chemistry and makes you better...nobody really knows how it works, but the main side effect (aside from a killer headache!) is that is can severely disrupt your memory. When I went back a year later to start second year, it was like I had never done first year- I effectively had to do first and second year in one year! I had to have the treatment again in second and third year and it was such hard work- I was constantly going back to stuff I had done years, months or weeks before, and starting again. Needless to say, there wasn't really an easy solution to this, but I did start to make brief 'summary' pages that I could keep looking over to refresh my memory, and had lots of spider diagrams on my wall linking up topics and research associated with that topic etc. Just to really take the piss I also lost all memory of two lovely holidays that my parents had taken me on to France and Switzerland whilst I was recovering...I reckon they would have gone for a cheaper option if they had known I was going to forget I had ever been there lol! Oh well...good luck with your remembering :) KB

Hey Sk100. I am so sorry to hear about what you are going through- that must be awful for you. I agree- surely you will be able to postpone your viva given your circumstances at the moment? You must be amazingly strong to have gone through this and yet still got your thesis handed in...I can't think that anyone would blame or question you for needing some time to come to terms with things and get yourself into the right mindset for your viva. I assume that your supervisor is aware of the situation? I also hope that you are able to get some proper support to help you with everything that has happened. I wouldn't think twice about delaying your viva until you feel that you can get through it. I really hope that you're okay and that you have someone looking after you. Best wishes, KB.

Hi guys! Good idea Sue...

By this time next year I would like to...

Have all my time 1 data for both samples and have started collecting my time 2 data (or convinced my supervisor to ditch the time 2 plan in favour of a bigger time 1 sample!)

Have my second review paper accepted and in press.

Have analysed my qualitative data and written it up as a paper for submission to a journal.

Have started writing up my time 1 data for both groups.

Have presented my work at at 2-3 conferences.

Get a lot more confident with teaching.

Stay well, retain some sort of social life and get back to my exercise when my foot is better!

I think that'll keep me busy for a year!

KB

Hi again- yes, I should have said- as Bewildered mentioned, even if you apply for funding for a specific project with your supervisors then it would have to be 'formally' advertised for a limited period and other people would probably be interviewed for the position. However, where the project is created and funding applied for with a certain person in mind, whilst it still has to be formally advertised, it is unlikely to be offered to an external candidate over the person the job was effectively created for- although of course, in theory it could be. I have seen this many times over in my department- there is an internal candidate who the supervisors want to take on, they get funding for it, yet they still need to advertise even though they have no intention of giving the post to anyone else. The internal candidate may not even have a 'formal' interview like the external candidates do. It is very unfortunate really in a way- the external candidates have no clue whether there is an internal candidate going for the job, and often the interviews are just a waste of time- an exercise in box-ticking so that they can say the job was formally advertised and procedures adhered to etc. Not good, but it happens a lot. Not to say that sometimes an external candidate won't beat an internal candidate to a post, but not often if the post was created with the internal candidate in mind. From what I have seen anyway...it can all be a bit underhand. KB

Not many...the exact number probably depends on how much of their spelling and grammar I can tolerate in any one go!! KB

Hi! I guess it depends on your relationship with your supervisor. Personally I would try to have some sort of frank discussion with him/her and let them know that you will be looking for a job and would love to stay on and work with them if it would be possible. The other thing is, even if they don't have jobs going, jobs in research can be created by developing a project and applying for funding for it- so if there is something in particular you would like to do then I would get talking to them and see if they would be happy to try and help you sort something out. To be honest, I'm only in the 2nd year of my PhD and I have already made it quite clear to my supervisor that I would like to stay on and do a post-doc with the team, and she is very keen for me to stay, so a bit later this year we will be thinking about proposals and grant applications etc. I don't think there's any harm in being completely honest about what you want in this case! Good luck! KB

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Yeah completely...when I think of some of what I have posted on here I reckon a lot of people doing a PhD in my department would suss out who I am from the details I have given if they happened to be a PGF member! I'm not really that bothered though...I suppose if you came on here and majorly slagged off your uni or your supervisor/colleagues etc and you were identifiable then you might feel a bit worried about it. Would be weird though if some of us were actually at the same uni or even in the same dept!! KB

Hey Leaf! It's not really unusual to change uni for your PhD, so I wouldn't stress too much about this question. I think the best thing would be not to slate your original university, but to concentrate on why you want to do your PhD at this particular university, with these particular people. Most people choose their PhD and place of study according to enthusiasm for the specific topic, reputation of the potential supervisors, similar interests to potential supervisors, overall reputation of the department and uni etc. It would probably be good to find out who is interviewing you and to swot up a bit on their research, so that you can sound knowledgeable (and enthusiastic) about the topic, work out how your interests would fit in with theirs, tell them why you are keen to work with them (but without going hideously over the top!) and so on. I don't think it will be seen as a bad thing at all that you are looking at going to a different uni, so don't worry about it too much! Good luck with the interview- let us know how it goes! KB

Hi there Patrickchem! I think you will probably get a mixed response from people on the forum, because for some subjects (like my own- clinical psychology) an MSc is pretty much compulsary and you would be highly unlikely to get a PhD without one, yet for other subjects you really don't require an MSc/MA at all. I don't know much about Chemistry, but I know lots of people in Biology who got a PhD straight after their BSc, and I have a feeling that Chemistry might be similar to Biol in this respect. I also get the impression from people on the forum that lab work can be very beneficial in the natural sciences when it comes to PhD applications, so you might well have a good chance. However, there will be people on the forum who can advise you better than me! As for a response from the supervisor- it could be anything from a day to a month or longer, depending on the person! If you are really keen it might be good to make contact over the phone- supervisors are busy people and if you stick in their mind that would probably be a good thing! Good luck with it all! KB