I read that as the proposal has been accepted, but funding has not been decided upon.

You need to give more information.

Ian (Mackem_Beefy)

======= Date Modified 08 Nov 2012 10:16:28 =======

If the algorithms and ideas are his and he working with the contractor to create the programs, that may be okay as long as college are aware of this.  However, if he is letting the contractor do all the work and then passing the work off as his original contribution to his field, then it is not his work and he is not entitled to his PhD if he is awarded it.  I would consider his actions unethical.

It's basically up to your own conscience whether or not you raise your concerns.

As to how common it is, I couldn't say though PhD researchers in general I would say 99% are above board.  I would say the 'bad apples' are the exception rather than the rule. However, there are odd cases of supervisors and advisors using PhD candidate's data or even getting the candidate to write a paper and passing it off as their own work, without a mention of the person actually doing the work. So whether or not anyone would act on your concerns in academic circles, I don't know for sure.


Ian (Mackem_Beefy)

======= Date Modified 07 Nov 2012 13:47:01 =======

I note you deleted alot of your initial post. Shame, as the questions you asked were fair enough.

1) You've no control over what questions you might be asked in viva. All you can do is to ensure you know what you're expected to know, that is the thesis and the related background theory. As you've saturated yourself with this over the months of write-up, you should know your material fairly well, however, I would revise it and the surrounding theory just to ensure you're better prepared for any awkward questions during viva.

Provided your thesis delivers a technically correct, succinct original contribution to knowledge that clearly demonstrates one of more new findings in your field (your supervisor should have been keeping you on the straight and narrow over this), you should be okay and not in theory have to worry about any more than minor corrections.

2) In answer to your (deleted) question over whether it's worth doing a PhD, I am quite happy to say that I would not decide to do any different if I had my time over again. I would still do the PhD, as to me it was a challenge I wanted to take on. It was the chance for me to do some original research that would produce something new and to work with people and techniques I would not otherwise have the opportunity to. As such, I got out of the PhD exactly what I wanted.

As to value to my career afterwards, I admit it has not really directly helped due to problems between a year and a half and two and a half years after (I'll not bore people by repeating myself here). A major problem with people wanting to follow a research or academic path is an oversupply of PhDs compared to available posts. Whilst many pursue a PhD with the aim of following such a career, it is always advisable for any PhD candidate to plan for a life outside academic and research-based environments.

There is always a chance the candidate may not see through a PhD (though you just about have), the candidate may fail or only end up with an MPhil (if you've done your work as per the answer to the first question, you should not worry) or they may gain the PhD and find there are few available positions in their chosen field. That is a chance we all take when we choose to do a PhD.

Unfortunately, it is generally cheaper for a University to take on a fresh PhD candidate rather than continue with the old candidate as a post-doc unless the old candidate as a post-doc is going to substantially raise the University's profile with their research. Also, many post-doc positions are taken by PhD candidates still writing up as a source of income whilst they complete and as they are not yet qualified, they can be hired on a lower wage than a true post-doc.

That said, we do take sets of skills into the real world (critical analysis, experimental design, etc.) that could potentially make us an asset to an employer. I wish some employers would see it that way though. It depends how we sell ourselves to some extent.

Ian (Mackem_Beefy)

Very similar for me too. As it's your work, it's you that has to do the corrections. If the corrections are major, then you do them with guidance from supervisors.

I thought this would be obvious and explained to you?

Ian (Mackem_Beefy)

Indeed enjoy, very well done!!!

Ian (Mackem_Beefy)

Any news yet?

Ian (Mackem_Beefy)

======= Date Modified 04 Nov 2012 12:19:09 =======
Launching into a Masters straight after a PhD?

Hmm, I guess you know what you want to do but I wouldn't personally be doing this. A Masters is a year intensive (or a couple of years if part-time) and admittely be over quickly, however, the high level intensity involved I would not want to launch into straight away. I came back to do PhD a few years after Masters and I'm glad of that as I was mentally tired out after the Masters.

I understand your reasons, however, your brain needs a rest after the PhD. If you want to do this, I'd wait a year and and do the Masters then. The fact you've gone way over the word limit on a 1,000 word essay shows shows you're still in the wired state you were during write-up. If you rested properly first, you probably wouldn't be doing this as you're perception of the work needed is still probably geared at PhD level.

My (de)mentor on my second (disasterous) post-doc (story elsewhere) had launched straight into post-doc work without a real breather or slowdown time. Dealing with someone who had remained in the highly wired state you end up in especially during the latter stages of a PhD for the five years since she finished was interesting to say the least.

I have noted as regards recovery that women seem to recover better than men. Men tend to look for a couple of 'quiet' years once they finish whilst women seem to get going in seemingly half the time. Perhaps this should be a subject of a PhD proposal!!! :-)

As regards how you perform against other Masters students, a taught course is a different ballgame and some will perform better during at least the taught part of the course - that's life!!! The chances are you'll perform better than most during the project part though, as the PhD will have given you skills to manage the project better.

But you'd probably perform better with a break from high intensity work first!!!

Ian (Mackem_Beefy)

======= Date Modified 03 Nov 2012 12:55:26 =======

Yes, he did. But in chasing the 'short term' contracts that dominate post-doctoral research, I think he found he was going to be moving from position to position and instead decided he would train to fly commercial airliners. Quite a career change, but at least he had some consistency in his life without worrying what he was going to do next six months before the money ran out on his current contract.

Ian (Mackem_Beefy)

Simples:

1) Funding goes into whatever is Fashionable.

2) Universities apply for finding according to their senior academics research interests and resulting prestige gained in their field. When the senior academic moves on, the University more often than not loses interest in favour of someone else's interests.

3) Doctoral and Post-doctoral researchers rarely get a contract of more than three years maximum and more often or not, hence they will move on to wherever the money is (in the form of research funding often at another Uni. or laboratory) meaning often a change in the direction of their research.

---------

With respect to point three, such people will often return to the real world and give up on research altogether if they do not manage to gain academic tenure - at least the real world offers long term and permanent contracts that allow people to gain mortgages, marry and settle down with a family. That is very difficult moving from short term contract to short term contract (often accompanied by a change of location).

I know of one former undergraduate degree colleague who also went onto a PhD and after pursuing different research contracts at various locations, gave up and trained as an airline pilot. He could not make his PhD 'work for him'.

Let's put it this way, due to the insecurity in research, there are many projects that are not seen through to a workable, marketable conclusion due to changes in funding, direction and personnel. It is no wonder many people in research become easily disillusioned and projects are dropped.

Ian (Mackem_Beefy)

======= Date Modified 02 Nov 2012 23:39:29 =======

This is why I prefer "PhD Candidate" or "Doctoral Researcher" rather than "PhD STUDENT". 

There is still a perception that students put in few hours, spend every nigth in the pub, lie in, only attend lectures or Uni. when they want to and (even with fees) are handed a free ride with the student loans.  Perhaps I exaggerate a little, however, to non-academic people there is at times no perception about what a PhD actually is.  They probably see it as just another course at Uni.

On the flip side, there's people in the real world who put in some serious hours and perhaps your friend knows what you're doing, but might be one of these long hours people.  "Stop moaning about your workload as I have to work long hours, so just knuckle down and get on with it", etc.

During write-up, I was putting in 12 to 16 hour days (including weekends at 8 to 10 hours) and this lasted for two years.  I couldn't have done any more hours if I tried.  My friends didn't know just how much I was doing and one suggested I would be better concentrating on driving lessons, even saying it was more important I learnt to drive for my future prospects than get the PhD.  As I was just weeks from submitting, I was not going to suspend at that stage just to keep my friends happy.  My mum ended up telling him to back off until I finished as she knew exactly the work I was putting in.

Just don't let it get to you.  You know how much effort you're putting in and if you're going in at weekends, how much more can be expected?

Ian (Mackem_Beefy)

======= Date Modified 02 Nov 2012 11:11:09 =======

Yup, and here it is as a playable (unplayable) boardgame.

http://www.wearthesis.talktalk.net/phdgame.pdf (up);-)

Either Pineapple is still waiting or she knows and is blind drunk somewhere celebrating. :p

Ian (Mackem_Beefy)

======= Date Modified 03 Nov 2012 11:52:29 =======
How about simply "PhD Candidate" or better "Doctoral Researcher", avoiding the student label?

You're not really a student anymore in that you're not attending scheduled lectures and the activities you are carrying out are fully in line with those of the employed researchers. You are effectively doing a job.

Any classes attended aren't examined and are effectively on the job training.

Ian (Mackem_Beefy)

Bilbo, if this was an assessment of her prospects based on ability then fair enough though even then I'd be a little more careful who was within earshot (i.e. private discussion).

However, they are assessing her based on age and not ability. That to me is the issue.

Ian (Mackem_Beefy)

Don't tell her or do anything unless there is clear evidence she is being held back or there is any bias against her. If anything is said or done, then the supervisor will know someone has made a remark about his comment and this may sour his relationship with the poor woman. The important thing for now is she gains her PhD.

If action needs to be taken, decide on this further down the line and go to whoever his department head is but only if necessary.

Many people start on a particular career path later in life and the age they start should not be an issue. If they decide it is going to be an issue when say she applies for a post-doc, if she becomes aware her age has been made an issue (either as either of these people as a referee or part of an employment panel) then she should be able to take action at that stage.

Ian (Mackem_Beefy)