Hey, thanks for this thread!

My suggestion is about the size of messages/word limit. While I realise it's important not to have people writing essays on here, it's infuriating when you get a message saying it's too big. A 200 word limit is quite short if you're trying to post a constructive reply. Also I often still get a red line saying "your message is too big" even when I've got it below 200 in Word!

I had several conference papers but no actual publications - and still passed. It depends largely on the type of thesis you produce. My friend did a very experimental scientific one, in which many the chapters were easily identifiable as papers - they documented separate experiments whcih could be treated as concrete pieces of work that just happened to contrubite to an overall thesis.

However a thesis using qualitative methods is different. There is usually an ongoing theoretical concept throughout and it is more difficult to treat chapters as potential independent publications. More ideas may grow from it, but you often need to re-tell the context every time you plan a paper, which makes it more time consuming. Nearly 14 months on I'm still only in the process of sumbitting a paper from mine.

I loved the bit when Jennifer (?think that's her? dark bob, bright red lippy) was in the house and announced at the table "apparently, I'm cold"... cue total silence from the others!!

I watched "La Vie En Rose" last night - wonderful film! I never listened to Piaf before but want to go and get some of her music now. The actress who played her was amazing!

I can understand how frustrating it is, I've experienced it too. Sometimes you have to accept that ultimately your family is in a totally different sphere and won't totally understand what you're doing. I certaihnly don't think it signifies that they don't support you or appreciate what you're doing.

I remember my family, my Granded in particular always asked me what the hotel was like, where I'd been, what I'd eaten (!) etc, rather than how my presentation or what I'd got from the conference. He wasn't trivialising my PhD or anything connected with it - he was merely asking if I had been alright. He died last year, and I am going to another conference soon. Never mind presentations and networking, I would give anything to have a conversation about nothing (conference food!) with him again.

I know it's hard, but try to accept that your relatives are who they are - they may not ask the right questions but I bet they're proud of you. And they wont be around for ever.

Adem, because of the points I've outlined in my post. Doing a PhD is a specialised, demanding process. Registering for one on the basis of overall uni reputation is unwise. Given the high drop-out rate the most important thing is to assess the smaller things that will help see you through the doctoral process. It's not like choosing an undergrad course on a UCAS form, many other things need to be considered before the uni as a whole. Things like(in no particular order):

Funding, departmental profile, supervisory staff, existing PhD student progress and success rates, collaborative opportunities, personal development and postgrad training available, student support services, location...

Given the personal as well as academic effort needed to do a PhD, it's more important to look for these things first. Just because a uni flies in the league tables, doesn't mean it's the best one for the doctoral project one might wish to undertake.

**But in PhD research I don't really see the point of the whole discussion.** Complete agree with Jouri here. It *is* a relevant discussion for some taught courses. But the PhD is an original, unique endeavour. Separating candidates by where they've studied is like comparing apples with oranges and therefore pointless. At this level of study, *what* you've done and *why* you've done it is far more important then *where* you've done it.

Students at PhD level often have other factors to consider too. Demographically they're likely to be older, their choices are probably influenced by basic ecomonics and family committments before university reputation gets a look in. If you've got dependants, maybe a mortgage, and you're faced with a choice between prestigious uni far away or the local newer one, you can't just clear off to the former just because it's considered "better". Saying that overall university reputation is paramount at this level is naive and misguided.

I saw "The Orphanage" recently - VERY scary. But also very sad. Unlike most ghost/horror films, this actually had a really good plot. be prepared for some "jump out of your seat" moments though!

Looks like things are looking in your favour BHC, that's good. If anyone comes to you in the PI's absence, just stick to facts, don't be drawn in to making personal judgements about anyone in your department, and keep a record of the relevant conversations or correspondence you might have.

If you are a member of a union yourself, it may be worth notifying a representative of the situation and how it applies to you - just for information purposes. Then if Katy decides to get nasty (threatens harassment, etc) you have covered your options and kept appropriate records. Good luck!

**As to your attitude, I can say to you that "the truth hurts"... "a lot".**

Rather bizarre, almost comical - especially coming from someone who's only months into a doctorate to someone who has completed and successfully working in academia.

What a condescending post. If you can't address people properly (dear *blank*?) I'd question your own suitability in the first place. And what is the point in bumping a thread to make such sweeping comments when the OP has already expressed her thanks for the contributions? Just not necessary.

Hi there PN, was wondering where you'd gone - so sorry to hear about your son. I hope you and your family are coping OK.

I've done several conference posters and found the following link useful for design tips.

http://www.swarthmore.edu/NatSci/cpurrin1/posteradvice.htm

Hope it's of some use

God BHC, she sounds a right piece of work! Is she a contracted uni staff member who is registered for a PhD at the same time? or a 100% student (funded or not)?

PhD students (as in 100% proper students, not RAs who happen to be doing PhDs) fall into a kind of black hole as they're seen as more thann other taught students in a lot of ways, but are not bona fide staff. Becasue of this, I don't think they're protected by the sort of employment laws that allow people to make compensation/dismissal claims. (quite a large loophole for PhDs who ARE unfairly hounded out, but good if dealing with unscrupulous people like her!)

100% students are also not generally members of employment unions either. The NUS would be their supporting organisation and I'm not sure if the NUS can assist with the type of claim she's looking to make. My thoughts are all supposition though.. maybe someone else can be more conclusive?

Every time a new reply appears in this thread, I'm logging in, only to discover it's someone else urging BHC to come back with goss!! Now I'm one of them

For me, it was the oh-so-gradual putting on of weight! I have always been skinny and it was around when I hit 34 that I noticed my clothes were starting to feel a little tighter .

Although I would still have been classed as slim, I began to realise that to stay in the same dress size I could no longer eat crisps and choccie bars as and when I felt like it. So I lost afew pounds and have to keep watching it now, as opposed to previously taking it for granted!