Overview of Mackem_Beefy
Recent Posts
Where to live in Newcastle
A mate (my predecessor) lived in a flat in High Heaton to the east of Jesmond.
The student rental areas are Fenham, Gosforth, Jesmond, Heaton and High Heaton. Some live further out, but you don't want too long a commute.
I think Jesmond is £400 to £550 a month and that is probably the most expensive. Heaton looks like £300 upwards and is within reasonable walking distance of Northumbria (or jump on bus service number 1, which serves the student areas). I suggest you shop around on Gumtree and see what you can get.
Ian
PhD data ownership?
Here goes - from the below link:
http://www.data-archive.ac.uk/create-manage/copyright/copyright-ownership
"For research undertaken by a Ph.D. student, that student is the copyright owner of data and outputs created."
That is unless there are specific terms and conditions applying to the studentship meaning a sponsor or the University holds intellectual property rights (i.e. by signing the terms and conditions of the studentship, the copyright is transferred).
This was the situation when I was doing my PhD.
Ian
Seriously considering "suing" ex-supervisor
Until you finally submit your revisions, do not sue. You do not want to burn your bridges until your qualification is in the bag, even if theoretically any action should not affect your assessment. Afterwards, you may need references for jobs, so even then be circumspect unless you've nothing to lose.
I feel the same way about my treatment during my second post-doc, where man management of me was an interesting experience to say the least. I did think about action against my supervising Prof., but a legal battle over my treatment would have only hindered my search for other employment and been very difficult to prove. In that case, someone else had already lost an action against the same person. Universities close ranks to protect their own and proving anything becomes very difficult.
Ian
PhD data ownership?
Check the terms and conditions of your studentship. Unless there is a specific statement stating the data is the property of the University, sponsoring company or sponsoring organisation then you are the intellectual property holder.
That said, leaving on good terms and avoiding any battles is the right way to go. You may own the data, but it is only common courtesy that you consult your supervisors (or former supervisors) before you use it if the data is still recent.
In my case, my supervisor wasn't really bothered so I ended up publishing most of it in journals myself.
Ian
A job inappropriate for a PhD?
OK, OK, I know I don't have a PhD yet, but I have resubmitted and it is likely that I may have the PhD soon.
I have been applying for jobs in the last year, with no luck, and all of a sudden, I have nailed an interview at a local fast food restaurant and they offer me a job. Not just any job... but a full time job making sandwiches!
Of course I have never told them what I have been studying, etc. I applied with a CV which did not include my postgraduate degrees, otherwise they might not hire me as I could be considered overqualified.
Whereas making sandwiches is not something I would put on my CV, I need the money. But a couple of close friends and my family tell me not to be stupid and not to accept the job. They say that it is kind of embarrassing doing a job that only requires a highschool diploma, and that I should better leave this job to someone who is more appropriate for the role.
The whole situation has made me think: if I do accept this job, of course I would not openly tell people (especially people in my field of study) what I am doing for a living. I feel embarrassed, to start with.
What would you do? Take the job, not tell anyone, keep applying, and leave when something better turns up?
Take the job and keep looking. At least it shows employers you're flexible and no task is beneath you.
If something more appropriate comes along, you can always move on.
Staying on the dole and being subject to the pressures they put you under these days, believe me you are better off in any kind of job than that. Some dole offices are asking for 30 job applications minimum per week (i.e. quantity over quality).
Ian
Degree awarding and PhD start date clash
Hi everyone,
Me again, and I feel a little stressed out. I have an interview for a PhD this Wednesday that I very much want, but only just noticed an discrepancy- My MSc is due to finish this September, and the PhD is set to start this September too! The thing is, at first I thought the supervisors were okay with this, but then i realised- the CV i have given them says i finish my MSc in August rather than September. Literally, just a one number mistake from a '9' to an '8' (as in August being -/08/14) and it was genuinely a mistake.
Now I'm worried it will look like I've actually lied about the dates and it will effect my interview if they ask about it- what should I do? Also, will my degree ending in September mean that I can't be considered for a degree starting in September (there has been no agree on the actual start date in September)?
What's the hassle here? Just tell them you are unable to start until the Monday after you finish your Masters.
When I started my PhD, I was offered two at different Unis. As I had to give notice from my then employment, it was impossible to start before the first Monday of the October that year. For the PhD I decided to do funding started from that date, however, the one I turned down funding started a month beforehand (September).
I informed the Uni. for the PhD I turned down it was impossible for me to start before October and the potential supervisor said they would move the start date, no problems.
((( I eventually ended up at this other Uni. for a post-doc. If only I'd got to work for this alternative supervisor who was an okay person and not the Prof. I ended up with, I think the post-doc would not have turned out to be the nightmare it was. :-) )))
Ian
Want to study a Phd, No clear Ideas, please help.
Start by taking a look at my blog, http://www.wearthesis.talktalk.net, which will give you an idea of the process you are about to face.
One piece of advice I will give is you should start by looking at PhD studentships with funding already in place. Take a look at http://www.findaphd.com/ to see what is on offer that might suit you.
You don't want to end up self-funding unless you are very, very rich.
Ian
Job-hunting dilemma
After my second post-doc, I took a job in the real world with perhaps the intention of returning to a research-based job later. I looked to publish my remaining data and whilst there was still data to publish, I managed to squeeze out a few extra papers plus managed to finish collaboration on a book chapter.
However, I'm still in this real world job sometime later due to personal, family and health reasons. It becomes harder to continue putting out research work and your contacts will fade if you are no longer 'active'. I am now out of the loop so to speak and returning to a research or academic career path would be extremely difficult. Recent PhD graduates would have an advantage over me as their research and publication record is fresh compared to mine.
My take is that if you take time out, voluntarily or otherwise, that you only have a limited amount of time to place yourself back in the frame. If you are looking at generating journal publications out of your work, to do it sooner rather than later. Once you are in a full-time job, that and other everyday pressures will all but ensure that you won't have much spare time to devote to paper writing or related activities. You will find unless you are very highly motivated, all you'll want to do on getting home each night is crash in front of the telly. :-)
Ian
Guardian Leaving Academia article
A few observations:
1. The author of the article states they never wanted to be an academic...that's half the motivation for doing a postdoc go through the window right there.
2. I'm sorry but if attending to emails between 7pm and 9pm is too much for you, you are in the wrong field. The author also says it clashed with courses they were taking twice a week. Excuse me but anyone with semi-decent organizational skills can work around that.
3. Most importantly and I quote "I will take my resumé to pubs and coffee shops. I just want to find a job now that will give me time to relax, focus on my hobbies and find what I want to do with the rest of my life."
Again you are in the wrong field, because if you want to relax, and focus on hobbies, don't take a postdoc....or any demanding job for that matter. You don't know what you want out of life? Don't take a postdoc.
Moral of the story: Yes the statistics for becoming a full time academic are daunting, and a postdoc is a rite of passage. Accept that. But most of all, don't make a bad professional decision (based on the author's priorities), and then write a bitter article because you are upset you made a bad professional decision. I am sure there are plenty jobs for hardcore science people in industry.
I understand what you are saying and I expect a heavy workload during post-doc (i.e. rite-of-passage), but you also have the right to be treat as a human being and not just another piece of lab equipment. If the author has had a horror post-doc, then it's no wonder she needs time to take stock.
I had a stinker second post-doc where I was literally treat as another piece of (disposable) lab equipment.
Ian
Guardian Leaving Academia article
I can related to that article from different perspectives in both my post-docs.
In the first, I was treat okay and worked with some decent people although the wages were poor. That was a big help during "year four" write-up and I was able to do a lot with that post-doc including some interesting student supervision work.
In the second, I actually got a decent wodge of cash, but the working conditions were not the best in the world. I remember discussions with my family as to why I had to nip in on a weekend. Also, a stranger and his girlfriend on a bus I got talking to bluntly said he thought my boss was a p**ck for forcing me to go in. He said he could be asked to to overtime in his job, but he could opt to say no and it was a Sunday so no it was.
During the second, it was clear if you were not in his inner circle, your welfare was of secondary concern to the experimental programme. There were also less opportunities to do things slightly extra curricular (i.e. student supervision). I was used as a dogsbody and little more.
I miss the research, but some of the more unsociable aspects I'm glad to leave behind.
Ian
Here's one for Maths and Physics PhD students and graduates in the United Kingdom. Thoughts?
Here's one for Maths and Physics PhD students and graduates in the United Kingdom. Thoughts?
If you have a maths or physics-related PhD and are prepared to foster links between schools, universities and industry in a non-selective state school, you could find yourself on a starting salary of £40,000.
The last paragraph is a very telling statement about doctoral training in the UK though.
Ian
The 'Dr' title and job applications
For the purpose of academic communication or job seeking purposes, I use PhD after my name and avoid putting Dr before it. Outside of academia or jobs that require PhD, I do not use any title. But I think you technically have to wait for your official letter or ceremony to be awarded your PhD then use the title.
No, you can use the title officially once you receive the letter of conferment.
I like the idea of you putting PhD after as that will avoid confusion with a medical doctor. There was a heated debate on Digital Spy about that with some strong views expressed I believe.
Ian
Thinking of changing from PhD to Masters after 2 years.
Hmm, 2 years in. For a science and engineering PhD, that means you should be six months away at most from completing the experimental work and possibly already thinking of writing up. If you'd said 18 months and you didn't feel like continuing, I might have agreed.
You've said you'll be at this for another 2 years. Funding runs out in 1 year provided you're on standard format. So you're talking about a minimum of 1 year compared to 6 months to submit for Masters. Is that such a big chunk of time?
As regards your lack of results, a non-result can be a result in itself. An experiment not producing the expected result can disprove a hypothesis or question a previous result. Failing that, has your supervisor or someone else actually had a look at your methodology to suggest where you might be doing something wrong. It's okay to ask for help.
If things had gone better, would you feel the same way about your position and your aspirations? Should you have not sought advice before telling your supervisor how you feel?
I'm just trying to put a different perspective on things before you make the final decision to pull out. It may be you're being a little hasty and your mountain is no more than a molehill. I'd question your methodology if you are not producing expected results and a fresh pair of eyes may sort your problems out. It's amazing how different things feel when everthing is going smoothly.
Ian
The 'Dr' title and job applications
Thanks for the suggestion - my card expires in a few months so I might change my title on it then.
I guess it does seem a little strange to have earned a title and not want to use it for fear of giving the impression of lording it over others. We English are a strange bunch...
A Libyan student I knew qualified about a year and a bit before me. He was Dr. everything and the change in his demeanor was excessive and embarrassing. All of a sudden he was suited and booted no matter what and Dr. this, Dr. that, Dr. the other.
The attitude to ward the title outside anglophone countries is it gives you extra status in the society you live in regardless of the relevance. If you let it go to your head so much it alters your very personality then you shouldn't have done a PhD in the first place. It's not about kudos, it's about you as a person and wanting to do it for the right reasons. That's why I think the English approach is the right one.
Ian
How do I tell my supervisor that I'm most likely going to withdraw?
MoC,
I can only rehash what others have said. You've made a brave decision to quit and feel PhD is not for you. I'll add that possibly with your supervisor being ill (long term?), your withdrawal may actually be a relief as the University will not have to assign you to a new supervisor. He has enough on his plate.
I was funded quartely. If I'd withdrawn for any reason, then I'd have been expected only to pay back any money for the remainder of the quarter. Whether the University would consider the money worth recovery would also depend upon how much of the quarter remained.
I've looked back at your previous posts. You comment that during degree and masters, the qualifications weren't the be all and end all. I gather therefore you were doing these part time whilst working and thus had a normal career and life separate from these. It does come as a shock to the system to many how much the PhD can dominate your life, but it need not be for more than the PhD period. Post PhD can be busy too, but post-doc my life returned to a 9 to 5 pattern with odd late finishes and weekend lab visit (five minutes in and out) to ensure only that equipment was working safely. Much like normal work then!!!
People doing crazy hours post-PhD? For some work becomes everything. That to me sounds unhealthy, hindering good work rather than helping it if you don't have rest time.
A PhD is indeed totally different and that 'normal life' you had and want back is not there. I get that, I do. I see intelligence in your thoughts (ironically the analytical thought that suits a PhD) and if research / academia long term as you perceive it is not you then it is probably better to quit.
You've had a bad experience with little support from an ill supervisor. I can't help thinking you'd be feeling differently with a`solid, enthusiastic supporting supervisor.
Ian
